W hat is faith? The writer of Hebrews defines faith - “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” [Hebrews 11:1]. In the Institutes of the Christian Religion , John Calvin defines faith as the “firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” By Calvin’s definition, faith comprises three elements: notitia , assensus , and fiducia . Notitia is the content of faith. True faith must be based on “knowledge of the truth”. In order to believe, we must know something about that Someone, who is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the object of our faith. Our faith must be in Christ. Without the right content, there can be no true faith. Thus, people who are ignorant of the true Gospel of Christ will not have true faith. Assensus simply means agreement. It speaks of our firm conviction that the content of faith is true. A person may know about the doctrines of the Christian faith, but he may not believe that they are true. Genuine faith says that the content (the notitia ) revealed in Holy Scripture is true. Fiducia takes one step further than assensus , from more than just agreement to personal trust. It is not enough to know and believe the content of the Christian faith because “the devils also believe, and tremble” [James 2:19]. True saving faith comes when a sinner knows and believes the scriptural claims of the Lord Jesus Christ, and personally appropriates Him for salvation. It is a yielding of oneself to Christ. Fiducia is seen in Thomas’ confession after he had seen the resurrected Christ, he not only believed but proclaimed, “My Lord and my God” [John 20:28]. There is a permanent relationship between faith and the Word … Take away the Word, and no faith will then remain. – John Calvin
LESSON
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
THOUGHT
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