[b]How shall we know if we have saving faith?[/b](Thomas Watson, "Body of Divinity")How shall we know if we have saving faith?By the noble fruits and effects of saving faith.True faith is a Christ-prizing grace--it puts a high valuation upon Christ. "To you who believe--He is precious." See how Paul styles all things in comparison with Christ, "I count all things but rubbish, that I may win Christ." Do we set a high estimate upon Christ? Could we be willing to part with the wedge of gold--for the Pearl of great price?True faith is a refining grace. Faith is in the soul as fire among metals--it refines and purifies. Morality may wash the outside--but faith washes the inside. "Having purified their hearts by faith." Faith makes the heart a holy of holies. Faith is a virgin-grace; though it does not take away the life of sin--yet it takes away the love of sin. Examine if your hearts are an unclean fountain, sending out the mud and mire of pride and envy. If there are legions of lusts in your soul, there is no faith. Faith is a heavenly plant, which will not grow in an impure soil.True faith is an obediential grace. "The obedience of faith." Faith melts our will into God's. It runs at God's call. If God commands duty (though cross to flesh and blood) faith obeys. "By faith Abraham obeyed." Faith is not an idle grace. As it has an eye to see Christ--so it has a hand to work for Him. It not only believes God's promises--but obeys His commands. It is not having knowledge that will evidence you to be believers; the devil has knowledge, but lacks obedience--and that makes him a devil. The true obedience of faith, is a cheerful obedience. God's commands do not seem grievous. Have you obedience, and obey cheerfully? Do you look upon God's command as your burden--or privilege; as an iron fetter about your leg--or as a gold chain about your neck?True faith is an assimilating grace. It changes the soul into the image of the object; it makes it like Christ. Never did any look upon Christ with a believing eye--but he was made like Christ. A deformed person may look on a beautiful object, and not be made beautiful; but faith looking on Christ--transforms a man, and turns him into His similitude.Looking on a bleeding Christ--causes a soft bleeding heart.Looking on a holy Christ--causes sanctity of heart.Looking on a humble Christ--makes the heart humble.As the chameleon is changed into the color of that which it looks upon--so faith, looking on Christ, changes the Christian into the similitude of Christ.True faith grows. All living things grow. Growth of faith is seen by doing duties in a more spiritual manner, with more fervency. When an apple has done growing in bigness, it grows in sweetness. Just so, duties performedin love and are sweeter, and come off with a better relish.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon