Page 50 - Biblical Counseling I Textbook

o Assent
One must agree with what he or she has heard. Obviously, if one rejects the truths of the gospel, he
or she does not have faith.
o Affiance
This term is the source of the word fiancé. It means to pledge or promise. The Reformers used the
phrase “to close with” Christ, that is, to come close to Him and take hold. When someone makes the
promise of marriage, he or she is making a commitment to unite with and to love the other. This is a
necessary component of saving faith. It is not enough to simply know about Christ and to assent to
the truths concerning Him. Faith requires engagement with Him. This is what James is driving at
when he says that true faith is connected to works (cf. 2:14).

Where does faith come from?
• Faith is a special gift of God (Rom. 12:3, Eph. 2:8; Heb. 12:2).

• Faith is generated by hearing the gospel (Rom. 10:17).
This is essential to understand. The Word of God, the gospel, is what is powerful to save (Rom.
1:16). The Spirit of God uses the truth of God to bring faith to life in the soul of an individual.
True faith cannot come apart from the Word of God, the gospel, us use Scripture itself to call
people to faith.

Who needs faith?
• Unbelievers need faith for salvation (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9).
• Believers must live by faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 2:20).

How does faith relate to assurance?
• A believer may have genuine faith without assurance.
• This is to say that genuine believers may have seasons of life in which they doubt their salvation. Doubt
or lack of assurance does not demonstrate that a person does not have a saving faith. The Scriptures tell
us that Jesus will not extinguish a dimly lit wick (Isaiah 42:3; Matt. 12:20). This refers to weak faith and
especially in reference to salvation.

• Assurance is a product of faith.
• Assurance itself is a matter of faith. It is a believing in the gospel and the promises of God.

Does faith save you?
• Jesus is the One who saves, not our faith.
• Faith is the medium or conduit of our salvation (bridge analogy).
The chasm between sinful man and a holy God cannot be bridged by us, even by our faith. That chasm is
bridged by Christ and His cross. Faith is what moves us onto the bridge of the cross, and it keeps us
walking on that cross for our salvation.

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