The Nature and Necessity of Saving Faith

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin explains why the non-biblical term 'saving faith' is crucial for clear theological understanding, drawing an analogy to the term 'Trinity.' He demonstrates that the…

The term 'Trinity' is used as an analogy to explain why 'saving faith,' though not explicitly biblical, is necessary to accurately articulate a fundamental biblical truth about God's nature.

The term is not a biblical term, and yet there are times when if we are accurately to understand and articulate or express a biblical concept, we must use non-biblical terms. Non-biblical terminology. You will take any concordance and look up the word trinity, and you will find the word trinity nowhere found in your Bible. And yet that term is vital in order to express a very fundamental biblical truth, namely that there is but one true and living God.

7:54 - 8:31 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is not our faith that saves us. More accurately, it is Christ who saves by means of faith.

A man having a heart attack calls 911, which is the means to connect him to paramedics (the saviors). This illustrates that faith is the means (the '911') that connects us to Christ (the 'great paramedic' or 'physician of souls'), who is the actual Savior.

When by the regenerating work of the Spirit of God, they are brought personally to exercise repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And faith is but the means to lay hold of the Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ. And of the salvation that God offers us in Him. Here is a person who thinks that he may be having a heart attack.

19:24 - 19:53 Read in full sermon

Driving home: This is His commandment that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

An analogy of a host commanding guests to come to a table spread with food. This illustrates that God's command to believe removes any doubt about His disposition and willingness to forgive, showing His desire for us to partake of His salvation.

It makes no sense. I may have a table full of food and I may invite you. And you say, well, maybe, maybe He really doesn't mean it. Maybe He's kind of hoping I don't come so He can have more.

31:21 - 31:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Give up all silly notions about election or personal worthiness and simply believe upon Him as God commands.

A quotation from an old writer is used to emphasize that believing in Jesus is the one thing a guilty and helpless sinner can do that is most pleasing to God, cutting through all other 'silly notions' and making it an act of obedience.

One of the old writers picked up on this very beautiful notion of God's gracious command and he wrote as follows, Is there not here a word in season for you, O Son, sinner, whoever you are, however guilty and however helpless, however poor, however needy and undone? You, as it might seem, are in no condition to keep God's commandments so as to please Him. You can't venture to ask anything or to hope you'll receive anything in His hands. Ah, but here is something you may do, and it will be very pleasing to Him.

32:52 - 33:29 Read in full sermon