The Nature of Saving Faith:
“Saving faith is our ‘believing the record that God hath given us of his Son,’ (1 John 5:10). ‘And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son,’ (1 John 5:11). This is the testimony which God gives, that great and sacred truth which he himself bears witness unto,—namely, that he hath freely prepared eternal life for them that believe, or provided a way of salvation for them. And what God so prepares he is said to give, because of the certainty of its communication. So grace was promised and given to the elect in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2). And that is so to be communicated unto them, in and by the mediation of his Son Jesus Christ, that it is the only way whereby God will give eternal life unto any; which is therefore wholly in him, and by him to be obtained, and from him to be received.”
Evidences of the Faith of God’s Elect:
First Evidence:
“Faith rejoiceth in the manifestation of the infinite wisdom of God. A view of the wisdom of God acting itself by his power in the works of creation (for in wisdom he made them all), is the sole reason of ascribing glory unto him in all natural worship, whereby we glorify him as God; and a due apprehension of the infinite wisdom of God in the new creation, in the way of saving sinners by Jesus Christ, is the foundation of all spiritual, evangelical ascription of glory to God.”
Second Evidence:
“True faith doth evidence itself in the souls and consciences of believers, unto their supportment and comfort under all their conflicts with sin, in all their trials and temptations, is by a constant approbation of the revelation of the will of God in the Scripture concerning our holiness, and the obedience unto himself which he requireth of us. This faith will never forego, whatever trials it may undergo, whatever darkness the mind may fall into; this it will abide by in all extremities.”
Third Evidence:
“Faith will evidence itself by a diligent, constant endeavour to keep itself and all grace in due exercise in all ordinances of divine worship, private and public.”
Fourth Evidence:
“True faith will evidence itself by bringing the soul into a state of repentance.”
The Works of John Owen: Gospel Grounds and Evidences of the Faith of God’s Elect, Originally published in 1695.
