Westminster Confession, Chapter 14
Of Saving Faith
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Hebrews 10:3939But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Romans 10:1414How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
Romans 10:1717Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Ephesians 1:17-1917that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
18I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
Ephesians 2:88For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
2 Corinthians 4:1313And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
Luke 17:55The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Acts 20:3232And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Romans 1:16-1716I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
17For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 4:1111And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
1 Peter 2:22Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. 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.
Scripture references for paragraph 2
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
John 4:4242They said to the woman, “We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.”
Acts 24:1414I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
1 Thessalonians 2:1313And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
1 John 5:1010Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
Isaiah 66:22Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Romans 16:2626but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith —
John 1:1212But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
Acts 15:1111On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Acts 16:3131They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Galatians 2:2020I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
1 Timothy 4:88For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
Hebrews 11:1313All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Matthew 6:3030If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 8:1010When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Romans 4:19-2019Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
Hebrews 5:13-1413For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.
14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Colossians 2:22that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
Hebrews 6:11-1211We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 10:2222let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Luke 22:31-3231Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Ephesians 6:1616In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
1 John 5:4-54because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Hebrews 12:22Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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