One faith
But is this the faith of assurance, or faith of adherence? The Scripture mentions no such distinction. The apostle says: There is one faith and one hope of our calling (Ephesians 4:4-5), one Christian, saving faith, as there is one Lord in whom we believe, and one God and Father of us all (Ephesians 4:5-6). And it is certain this faith necessarily implies an assurance (which is here only another word for evidence, it being hard to tell the difference between them) that Christ loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). For he who believes with the true, living faith has the witness in himself (1 John 5:10). The Spirit witnesses with his spirit that he is a child of God (Romans 8:16). Because he is a son, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying Abba, Father (Galatians 4:6), giving him an assurance that he is so, and a childlike confidence in him. But let it be observed that, in the very nature of the thing, the assurance goes before the confidence. For a man cannot have a childlike confidence in God till he knows he is a child of God. Therefore confidence, trust, reliance, adherence, or whatever else it is called, is not the first, as some have supposed, but the second branch or act of faith.
1771 text
3. “But is this the faith of assurance, or faith of adherence?” The scripture mentions no such distinction. The apostle says, There is one faith, and one hope of our calling, one Christian, saving faith, as there is one Lord, in whom we believe, and one God and Father of us all. And it is certain, this faith necessarily implies an assurance (which is here only another word for evidence, it being hard to tell the difference between them) that Christ loved me, and gave himself for me. For he that believeth, with the true, living faith, hath the witness in himself. The Spirit witnesseth with his spirit, that he is a child of God. Because he is a Son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying Abba, Father: giving him an assurance that he is so, and a child-like confidence in him. But let it be observed, that, in the very nature of the thing, the assurance goes before the confidence. For a man cannot have a child-like confidence in God, till he knows, he is a child of God. Therefore confidence, trust, reliance, adherence, or whatever else it be called, is not the first, as some have supposed, but the second branch or act of faith.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 43 in the 1771 Works. Ephesians 2:8.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.