146 – Act of Faith

ACT OF FAITH

  § 146. The act of saving faith is the acceptance 1 of the benefits of Christ offered through the means of grace 2 by knowledge of, assent to, and reliance on, the teachings and promises of the Gospel 3 and, especially, confidence in Christ.4

1.  The act of saving faith is the acceptance…

  John 1:12, 16 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (16) And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

  John 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.

  Acts 10:43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.

  Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them, which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.

  Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.  Cf. §§ 122. 123.

2. …of the benefits of Christ offered through the means of grace

  John 4:39–42 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own Word, and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.

3. …by knowledge of, assent to, and reliance on, the teachings and promises of the Gospel

  Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins.

  Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

  John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.

  II Peter 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

  Romans 4:20–22 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

  John 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.

  Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

  Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.

  James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

  John 2:22 When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the Word which Jesus had said.

  Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

  Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.

  John 20:29, 31 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

  II Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward.

  II Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

  Mark 4:40 And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

4. …and, especially, confidence in Christ.

  Galatians 2:16–20 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

  Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

  I Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.

  Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumblingstone and Rock of offense: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

  Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

  Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

  John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

  John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.