21. What is true faith?

True faith is not only a sure knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, 1) but also a hearty trust, 2) which the Holy Ghost 3) works in me by the Gospel, 4) that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God, 5) merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits. 6)

1) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:6.

2) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken. So shall thy seed be. Rom. 4:16-18.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 5:1.

3) We having the same spirit of faith, according as it written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Cor. 4:13.

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. ... For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Phil. 1 :19,29.

4) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom. u 16.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10:17.

5) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Heb. 1 1:1,2.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. Rom. 1:17.

6) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:7-9.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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 forebearance of God. Rom. 3:24,25.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed In Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal. 2:16

* To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:43.

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