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Contents

Chapter 14. Of Saving Faith

(Larger Catechism: 60, 72-73; Shorter Catechism: 29-30)

Confession of Faith

1CF 14.1
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.

Heb. 10:39; 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 1:17-19; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 10:14, 17; 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32; Rom. 4:11; Luke 17:5; Rom. 1:16-17.

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2CF 14.2
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.

John 4:42; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 John 5:10; Acts 24:14; Rom. 16:26; Isa. 66:2; Heb. 11:13; 1 Tim. 4:8; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:20; Acts 15:11.

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3CF 14.3
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.

Heb. 5:13-14; Rom. 4:19-20; Matt. 6:30; Matt. 8:10; Luke 22:31-32; Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5; Heb. 6:11-12; Heb. 10:22; Col. 2:2; Heb. 12:2.

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Testimony

1T 14.1
Saving faith is the gift of the triune God. It is the Father’s will that the elect should be united to Christ by faith. The Son, by His death, provided that saving faith should be freely granted to them. The Holy Spirit, therefore, regenerates each one of them, enabling them to receive Jesus Christ by faith as their Lord and Savior.

Rom. 3:25-26; Rom. 1:16-17; Col. 2:12; Phil. 1:29; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:3; Eph. 1:3-14; Rom. 8:28-29.

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2T 14.2
We reject the teaching that regeneration is the result of saving faith.
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3T 14.3
Saving faith will normally come to expression in a public confession of Christ within the visible church.

Rom. 10:9.

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4T 14.4
We reject the doctrine of universal salvation.

Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; Rom. 2:6-13.

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5T 14.5
We reject the idea that a man can be saved by any means other than faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Tim. 2:5; Rom. 3:28; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb. 11:24-26.

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6T 14.6
We reject the idea that unregenerate people can be persuaded to believe without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 9:16; Titus 3:5.

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7T 14.7
We reject the concept that saving faith is merely agreeing that the Bible is historically accurate, and that the doctrines of the Bible are true.

Jas. 2:19.

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8T 14.8
The proper basis for believing is the infinite sufficiency of Christ to save, the unrestricted free invitation to come to Him for salvation, God’s command to all to repent and believe, and the promise of salvation to those who believe and obey the Gospel.

Heb. 7:25; Isa. 55:1, 5, 7; Rev. 22:17; 1 John 3:23; Acts 16:31; Heb. 5:9.

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9T 14.9
God’s offer of salvation is genuine, regardless of man’s response.

John 6:35-37; Matt. 11:28-30; John 7:37; Rom. 3:4.

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10T 14.10
We reject the idea that saving faith is a man’s persuading himself that he is elect, and that he has already been saved.

Prov. 14:12; 1 John 1:6-7; 1 John 2:4-5.

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