Question | What is faith in Jesus Christ? |
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Answer | Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, 1 whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel. 2 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Is faith a free gift and therefore a grace?
Yes.
Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, to believe on him,
Philippians 1:29
Is it particularly a gift of the Spirit?
Yes.
Thus Barnabas is said to be full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,
Acts 11:24
And a gift that distinguishes the elect of God from all others?
Yes.
’Tis the faith of God’s elect,
Titus 1:1
Is it a saving grace?
Yes.
For we believe to the saving of the soul,
Hebrews 10:39
But is it so by any inherent merit or efficacy of its own?
No.
But as it receives the gift of righteousness,
Romans 5:17
Is God the ultimate object of faith?
Yes.
Ye believe in God,
John 14:1
And is Christ the immediate object of it?
Yes.
Believe also in me,
John 14:1
Is the heart the seat of it?
Yes.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
Romans 10:10
And are sensible convinced sinners the subjects of it?
Yes.
They shall come who were ready to perish,
Isaiah 27:13
Is faith imperfect in the present life?
Yes.
Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24
But shall weak faith be supported?
Yes.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench,
Matthew 12:20
And strengthened?
Yes.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me,
Philippians 4:13
Does true faith imply an assent of the understanding?
Yes.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
Acts 8:37
And a consent of the will?
Yes.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,
1 Timothy 1:15
Doth it imply the soul’s reception of Christ?
Yes.
Ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ,
Colossians 2:6
And its reliance upon him?
Yes.
In whom ye also trusted,
Ephesians 1:13
And its cleaving to him?
Yes.
And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord,
Acts 11:23
And that to the utter exclusion of every thing else?
Yes.
For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:8
Is there something which the believing soul commits to Christ?
Yes.
I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him,
2 Timothy 1:12
And something that he expects from him?
Yes.
Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,
Jude 21
Is true faith a vital principle?
Yes.
The just shall live by faith,
Habakkuk 2:4
And an active principle?
Yes.
It worketh by love,
Galatians 5:6
And a victorious principle?
Yes.
This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,
1 John 5:4
And an establishing principle?
Yes.
By faith ye stand,
2 Corinthians 1:24
And a soul comforting principle?
Yes.
I had fainted unless I had believed,
Psalm 27:13
And a God exalting principle?
Yes.
Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God,
Romans 4:20
And is it on all these accounts a precious principle?
Yes.
To them that have obtained like precious faith,
2 Peter 1:1
The Westminster Larger Catechism
Question | What is justifying faith? |
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Answer | Justifying faith is a saving grace, 1 wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit 2 and word of God, 3 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, 4 not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, 5 but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, 6 and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation. 7 |