THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19
Galatians 5:16-25
Ephesians 2:8-9

“… but thy law do I love.”

THE SPIRIT’S GIFT OF FAITH

“Somehow I had the feeling that I was saved. I had the faith once I made my decision for Christ.” Is this the kind of faith you rely on? My friend, our chief concern is whether we have “saving faith,” the faith that effectually unites us to our Saviour. That faith is not a natural act of the mind assenting to the Gospel, of deciding for Christ, as one may assent to any other truth when suitably convinced.

Saving faith is God’s gift imparted to the believer by a supernatural act of the Spirit (Eph 2:8-9). How does the Spirit impart saving faith? The sinner hearing the Word is quickened by the Spirit, awakened to his lost condition and convicted of his sin. By the Spirit’s further working, he is brought to realize his vileness and guilt, and his utter unacceptability before God.

As a lad of ten, I heard the Gospel and recognized my sinful lost condition. I knew that no human power could help me. I was convinced that without Christ I was lost, condemned, without hope, without strength to save myself. The Word of God said, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6). Christ died for me! With tears of contrition I called on the Saviour, “Lord, save me. I believe that You died to save me. I put all my trust in You and none other.”

That was my prayer of salvation. Thank God for enabling me to pray that prayer. It was the Spirit who implanted that faith in me. I thank God that He emptied me of all self-confidence and self-righteousness. The Spirit showed me my need and led me to the Saviour. It was all God’s doing – not of works, all of faith. Saving faith!

This faith has sustained me these past many decades. Whenever in doubt, the Spirit reassures me. Whenever discouraged, He upholds me. If I had trusted in my own reasoning and intellect, my Christian life would have shipwrecked long ago. But the Spirit’s gift of faith will see me through to final victory.

THOUGHT: (Read 1 John 5:4.)
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to walk more by faith, less by sight.