1. The grace of faith, by which God’s chosen are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. It is ordinarily worked by the ministry of the Word, by which, along the administration of the sacraments and prayer, the grace of faith is also increased and strengthened.

2. By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatever is revealed in the Word, on the basis of the authority of God himself speaking in it, and acts differently based on what each particular passage in it contains. A Christian yields obedience to the commands, trembles at the threats, and embraces the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting on Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.

3. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; it may be assailed often and in many ways and weakened, but it gets the victory, growing up in many Christians to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ, who is both the author and the finisher of our faith.