1. What is saving faith?

 "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Saint Mark 16, 15-16.

 Saving faith is personal trust and confidence in the wonderful messages of the Gospel, that God for Christ's sake is gracious to all who believe in the atoning blood of His Son, shed on Calvary for the sins of the world.

2. What makes God merciful to sinners?

 "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." - Ephesians 5, 8.

 The bestowal upon the sinner of the mercies and benefits of Christ is the work of God alone, who is moved simply by "the riches of His grace."

3. How does saving faith justify?

 Not as a good work or as a source of good works, but simply as the means by which the sinner receives the grace of God and the merits of Christ which are offered to him in the Gospel.

4. Can I be sure of my salvation?

 "I know whom I have blieved, and am persuaded that He is able to kepp that which I have committed unto Him against that day." - 2 Timothe 1, 12.

 You can most ceratinly be sure of your salvation.  It depends not upon your good works or personal merit, but on Christ's free and sure salvation.  You may not always be conscious of your faith, but saving faith need not always be conscious faith.  Work-righteousness produces doubt and uncertainty, but trust in Christ alone will by heaven's promise bring the certain assurance of salvation.

5. Can little children believe?

 "Whoso shall offend on e of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his nick, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." - Saint Matthew 18, 6.

 The Bible definitely says that saving faith may be found also in infants.

6. What is the relationship between saving faith and good works?

 "In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." - Galatians 5, 6.

 Saving faith is never without good works, since good works are the necessary result or fruit of faith.  Although faith is the unfailing source of constant good works, fiath alson e saves as the means by which the believer receives the grace of God and the merits of Christ which are offered to him in the Gospel.  It is faith alone, and nothing else whatever, which is the means and instrument by which the grace of God and the merit of Christ in the promise of the Gospel are embraced, received and applied to us.

7. What do the terms "knowledge," "assent," and "confidence" mean?

 It is true that saving faith has been described as having three facets" knowledge, assent and confidence (trust).  They mean that a sinner must know of Christ, believe His message to be true, and then place his trust for time and eternity of that Redeemer.  However, saving faith cannot properly be divided, and the Bible often uses these terms synonymously.

8. How can I become a Christian?
 Come: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." - Saint John 6, 37.

 Receive: " As many as received Him, to them gave He pwer to become the sons of God." - Saint John 1, 12.

 Believe: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." - Saint John 3, 36.

 Christ Forgives All Who Ask.

 All Sinners: " For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." - Romans 3, 23.

 Every sin: " The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." - 1 Saint John 1, 7.

 How justified: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." - Romans 3, 24.

Test Paper - Lesson 12

1. Complete the following Bible passage: "God was in Christ, reconcicling ..................................,
......................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................." (2 Corinthians 5, 19)

2. Tell in your own words what saving faith is ..............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

3. In bestowing His blessings upon me, God is moved simply by His .............................................

4. Cross out the incorrect statements(s).
 a. Saving faith justifies because it is pleasing in God's sight.
 b. Saving faith justifies because it creates in us the pwer to do good works.
 c. Saving faith justifies as the means by which the siner receiver the grace of God.

5. Does God want us to be sure of our salvation? ..........................................................................

6. Complete the following Bible passage: "I ......................................... whom I have believed and
......................................................................................................................................................
........................................................." (2 Timothy 1, 12)

7. Check the statement whcih is true.
 a. The Bible teaches that infants cannot believe.
 b. Holy Scripture declares that saving faith may be found in even the smallest child.

8. Complete the following Bible passage: "He that believeth and is baptized .................................;
...................................................................................................................." (Saint Mark 16, 16)

9. Memorize the following Bible passage: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1, 7)

10. How is saving faith worked in the heart of man? .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the follwoing standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.