Question 35
Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?
Titus 3:4–6
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
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Prayer
May God have mercy upon us all, and by his Spirit open our eyes to see the glory of the cross.
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981). A Welsh medical doctor and Protestant minister, Lloyd-Jones is best known for preaching and teaching at Westminster Chapel in London for thirty years. He would take many months, even years, to expound a chapter of the Bible verse by verse. Perhaps his most famous publication is a 14 volume series of commentaries on Romans.
From The Cross (Wheaton: Crossway, 1986), 83.
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Commentary
We must realize that Christianity is the easiest religion in the world, because it is the only religion in which God the Father and Christ and the Holy Spirit do everything. God is the Creator; we have nothing to do with our existence, or the existence of other things. We can shape other things, but we cannot change the fact of existence. We do nothing for our salvation because Christ did it all. We do not have to do anything. In every other religion we have to do something…but with Christianity we do not do anything; God has done it all: He has created us and He has sent His Son; His Son died and because the Son is infinite, therefore he bears our total guilt. We do not need to bear our guilt, nor do we even have to merit the merit of Christ. He does it all. So in one way it is the easiest religion in the world.
Francis Schaeffer (1912–1984). An American Presbyterian pastor and philosopher, Schaeffer is most famous for his writing and his establishment of the L’Abri ("The Shelter") community in Switzerland. He wrote 22 books, the best known being the trilogy The God Who Is There (from which this quote is taken), Escape from Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent as well as his A Christian Manifesto.
From “The God Who Is There” in The Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy: The Three Essential Books in One Volume (Wheaton: Crossway, 1990), 182–183.
Further Reading
“Effectual Calling” in Concise Theology, by J. I. Packer.
“Full Assurance” in A Faith to Live By, by Donald Macleod.