35

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?
All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself. (Titus 3:4-6) (from here)

Thank you for giving me faith, Lord. I saw that Christianity was desperately important and I saw that if it was true, I must sign on. It was you who made me so sure of its truth, even before I'd heard the historical evidence. I wasn't even there intellectually - had someone asked me, I may well have said that it could be true spiritually but not literally. Yet that wasn't what I believed - without understanding it, in my heart I knew it to be actually, really true.

My faith brought me life, now and always. Thank you.

34

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God's Word?
Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ. (1 Peter 2:9-12) (from here)

Lord Jesus, you saved us that we might make something of our lives. You could not be more loving or more good and generous. You could not have done more for us. What you did was unthinkably, unimaginably, breathtakingly, heartbreakingly kind. A deed so beautiful it illuminated all history.

We submit to you because in an instant you won our hearts. And it is so good living as you tell us to live. There could not be a better Master or Dad.

You change us. You are more than the best human ruler - you are God Almighty, and having won us, you change us. We are obedient when it hurts; we do things we never would have done before. For now we know you. And if we sometimes doubt our faith, we have these changes to assure us that it is real.

May we never grow weary in doing good. May we fight for it, fight with your Spirit. May there be nothing in our lives that says you are not good or you are not strong. May it be our greatest privilege and joy to follow you. May our changed character be a source of great assurance. May people be saved as they look on our good, hope-filled lives.

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Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ.To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. (Galatians 2:16) (from here)

Thank you, Lord - I might doubt your desire and power to work in the world and be endlessly worried that I'm not serving as I should, but on this most basic of beliefs I do okay. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for assuring me that I am saved and safe only because of Him. Thank you, Lord, that it is so and that I know it to be so. That you did it all, leaving nothing, nothing for me. That on the cross it was done.

Thank you that in those times when I feel like I'm not good enough to approach you, that that is exactly what you died for - for people not good enough to approach you. That in those moments I don't need to - I should not - first improve myself and then draw close. That I can and must simply kneel at your feet and receive forgiveness. Thank you, Lord, that these times don't come as a surprise to you, but they have been provided for - that there is no sin that falls outside of what you brought to pass, hanging there.

There is nothing else; there is no other hope; we do not even have hope in ourselves. Praise you that it is all in you. All!

32

What do justification and santification mean?

Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us. (1 Peter 1:1-2) (from here)

We are perfect in you. Knowing this, we strive to live out who we are, having our very selves changed by you. It's radical and profound and I am well-accustomed to it. Yet my life betrays how feeble is my actual faith - the anxiety, worry, stress, pressure, and striving I live by show I doubt my perfection and the security I have in you. I strive for my sanctification with more than a glad, grateful confidence and a serious purpose. Forgive me, Lord. Thank you for the people who have helped me to - at last - see this about myself. Give me the assurance I lack - of your goodness, power, and trustworthiness and my security in you. Help me ever strive, but as your beloved child. Have mercy on me.

31

What do we believe by true faith?
Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. (Jude 1:3) (from here)

Thank you, Lord, for the things we know to be true. Thank you for speaking to us and letting us know your thoughts and the sort of God you are - a little similar, but so very different to human-made gods. Thank you for the things you have done in the world before the eyes of all, and for the things you promise to do.

Lord, sometimes I grow weary of the Apostle's Creed and its truths seem faded. Forgive me. Help me thrill at the profundity and surity of these words and at the privilege of being part of this great family stretching out across countries and years, together affirming the very same things.

Praise you for who you are, Father, Son and Spirit! Praise you for what you have done on this earth - on that hill! Praise you for the coming consummation of all! Now I know what it is to live. I am to live under you. It has been your pleasure to save me and have me repeat these words with all my heart and mind. And I thank you for it.

30

What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (Galatians 2:20) (from here)

Thank you for giving me faith, Lord. So many times I see intelligent people completely misunderstanding the cross, returning to that old idea of good behaviour. Sometimes they get it - and nothing changes, it has zero effect on their lives. Thank you for lifting the veil from my eyes and heart so I recognised the truth of what was said and was willing to bank my life on it. You gave me the gift and you opened my hands to receive it. My life would be other had you not stepped in - my death too.

Thank you for your mercy. Thank you that the security of my faith is my trust in him, no matter how fervant or faltering that trust might be. Yet please help it grow strong as I know him more. Give me this too. The gift, the open hands, the eager embrace.

29

How can we be saved?
Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him. (Ephesians 2:8-9) (from here)

I never got to this point. I think I simply saw that you were Lord and began to follow you, learning more of you and your ways as I went along. I never asked this question - I was absolutely looking for help, but help in earthly things, never help in the face of death.

But I shudder at the thought of not being saved - that that's what I once was, that it's what my friends are. I see the awful danger of it. I see the futility of trying to right things ourselves and I see that our only hope is to humble ourselves and throw ourselves on your mercy. That it is every bit a saving or a rescue as when someone's drowing in the shallows or on an organ waiting list or in the darkness of a paedophile's brothel.

How then can we be saved? By jumping into your arms. By believing that you will catch us. By believing that you can catch us.

You are better than a lifeguard, better than an organ donor, than a policeman, than an ordinary citizen picking through rubble in the hope of hearing someone's voice or a boyfriend lying in front of his girl so his body might take the bullets meant for her. These beautiful deeds are but pale shadows of you. You saved us from horror when there was no injustice in it. You secured heaven for us for all eternity and in the face of all threat. And you did it at such cost.

Thank you that when we ask about salvation, there is something to be said.