In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:22–24
You are not saved simply because Christ is the Savior of the world, of all men indiscriminately. The only one who is saved is the one who lays hold of the promises of God with a full confidence and who receives the benefits promised and given to those who believe that God has spoken the truth:
Do you understand what it looks like for a person to be “born anew?” What changes do you look for as necessary in yourself so that you can see yourself to be “born anew”?
Lesson 4
Christian Faith
SUMMARY: My faith is the firm assurance of the truth of the Word of God and his promises, unshakable trust that God will give to me personally everything necessary for my happiness and salvation.
The summary of the Christian faith is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, which teaches, in three parts, of God the Father and our creation, of God the Son and our redemption, of God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification. This is to say: God the Father, God for me; God the Son, God with me; God the Spirit, God in me.
Readings for the week: Monday, Question 27: 1 and 2; Tuesday, Question 27: 3; Wednesday, Question 28: 1, Question 33: 1; Thursday, Question 33: 2 and 3; Friday, Question 33: 4; Saturday, Question 33: 5.
27. How do you lay hold of this salvation that God offers you in the Gospel?
By faith alone in the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said “do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God has set his seal.” They said therefore to him, “what shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:27–29
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36
Bible Readings:
1. The faith of Abraham: Romans 4:1–8, 13–25.
2. The healing of the son of a Centurion: John 4:46–54.
3. The cloud of witnesses: Hebrews 11.
From these texts of Scripture, how would you characterize faith?
28. What then is a true faith?
First, it is a certain and indubitable knowledge, by which I take to be true everything that God has revealed to us by his Word. But this knowledge is not sufficient by itself.
Second, true faith is also a trust of the heart that the Holy Spirit creates in me through the Gospel.
Third, it assures me that God will grant me, me personally (and not only “to others”), the forgiveness of my sins, righteousness and eternal happiness, and these by pure grace and only by the merit of Jesus Christ.
You believe that God is One: you do well; the devils also believe and shudder. James 2:19
Jesus said to Peter: “Blessed are you Simon; for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17
I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . . for in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Romans 1:16–17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the preached word of Christ. Romans 10:17
. . . and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Ephesians 2:6–9
. . . knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16
Bible reading:
1. The conversion of the jailer: Acts 16:25–34.
This definition of faith, despite its appearance, is a very simple one:
I must know God in order to love and serve Him. I cannot put my trust in anything which I do not know. Faith has as its foundation the knowledge of God. I must know before I love!
Nevertheless knowledge alone is not sufficient. I can know all about what God has done, and said, and not have saving faith. My faith would be thus purely intellectual; it would be a system, a philosophy, a wisdom. Saving knowledge must be living and practical, not abstract and theoretical. I am not saved because I believe that God is the Father of the human race, and that Christ is the Savior of the world, but when I trust that God is MY Father and that Christ is MY Savior. In all things I must therefore appropriate personally the promises and gifts of God.
Are you willing to make the effort necessary to know God and what he has revealed for you in the Scriptures? This is a considerable work, apart from which you cannot receive as true what God has revealed. You cannot believe that of which you are ignorant!
Are you disposed to set aside all the time necessary to acquire this living knowledge, by regular study of the Scriptures?
29. What is necessary therefore to have a true faith in God and realize the deliverance that He brings us?
It is sufficient to know Him as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ: He is our Father and Savior.
This is eternal life, that they know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, `From his innermost being shall flow rivers of water.’” John 7:37–38
30. What then are the first articles of this knowledge that it is necessary for you to believe?
I need to believe everything promised in the Gospel, which the articles of the Apostles’ Creed contain. This Creed is the universal statement of the unchanging faith of Christians, in a brief form.
31. What does the Apostles’ Creed say, in summarizing the Christian faith?
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate;
He was crucified;
He was dead;
He was buried;
He descended into Hell;
The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven;
He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit.
I believe a holy catholic Church,
The communion of saints,