"Saving faith."
I. NOT ONE OF SEVERAL KINDS OF FAITH, BUT SIMPLY FAITH PROPERLY DIRECTED, AND PRACTICALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHRIST'S POWER. Much confusion on this subject. Theologians have spoken of different sorts of faith, as speculative, practical, historical, realizing, and saving. There is but one faith, a faculty of the soul. What is needed is not the faculty, which already exists, but the proper direction or destination of it. That is a true faith by which I see and appropriate the truth; that a saving faith by which salvation is seen and received.
II. FAITH DOES NOT SAVE THROUGH ITS OWN VIRTUE OR POWER, BUT BY BRINGING THE SOUL INTO CONTACT WITH THE VIRTUE AND POWER—THE SALVATION OF CHRIST. It is not the cause of salvation, but the condition. The only Savior is Christ, but he saves us through our having faith towards him. By our having faith towards Christ what is his becomes ours; we enter into union and fellowship with him. His life, righteousness, spirit, become ours; and we are identified with him in his sacrifice for sin.
III. SO ALSO OUR FAITH IS THE MEASURE OF THE SAYING GRACE WE RECEIVE. St. Matthew puts it thus: "According to your faith be it unto you." Bartimaeus's faith was strong and practical, and it saved him, by uniting him to the power and holiness of Christ. A weak faith will ever entail spiritual weakness. To be "made whole" we must believe with our whole heart.—M.
HOMILIES BY A. ROWLAND