Saving Faith
The grace of faith, by which the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit in their hearts and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word. By faith a Christian receives and rests upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life (WCF XIV).
Westminster Confession
4 sections
Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
Shorter Catechism
2 questions
To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.
Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Larger Catechism
3 questions
Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.
Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applies Christ and his righteousness.
That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.
Sum of Saving Knowledge
7 sections
Head IV. The blessings which are effectually conveyed by these means to the Lord's elect §4 →
He does convert or regenerate them, by giving spiritual life to them, in opening their understandings, renewing their wills, affections, and faculties, for giving spiritual obedience to his commands.
He gives them saving faith, by making them, in the sense of deserved condemnation, to give their consent heartily to the covenant of grace, and to embrace Jesus Christ unfeignedly.
He gives them repentance, by making them, with godly sorrow, in the hatred of sin, and love of righteousness, turn from all iniquity to the service of God.
He sanctifies them, by making them go on and persevere in faith and spiritual obedience to the law of God, manifested by fruitfulness in all duties, and doing good works, as God offers occasion.
Together with this inward change of their persons, God changes also their state: for, so soon as they are brought by faith into the covenant of grace, he justifies them, by imputing to them that perfect obedience which Christ gave to the law, and the satisfaction also which upon the cross Christ gave to justice in their name.
He reconciles them, and makes them friends to God, who were before enemies of God. He adopts them, that they shall be no more children of Satan, but children of God, enriched with all spiritual privileges of his sons.
And, last of all, after their warfare in this life is ended, he perfects the holiness and blessedness, first of their souls at their death, and then both of their souls and their bodies, being joyfully joined together again in the resurrection, at the day of his glorious coming to judgment, when all the wicked shall be sent away to hell, with Satan whom they have served: but Christ's own chosen and redeemed ones, true believers, students of holiness, shall remain with himself for ever, in the state of glorification.
Warrants and Motives to Believe: God's hearty invitation §7 →
Lest any should stand back in the sense of his own sinfulness or unworthiness, the Lord calls upon such persons in special: He that hath no money, come. He craves no more but that the sinner be pleased with the wares offered, which are grace, and more grace; and that he heartily consent to, and embrace this offer of grace.
The Lord promises solid satisfaction in the way of taking ourselves to the grace of Christ: Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. He calls for listening, and promises that this offer being received, shall quicken the dead sinner; and that he will close the covenant of grace with the man that shall consent to it, even an everlasting covenant of perpetual reconciliation and peace.
Warrants and Motives to Believe: God's earnest request to be reconciled §8 →
The way of reconciliation was in all ages one and the same in substance: by forgiving the sins of them who do acknowledge their sins and their enmity against God, and do seek reconciliation and remission of sins in Christ.
There cannot be a greater inducement to break a sinner's hard heart, than God's making a request to him for friendship; for when it became us, who have done so many wrongs to God, to seek friendship of God, he comes before us, and requests us to be content to be reconciled to him.
Warrants and Motives to Believe: God's command, charging all to believe §9 →
If any man shall not accept the sweet invitation of God, or the humble and loving request of God, he shall find he has to deal with the sovereign authority of the highest Majesty. Every one who hears the gospel must make conscience of the duty of lively faith in Christ; the weak believer must not think it presumption to do what is commanded; the person inclined to desperation must take up himself and think upon obedience to this sweet and saving command.
He who obeys this command has built his salvation on a solid ground: he has found the promised Messiah, he has embraced a Saviour who is able to save to the uttermost, and he has built his salvation on the Rock, the Son of God.
Warrants and Motives to Believe: Much assurance of life given to believers §10 →
The Father is well satisfied with the undertakings of the Son, entered Redeemer and Surety. For fulfilling of the covenant of redemption, the Father has given to the Son all authority in heaven and earth, all supply of the riches of grace.
Great assurance of life is held forth to all who shall heartily receive Christ: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. A fearful warning is given, if a man receive not the doctrine concerning righteousness and eternal life: He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Evidences of True Faith: That obedience run in the right channel of faith in Christ §13 →
The true end of the law is that men, by the law being made to see their deserved condemnation, should flee to Christ unfeignedly, to be justified by faith in him. No man can set himself in love to obey the law, excepting as far as his conscience is quieted by faith, or is seeking to be quieted in Christ.
Unfeigned faith is able to make the conscience good, and the heart pure, and the man lovingly obedient to the law; for when Christ's blood is seen by faith to quiet justice, then the conscience becomes quiet also, and will not suffer the heart to entertain the love of sin, but set the man on work to fear God for his mercy, and to obey all his commandments, out of love to God, for his free gift of justification, by grace bestowed on him.
Evidences of True Faith: The keeping of strait communion with Christ §14 →
Except a man be ingrafted into Christ, and united to him by faith, he cannot do any the least good works of his own strength: Without me ye can do nothing.
This mutual inhabitation is the fountain and infallible cause of constant continuing and abounding in well-doing: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit.
Whoever does daily employ Christ Jesus for cleansing his conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the law, and for enabling him to give obedience to the law in love, he has the evidence of true faith in himself.