WLC 72

Q72. What is justifying faith?

Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.

Proof texts

• Heb. 10:39 — [39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
• 2 Cor. 4:13 — [13] Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,
• Eph. 1:17-19 — [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
• Rom. 10:14,17 — [14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• Acts 2:37 — [37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
• Acts 4:12 — [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• Acts 16:30 — [30] Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
• John 16:8-9 — [8] And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
• Rom. 5:6 — [6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
• Eph. 2:1 — [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
• Eph. 1:13 — [13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
• John 1:12 — [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
• Acts 10:43 — [43] To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
• Acts 16:31 — [31] And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
• Phil. 3:9 — [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith —
• Acts 15:11 — [11] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Heb. 10:39 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 16 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. HC Q59 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. BC 6.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

HC Q59 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3