Carbon
Well-known member
Scripture speaks of four kinds of faith, historical, temporal, miraculous and saving faith.
Historical faith: Pertains to the knowledge of the history of the word of God. It acknowledges and embraces this as truth. Those however, who have such faith are not exorcized with these matters; they have no more effect upon such persons than secular history. It does not stir them within, and sometimes it does not even solicit a confession of truth.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Acts 26.
Temporal faith: Is a knowledge of, and assent to, evangelical truth as being veritable. It generates some natural motions within the affections of the soul, a confession of these truths with the church, and external behavior which is consistent with their confession - however, all this without being united to Christ unto justification , sanctification, and salvation. The following passages speak of such faith.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. Matt 13.
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Heb 6.
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 2 Peter 2.
Miraculous faith: miraculous faith is a heart felt conviction generated by the immediate operation of God, that a supernatural act will either occur due to a command given by us, or will be wrought upon us. However, the power for the execution of miracles is not to be found in man, but God executes them by His omnipotent power in response to this faith. This is to be observed in the following passages.
20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Cor 13.
9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. Acts 14.
Saving faith: First, prior to believing, it is through the preaching of the Word that there is engendered in man a conviction of his miserable condition in himself, and dissatisfaction and perplexity concerning his condition in reference to both his sinfulness and his guilt. This transpires with more or less emotion, in either a legal or an evangelical manner. He perceives himself to be separated from God, and understands that his salvation consists of being united to Him and in the enjoyment of His favor. He finds solution neither within himself nor with any other creature as to how he will satisfy the justice of God and acquire a perfect righteousness. He hears mention made of Jesus Christ as Surety, and begins to become acquainted with Him in His natures, offices, humiliation, and exaltation, becoming desirous to have Him as his Surety.
Secondly, he becomes acquainted with the offer of Christ in a general sense, but also in a specific sense, that is, that Christ is also offered to him, for he hears the gospel in which He is offered to everyone. No one is excluded, for whosoever will may come, and to this the promise is annexed that whoever comes will in no wise be cast out. He believes all this to be infallibly true, and rejoices that God has designed such a way of salvation, as well as that this way is made known to him. He approves of this way with his entire heart, and wishes to be saved in that way and in none other, there being no other way. With Peter he says, 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6.
Thirdly, he becomes hungry and thirsty. He becomes very desirous to become a partaker of Christ and all His benefits, to be reconciled to God through Him, and to walk with Him is peace, love, humility, and obedience. His desire is: Oh, that I had Christ, that I had reconciliation, and that I had Spirit and life! Thus Christ is precious to him.
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,” 1Peter 2.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matt 5.
Fourthly, he turns to Christ, and takes refuge in Him. ................
Fifthly, as he thus wrestles, he receives liberty to receive Him by faith. He knows himself to destitute, and he perceives Jesus as suitable, fully sufficient, willing, truthful, offering Himself, and promising that no one will be cast out who comes to Him. He receives Him, accepts His offer and invitation, and with all his heart he gives Him his hand, heart - yes, everything. He ponders at times whether the Lord Jesus would be willing to accept him as he is willing to have Him, for then he would certainly be saved. "Yes," he continues. "Jesus is willing, yes, more willing than I am, for He Himself takes the initiative, presents Himself, invites me, and He Himself draws me. While thus wrestling, he surrenders himself. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, John 1.
Brakel.
Now, what is the cause of faith according to scripture?
Historical faith: Pertains to the knowledge of the history of the word of God. It acknowledges and embraces this as truth. Those however, who have such faith are not exorcized with these matters; they have no more effect upon such persons than secular history. It does not stir them within, and sometimes it does not even solicit a confession of truth.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Acts 26.
Temporal faith: Is a knowledge of, and assent to, evangelical truth as being veritable. It generates some natural motions within the affections of the soul, a confession of these truths with the church, and external behavior which is consistent with their confession - however, all this without being united to Christ unto justification , sanctification, and salvation. The following passages speak of such faith.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. Matt 13.
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Heb 6.
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 2 Peter 2.
Miraculous faith: miraculous faith is a heart felt conviction generated by the immediate operation of God, that a supernatural act will either occur due to a command given by us, or will be wrought upon us. However, the power for the execution of miracles is not to be found in man, but God executes them by His omnipotent power in response to this faith. This is to be observed in the following passages.
20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Cor 13.
9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. Acts 14.
Saving faith: First, prior to believing, it is through the preaching of the Word that there is engendered in man a conviction of his miserable condition in himself, and dissatisfaction and perplexity concerning his condition in reference to both his sinfulness and his guilt. This transpires with more or less emotion, in either a legal or an evangelical manner. He perceives himself to be separated from God, and understands that his salvation consists of being united to Him and in the enjoyment of His favor. He finds solution neither within himself nor with any other creature as to how he will satisfy the justice of God and acquire a perfect righteousness. He hears mention made of Jesus Christ as Surety, and begins to become acquainted with Him in His natures, offices, humiliation, and exaltation, becoming desirous to have Him as his Surety.
Secondly, he becomes acquainted with the offer of Christ in a general sense, but also in a specific sense, that is, that Christ is also offered to him, for he hears the gospel in which He is offered to everyone. No one is excluded, for whosoever will may come, and to this the promise is annexed that whoever comes will in no wise be cast out. He believes all this to be infallibly true, and rejoices that God has designed such a way of salvation, as well as that this way is made known to him. He approves of this way with his entire heart, and wishes to be saved in that way and in none other, there being no other way. With Peter he says, 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6.
Thirdly, he becomes hungry and thirsty. He becomes very desirous to become a partaker of Christ and all His benefits, to be reconciled to God through Him, and to walk with Him is peace, love, humility, and obedience. His desire is: Oh, that I had Christ, that I had reconciliation, and that I had Spirit and life! Thus Christ is precious to him.
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,” 1Peter 2.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matt 5.
Fourthly, he turns to Christ, and takes refuge in Him. ................
Fifthly, as he thus wrestles, he receives liberty to receive Him by faith. He knows himself to destitute, and he perceives Jesus as suitable, fully sufficient, willing, truthful, offering Himself, and promising that no one will be cast out who comes to Him. He receives Him, accepts His offer and invitation, and with all his heart he gives Him his hand, heart - yes, everything. He ponders at times whether the Lord Jesus would be willing to accept him as he is willing to have Him, for then he would certainly be saved. "Yes," he continues. "Jesus is willing, yes, more willing than I am, for He Himself takes the initiative, presents Himself, invites me, and He Himself draws me. While thus wrestling, he surrenders himself. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, John 1.
Brakel.
Now, what is the cause of faith according to scripture?
