SAVING-FAITH: What Does It Look Like? The Reformers taught that saving-faith consists of 3 essential, distinct but inseparable components: Notia, Assensus, Fiducia. These are I. the CONTENT of what is believed. Faith must have both a subject and object. II. The MENTAL ASSENT to the content. The heart cannot believe that which the mind does not assent to, understand. III. TRUST in the object of faith. Jesus spoke of those who receive the word gladly upon hearing it, but added They have NO ROOT in themselves, and so when any type of hardship FOR the sake of the word of a God comes, they fall-away. (Mk 4:17). They are NOT said to bring forth fruit with endurance as only those who hear the word AND understand it do (Matt 13:21). Since Jesus only referred to this last group who bring forth fruit, as truly UNDERSTANDING the gospel, we can conclude that none of the others do! Thus, their decisions for Christ are therefore, mere profession of faith, not possession of it. They make emotional-based faith declarations only, they are NOT born-again. Not truly born of GOD, by HIS will, not the will of man. (Jn 1:13). We know that EVERYONE who is born of God, overcomes the world. And THIS is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH. 1 Jn 5:4-5). This however, is NOT attributed TO the one born of a God, as if they could boast in ANY way about it. It is WHOLLY the result of the new heart God GIVES (Ez 36:24-31). It is a heart to KNOW God (Jer 24:7). Any professing believer who boasted about their sanctification, rather guan humbly giving thanks to God for grace, is as deceived and possibly as lost as the first three types of people to whom the word of God initially comes. The FRUIT of true regeneration begins and ends with Yet NOT I, but the GRACE of God with me (1 Cor 15:10)...everyone who does not attribute ALL to grace, as Paul did, are at best, spiritual infants only and at worst, unregenerate self-righteous boasters. Q. Which are you? May God give light.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:37:24 +0000