Question | What is faith in Jesus Christ? |
---|---|
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? |
---|---|
Answer | Justifying faith is a saving grace,1 wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit2 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 |