Three Aspects ofFaith

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are
they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to
hear without someone preaching? (v.14).
- Romans 10:1417
Faith, we have seen, is the instrumental cause of justification, the sole
instrument through which we can lay hold of Christs perfect righteousness in
order to receive the Fathers approval. The declaration of righteousness
pronounced over those who trust in Jesus alone does not take our works into
account at all, but that does not mean justified persons lack good works. After
all, our good works are the inevitable and necessary result of justification,
though they are not in any sense even part of the reason God declares a
person just in His sight (James2:1426).
Roman Catholicism rejects the Protestant, biblical doctrine of justification for
a view that says we are justified by our faith and our good works. Romes fear
that justification by faith alone might lead people to sin with abandon has
been one motivation for this rejection. Protestants are in good company here.
Paul also confronted charges that justification by faith alone leads to
immorality (Rom.6:14).
Magisterial Reformers such as John Calvin answered Romes objection with a
robust defense of good works as the necessary fruit of saving faith. But they
also worked to address Romes misunderstanding of what Protestants believe
about the nature of faith. During the Reformation, as in our day, people often
characterized faith as a casual acceptance of the truth. The Reformers, on the
other hand, recognized three essential components of saving faith: notitia,
assensus, and fiducia.
Faith always has an object, namely, Jesus Christ. To believe in Jesus, we must
first know something about Him. This content comprises the notitia of faith,
and it is delivered to people through the churchs teaching ministry
(Rom.10:1417).
Knowing a body of content, however, is not enough for saving faith. We must
also affirm the truth of this content. Millions of people know something about
Christianity but do not believe it is true. Saving faith requires assensus, the
conviction that the content of the notitia istruth.
Finally, even knowing the facts and believing them to be true are not enough
in themselves to make us Christians. Demons affirm the truth of what God
has said, but they do not trust Him (James 2:19). Fiducia the entrusting of
ourselves into the hands of Christ, the Living Truth must also be present
for ourjustification.
Coram Deo

Saving faith is not a cold, empty rationalism that simply gives intellectual
assent to facts. At the same time, it is not a blind entrusting of ourselves into
the hands of someone else. Instead, it is a warm, intellectually vital embrace
of the Savior and His promises, believing that He can and will do all that He
has pledged. It is the willingness to trust Him and His Word in any and all
circumstances, and an eagerness to repent when we doubtHim.