Faith?

[earl40]

Can we say the faith that justifies is the same faith that sanctifies?

 

[earl40]

I say yes.

 

[arapahoepark]

The faith that justifies is the same faith that leads to sanctification, yes.

 

[Jack K]

You can probably say that, depending on what you mean. But I would phrase it more like this:

We are saved by faith (justified, sanctified... the whole ball o' wax) and we also live the Christian life by faith (as the sanctification part continues to happen).

Phrasing it the other way might suggest the idea that initial salvation includes only justification and sanctification is something that comes later. Well, although sanctification is indeed ongoing, it is really just a continuation of what happened initially. At our conversion we began a life of faith, and we never give that up.

 

[py3ak]

WCF XIV.2

By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; 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.

Saving faith receives and rests upon Christ for sanctification as well as justification. So, yes. The faith that is a gift of God receives Christ entire and undivided, and sanctification is as much a part of the salvation Christ acquired as justification.

 

[earl40]

WCF XIV.2

By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; 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.

Saving faith receives and rests upon Christ for sanctification as well as justification. So, yes. The faith that is a gift of God receives Christ entire and undivided, and sanctification is as much a part of the salvation Christ acquired as justification.

Should we think of "the principal acts" as primary or first? The reason I ask is because I do not remember the first time I believed, as if I scratched my chin and said I will now choose to receive or believe in Jesus as what your definition above insinuates. In other words, I look at "principle" as being both first (which I do not remember) and primary or most important, which I realize now.

 

[py3ak]

Principal means "first in order of importance" not "first in order of sequence".

Accepting, receiving, and resting on Christ are the primary or cardinal acts of saving faith; your own self-awareness in performing those acts is not essential to the being of the act. Subsequent reflection will often unpack the fullness of what was involved in an act that seemed at the time to be pure simplicity.

 

[earl40]

Principal means "first in order of importance" not "first in order of sequence".

Accepting, receiving, and resting on Christ are the primary or cardinal acts of saving faith; your own self-awareness in performing those acts is not essential to the being of the act. Subsequent reflection will often unpack the fullness of what was involved in an act that seemed at the time to be pure simplicity.

"Pure simplicity"...love it, which reminds me of my MIL saying that believing can be the easiest and hardest thing one can do. That is one faithful amazing lady.

 

[py3ak]

Godly mothers-in-law are a blessing - I know, I have one too.

 

[MarieP]

Can we say the faith that justifies is the same faith that sanctifies?

I'd say, yes.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love" Galatians 5:6

James 2
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

[MarieP]

We are saved by faith (justified, sanctified... the whole ball o' wax) and we also live the Christian life by faith (as the sanctification part continues to happen).

Phrasing it the other way might suggest the idea that initial salvation includes only justification and sanctification is something that comes later. Well, although sanctification is indeed ongoing, it is really just a continuation of what happened initially. At our conversion we began a life of faith, and we never give that up.

Amen- I like how writers like Murray and Calvin ground it all in union with Christ. It holds it all together in my mind better.

I just started reading Letham's book on Union with Christ, and I will read J. Todd Billings after that. One person (Nicholas Batzig, actually) said he prefers Billings (because of some neo-orthodox influences in Letham), but generally I've seen the same people recommend both!