“Once they finally understood, after Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, it changed their faith,” Winans said. “And here’s the thing. The word faith is not just about belief; faith is about allegiance. When you declare faith in Jesus, you transfer your allegiance. In the first-century Roman context, that’s what they did: They transferred their allegiance away from Caesar, and the gods of Rome, and certain laws of the Jewish leaders, and pledged allegiance to Jesus.”
