By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
The effects of true faith include belief in the truth of the word of God. This is a key distinction between the believer and the unbeliever. Many non-Christians complain that the Scriptures make no sense to them, or they scoff and mock at the "immorality" and "contradictions" contained therein. On the other hand, it is the testimony of many who have come to faith that suddenly the Scriptures come alive to them, that they for the first time appreciate the beauty and seamlessness of the word, that it all makes sense and marvelously coheres. Along with this comes a recognition of God's authority in the Scriptures. As R. C. Sproul has observed, the reader often stands in judgment over any other book, but when reading the Scriptures they stand in judgment over him. Hence comes obedience to the commands, trembling at the warnings, and embrace of the promises.
The Confession then enumerates the classical division of the components of saving faith:
1. Notitia--knowledge; an understanding of the content of Christian belief.
2. Assensus--acceptance; acknowledgement that the content is, in fact, true.
3. Fiducia--trust; consigning one's eternal fate to the object of faith.
One may have knowledge, and may even accept that such knowledge comports with reality (i.e., is true), but until one trusts oneself to that knowledge one lacks faith.
Tomorrow: The Victor and the victory of faith.
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