WSC 86
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.
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.
- 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,
- Isa. 26:3-4 — [3] You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. [4] Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
- 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 —
- Gal. 2:16 — [16] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Heb. 10:39 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WLC Q72 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WLC Q73 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?