The Miracle of Salvation (Part Four)

In regeneration, God opens our eyes and gives us new desires. As a result, we see Christ as Saviour and turn to Him in faith.

The essential elements of true faith are to know, to agree, and to trust.

• To know: Before children can believe in Christ, they must know something about Him. Therefore, we teach them who Jesus is, what He did and what it means so that they, too, can say: We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16).
• To agree is to have a firm inner conviction that the content of the gospel, indeed the whole Bible, is true. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).
• To trust: Our faith becomes effectual when we not only know and agree but also personally trust in Christ alone for salvation. This is why we invite children: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).

All three elements are worked in us by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, faith is a gift from God (Eph.2:8) for us to use. This is our responsibility.

True faith is illustrated in the story of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:45ff): And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v 47). Why did Bartimaeus began to cry out like this when Jesus passed by? Because he knew that Jesus could heal the blind and because he was convinced that Jesus was the Son of David, God’s promised Messiah. So, when the Lord stopped and called him, throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus (v 50). He personally trusted in Jesus and he was not disappointed. And at the end Jesus sums it up: Your faith has made you well (v 52), your knowledge, your agreement and your trust!

Faith embraces the whole Christ. At first, I may see Him only as my Saviour from sin. As my faith matures, I also embrace Him as my shepherd who knows and satisfies all my needs; as my treasure to whom my heart clings; as my Lord who instructs me and to whom I submit; as the truth for my orientation; as overseer of my soul, and so much more.

What are the results of our conversion? Forgiveness of sin and an eternal relationship and union with Christ. I am now in Christ! What is happening to Him is happening to me, too. Has He died to sin? Then I, too! Was He raised to a new life? Then I, too!

What is true faith? The Heidelberg Catechism sums it up very nicely: “True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in His Word. At the same time it is a firm confidence that not only to others, but also to me, God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits. This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel” (Question 21).1

1 Quoted from the version authorized by the Canadian and American Reformed Churches.