In the logical chain of salvation, we have seen God call the sinner from death to life (Effectual Calling), declare him righteous in His sight (Justification), adopt him into His family (Adoption), and renew him in holiness (Sanctification). But how do we personally connect to this salvation? What is the hand that receives these gifts? The answer is Faith.
However, not all “faith” is saving faith. James warns us that even demons believe—and tremble (James 2:19). So, what distinguishes true, saving faith from mere intellectual assent or temporary emotion? Chapter 14 of the Confession provides a pastoral and precise definition of the faith that unites a soul to Christ.
The Confession teaches that saving faith is a work of the Spirit, ordinarily wrought by the Word; that it believes all of God’s Word to be true but principally acts by resting upon Christ alone for salvation; and that it varies in degrees of strength, often fighting through doubts to victory.
The Origin of Faith (WCF 14.1)
The Confession begins by reminding us that faith is not something we conjure up from our own resources. It is “the grace of faith… the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts” (Eph. 2:8). Just as we cannot regenerate ourselves, we cannot believe by ourselves. Faith is a gift.
How does the Spirit usually produce this faith? “Ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word” (Rom. 10:17). While God can work apart from means, He has chosen the preaching of the Gospel as the primary instrument to create faith.
Furthermore, faith is not a static object; it is a living plant that needs watering. The Confession notes that faith is “increased and strengthened” by three things:
- The ministry of the Word.
- The administration of the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper).
- Prayer.
If your faith is weak, the solution is not to look inward, but to look outward to the means of grace God has provided.
The Acts of Faith (WCF 14.2)
What does faith actually do? The divines distinguish between the general acts of faith and the principal acts of saving faith.
General Faith: “By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein.” True faith takes God at His Word. It does not pick and choose which verses to like. Consequently, faith reacts differently to different parts of Scripture:
- When it hears commands, it yields obedience.
- When it hears threatenings, it trembles.
- When it hears promises, it embraces them.
Principal Acts: However, one can believe the Bible is true and still be lost. Saving faith moves beyond assent to trust. “The principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life.”
Notice the verbs: Accepting (He is offered), Receiving (He is a gift), and Resting (He is a foundation). Saving faith is not just believing facts about Jesus; it is collapsing your weight upon Jesus. It is looking away from your own works and finding your entire standing “by virtue of the covenant of grace.”
The Degrees of Faith (WCF 14.3)
This is perhaps the most comforting paragraph in the entire Confession. A common fear among believers is, “Is my faith strong enough to save me?” The divines answer: it is not the strength of your faith that saves you, but the object of your faith (Christ).
“This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong.”
- Weak Faith: Like the man who cried, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). It “may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened.”
- Strong Faith: Like Abraham, who “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God” (Rom. 4:20). It attains “full assurance.”
Whether weak or strong, true faith “gets the victory.” A small hand can hold a great diamond just as well as a large hand. As long as the hand of faith is holding Christ, the soul is safe. Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), and He will not quench the smoking flax.
Conclusion
The doctrine of Saving Faith steers us between two errors. On one side, it warns against “easy believism”—a faith that agrees with facts but never trembles at God’s warnings or rests on Christ. On the other side, it guards against perfectionism—the idea that if we have doubts, we aren’t saved. It points us away from the quality of our faith to the sufficiency of our Savior.
Key Terms
- Fides quae vs. Fides qua: A theological distinction. Fides quae (“the faith which is believed”) refers to the content of doctrine. Fides qua (“the faith by which it is believed”) refers to the personal act of trusting. WCF 14 deals primarily with the latter.
- Notitia, Assensus, Fiducia: The three traditional components of faith:
- Notitia: Knowledge of the facts (you must know who Jesus is).
- Assensus: Assent to the truth of those facts (you must believe they are true).
- Fiducia: Trust/Reliance (you must personally rest on Christ).
- Means of Grace: The instruments God uses to create and strengthen faith, specifically the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.
- Assurance: The confident realization that one is saved. The Confession teaches that while assurance is desirable and possible, it is not the essence of faith; one can have true faith and yet struggle with assurance (see WCF 18).