Theological Term of the Week: Saving Faith

saving faith
The casting and resting of oneself and one’s confidence on the promises  of mercy which Christ has given to sinners and on the Christ who gave those promises;1 a certain conviction, wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, as to the truth of the gospel, and a hearty reliance (trust) on the promises of God in Christ.2

• From scripture:

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… (John 1:12 ESV) 

… [W]e know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:16 ESV).

• From The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 52: 

Question 21. What is true faith? 

Answer: True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghostworks by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.

Learn more:

1. Westminster Confession of Faith: Of Saving Faith
2. Ligonier Ministries: What Is Saving Faith?
3. Paul Carter: What Is (Saving) Faith?
4. J. V.  Fesko: The Doctrine of Saving Faith
5. Jared Wilson: There Is No Faith So Little That It Is Not Saving
6. Nick Batzig: What Exactly Is the Nature of True and Saving Faith?
7. J. C. Ryle: Saving Faith

Related terms:

• assurance
• conversion
• gospel, the
• repentance
• union with Christ

1 Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer, pages 70-71.aaaaaa

2 Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 503.

Filed under Salvation

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