Chapter 14. Of Saving Faith

Chapter 14. Of Saving Faith

I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,²⁸⁸ is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,²⁸⁹ and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word;²⁹⁰ by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.²⁹¹

II. By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein;²⁹² and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands,²⁹³ trembling at the threatenings,²⁹⁴ and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.²⁹⁵ 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.²⁹⁶

III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong;²⁹⁷ may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory;²⁹⁸ growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,²⁹⁹ who is both the author and finisher of our faith.³⁰⁰