Trust the person of Jesus
The person of Jesus means who he is. Christians trust Jesus not merely as a wise teacher or inspiring example, but as the eternal Word who became human and lived among us (John 1:1, John 1:14). Paul describes Christ as existing in the form of God, yet humbling himself to take the form of a servant and becoming truly human (Philippians 2:6-8).
That matters because salvation depends on Jesus being able to reveal God and represent us. He entered our human life, faced suffering, and became a merciful high priest for his people (Hebrews 2:17). Trust begins with taking Jesus at his word about who he is, and coming to him rather than trying to build a life with God on another foundation.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Trust what Jesus has done
The work of Jesus means what he accomplished for us. At the centre is his death and resurrection. Jesus did not simply die as a tragic victim. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, as the Scriptures had promised (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). God showed his love by acting for sinners through Christ's death (Romans 5:8).
So trusting Jesus means you stop treating your record as the thing that makes you acceptable to God. Good deeds matter in a Christian life, but they cannot purchase forgiveness. Salvation is God's gift, received through faith, not a reward earned by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
More than knowing the facts
A person can know the story of Jesus and still keep him at a distance. Biblical faith involves personal reliance. Think of sitting in a chair. You may believe it can hold you, but trust happens when you put your weight on it. In a deeper way, trusting Christ means resting your hope for reconciliation with God on him.
John says that those who receive Jesus and believe on his name are given the right to become God's children (John 1:12). Paul connects salvation with believing in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and openly confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). This is not a formula to perform perfectly. It is the response of someone turning to the living Christ.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
A trust that changes direction
Trusting Jesus includes repentance, which means turning around in response to God. Jesus called people to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). It does not mean you must fix every failure before you can come to him. Rather, you come honestly, acknowledge your need, and begin to follow him.
This faith will grow over time. There may be questions, weak days, and much to learn. The point is not the strength of your grip on Jesus, but the reliability of the one you trust. Keep reading the Gospels, especially the accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection, and bring your questions directly to God.