Chapter 14 - Saving Faith

Understanding The Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 14 - Saving Faith

The word “faith” in general is the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. Behind it lies the idea of trust. When a thing is true, it is worthy of our trust.

“Saving” faith on the other hand is so called because it has the promise of eternal life inseparably connected with it. This is best defined by the words in the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q86): “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.” On this subject, the WCF begins by referring to it as ”the grace of faith”. This suggests that “saving faith” is a gift, which is of course consistent with the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. By this faith the “elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls.” The writer of Hebrews points this out in 10:39 - “We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Furthermore, Ephesians 1:17 – 19; 2:8; and 2 Corinthians 4:13 indicate that this faith is the work of the Spirit of Christ in our hearts. This work itself is in turn brought about by the ministry of the Word (see Romans 10:14, 17). One noteworthy teaching on this by the WCF is this: saving faith can be increased and strengthened by the ministry of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments (baptism and Holy Communion) and prayer. In Luke 17:5, the apostles ask Jesus to “increase our faith.” And Paul in Acts 20:32, when commending the elders of Ephesus to God and to the word of his grace, says that it “is able to build” them up.

Section 2 of this chapter of the WCF states: “By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word…”

The Reformed theologian Hodge, in commenting on this section says that it teaches that “this saving faith rests upon the truth of the testimony of God speaking in his Word; and, it respects as its object all the contents of God’s Word, without exception.” He goes on to say that the specific act of saving faith “unites us to Christ, and is the sole condition or instrument of justification.” He concludes by teaching that this involves two essential elements: 1) Assent to what the Scriptures reveal to usconcerning the person, offices, and work of Christ; and 2) Trust or
implicit reliance upon Christ, and upon Christ alone, for all that is involved in a complete salvation.

Faith in Christ (that is, saving faith) therefore frees the believer from condemnation, and justifies him or her before God. The believer is bestowed an “inheritance” – a participation in the divine life that is in Christ. And, being thus justified, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). All who thus believe in Christ are certainly saved. Praise Him!

  In Him,
Rev Robert Chew