Eastside Evangelical Fellowship

Study on the Westminster Confession of Faith – Spring 2002

Chapter XIV with Scripture Proofs and Comments

Of Saving Faith

1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, (Heb. 10:39) is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, (2 Cor. 4:13, Eph. 1:17–19, Eph. 2:8) and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, (Rom. 10:14,17) by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened. (1 Pet. 2:2, Acts 20:32, Rom. 4:11, Luke 17:5, Rom. 1:16–17)

Comments –

a) Faith is a grace, a gift, of God. It is not something we must drum up within ourselves. There is a faith that does not save (a receiving of the Word, like seed sown in thistles, etc), but saving faith enables the elect to believe to the saving of their souls.

b) Saving faith must be wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, for man in his nature, is unable to discern the things of God (1 Cor 2:14). This is ordinarily done by the Spirit in the ministry of the Word. The Spirit places the Word in an old, dead heart, transforms that heart into a new heart, and faith is born. Faith is an act of a regenerated soul, not an act which regenerates an old heart. An old heart can’t believe; that is why you need a new heart; that is why you must be born again.

c) Saving faith is something which is increased and strengthened, and God’s means of doing this is the Word, sacraments and prayer. Avail yourself of these graces.

2. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; (John 4:42, 1 Thess. 2:13, 1 John 5:10, Acts 24:14) and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, (Rom. 16:26) trembling at the threatenings, (Isa. 66:2) and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. (Heb. 11:13, 1 Tim. 4:8) 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. (John 1:12, Acts 16:31, Gal. 2:20, Acts 15:11)

Comments –

a) Saving faith may begin by believing a very simple gospel message. But if it is saving faith it will effectually work in the believer so that whatever the word of Christ says will be believed as true. Saving faith will produce different results depending upon the truth being brought to bear. But yielding, trembling, and embracing, are all fruit of this faith.

b) Because saving faith is not simply an intellectual assent, it includes a hearty embrace of Christ, a reliance upon his meritorious work in the believer and his gracious promises for the believer. Accepting, receiving and resting upon Christ alone is the principle work of this kind of faith.

3. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; (Heb. 5:13–14, Rom. 4:19–20, Matt. 6:30, Matt. 8:10) may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory: (Luke 22:31–32, Eph. 6:16, 1 John 5:4–5) growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ, (Heb. 6:11–12, Heb. 10:22) who is both the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:2)

Comments –

a) Faith is not like a manufactured widget. It should be thought of more like an organic plant. If it is alive, it will grow – even to full assurance – whether in this life or in the resurrection. We expect to see a mature faith in many, though there will be lots of times of strength and weakness due to the trials we are brought to face.

b) The amount or quality of our faith causes no limitation upon the amount or quality of our justification. Whether it is as a mustard seed or as a full grown tree does not change the fact that we have it. But if it is alive, it will grow, for we have been promised Christ, the ‘finisher’ or our faith.

c) With regard to assurance of salvation, Chapter 18 will deal with this in more detail.