Sinclair Ferguson: The Nature of Saving Faith
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 чер 2015
- Saving faith is not merely mental acceptance of the Gospel, and justification is not secured by a mere outward profession of faith. As Dr. Sinclair Ferguson will explain in this message, saving faith includes mental assent to the content of the Gospel, acknowledgement of our sin and need, and personal trust and reliance upon Christ and his work.
This message is from our 2008 National Conference, Evangelism According to Jesus: • Evangelism According t...
Purchase this conference on DVD: www.ligonier.org/store/evangel...
Beautiful sermon, thank you for such a rich word of God, a great delivery.
My Pastor for 7 years. Every Lord's day, normally morning and evening, then Wednesday often two more messages. What a blessing it was to have this kind of preaching. Moreover, he lived what he preached and has a heart to be an extraordinary pastor. How I miss him. My testimony is I have never met a Christian as Godly as DR. Ferguson. RC Sproul and John MacArthur are my next two favorite preachers.
Amen! You were fortunate to have him as your pastor. He’s the one minister I always wish could be my pastor. And I am wild Pentecostal/Charismatic evangelical! But his messages are full of meat and deep and totally heartfelt and sincere. One of my all time favorite ministers. Glad I was able to discover him.
His message of Union with Christ has always been one of my goals in imparting to the evangelicals. It’s SO important.
For a moment I thought you meant he went to be with the Lord, then I saw the date on the next video. Spooked me there for a sec.
Be good
I ATTENDED
,FAITHFULLY,EIGHT-TEEN YEARS,A PENTACOSTAL FAITH,AND RECEIVED AWESOME BIBICAL TRUTHS,
BEFORE THEN,WAS DRAWN BY GOD THRU A PERSONAL ONE IN ONE,EXSPIRENCE,IN MY HOME,LATE HOURS OF THE NITE,AFTER WATCHING THE SAD STORY,OF THE LYNNBURG BABY TRIAL. MY HEART BROKE,AND I CRIED SO HARD THAT I CONFRONTED GOD ,SAYING WHY, ETC.
THEN A BIBLE WAS THERE ON MY COUNTER AND HOW OR WHERE IT CAME FROM,I DON'T KNOW, BUT IN TEARS I OPENED IT N A LINE WAS MOVING BEFORE MY EYES AND IT SAID (WOE TO THEM WHO LAY A HAND ON ONE OF MY LITTLE-ONES,
IT BE BETTER A MILL-STONE AROUND THEIR NECK,AND CAST INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA, THEN TO LAY A HAND,ON ONE IF MY LITTLE -ONES.
,,,,, NOT ALL HAV SUCH A EXPERIENCE,BUT GOD SEEN IT WAS TO BE SO,FOR ME AT THAT MOMENT .
THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO,AND AFTER THE SAD,DEPARTURE FROM A CHURCH,AFTER EIGHTEEN YEARS,THEN IT CHANGED ITS MESSAGED N WAYS,,BREAKING MANY OF THE BROTHERS N SISTERS IN THE LORD'S,HEARTS,
I CONTINUED MY WALK, WTH THE LORD, FAILING , IN REPENTANCE OFTEN,AND KEPT MY FAITH IN THE LORD, LOOKING TO HIS HOLY-BIBLE,FOR MY STRENTH N FAITH-BUILDING,
AND THE WITNESS N TEACHING OF GODS WORD,ALL POWERFUL, FROM THESE THEOLOGIANS, AND OLD-TIME PREACHERS,AS SPURGON, AND OTHERS FROM 1800'S N BEFORE
,GOD GIVEN ME N DOES,A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING, N APPRECIATING,
FOR
THESE SUCH MEN OF GOD. ITS HARD TO FIND A CHURCH HOME,WHERE SUCH OREACHINGNOF GODS ALPOWERFUL WORD IS
PREACHED. THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO STILL DO PREACH GODS WORD..
I agree, you are blessed to have him as your Pastor, I could listen to him for hours. A godly vessel for the word of God.
This sermon should be played in every church at least 4 times a year to remind us of the true nature of saving faith.
+Robert Morrissette ...AND ON EVERY RADIO STATION NON STOP BY SINCLAIR FERGUSON ALONE....
Robert Morrissette. Totally agree with you.
Robert Morrissette - Yes!
When I first heard this message - I was thinking how gratefull I am to have been able to hear this message and was thinking about the rest of the world - and hoping they too can know this!!!
Absolutely!!
AMEN!
Love you Sinclair. One of my most favorite ministers
I never get tired to hear his teachings and I am always inspired and touched by the light he brings to God’s words. Thank you.🙏✝️📖🌹🌺
Oh how I love the Word, Thank all of you for your beautiful teaching of the Word. Since I retired at 70 working in a factory , being blessed for this as well, I can now devote my mind to our Lords teachings . Praise be to God Amen and Amen 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
That's so wonderful. I feel just like that!
I love this sermon/teaching, and that Pastor Ferguson mentioned 2 of my favorite “old divines” John Knox & Martin Luther ❤️ Pastor Ferguson is one of my favorite present day preachers ❤️
Clearly presented this genius truth of the Gospel. Thank you , Pastor.
Please everyone pray for me that I would come to saving faith in Jesus Christ I suffer from self sabotage judging myself unworthy beating myself up
Are you born again?
you sound like a saved person to me, lost people dont struggle with sin or or lack of assurance, please get out of the calvinist church and trust in Jesus not your flesh.
salvation is not a FEELING its knowing the truth and believing it, and only that comforts you.
@@markwhite5926 I don’t know, I’ve been bound by a wrong self image that I think makes it difficult to receive from him
@@livingwater7580you have a severe misunderstanding of Calvinism.
I love his accent, I had a little chuckle when he said "former sins" with his Scottish accent it sounded like "farmer sins" ...gee, what are those farmers doing? LOL. but honestly, I love this man, and in my "not always" humble opinion..he is the greatest theologian alive.
Absolutely wonderful message!
This man's teaching is so penetrating and powerful to me. I would not have known it without these Ligonier archives. I am a humbled and grateful man.
When. Jesus taught..to His disciple's. He mentioned these words...,before you can be fully saved . you must eat of my flesh and drink of my blood.
What He was making clear is that we must take of Him as food and drink !
He must be inside of us. Not just along side.!
Grace and peace! ✌😎✌
Absolutely brilliant and refreshing.
Thank you for much. I needed to hear these words.
Brilliant
AMEN.
Sarah Ward. Christ said that He is the door, to everlasting life. To me this means we must open the door and go in to Christ. Though the Veil ! We must go boldly before the Throne of God's grace.!
🙏🏻. Yes. Maybe you should make a video spread the word
Opening the door was never mentioned by Jesus. Opening the door would be a work by you. Faith Alone
Thank THE LORD FOR UA-cam. WELL BECAUSE LOOK AT THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE. GREAT BIBLICAL TEACHERS. GOES TO SHOW YOU CHOOSE GOOD OR EVIL. BUT AS FOR US WE CHOOSE THE CREATOR GOD OF ABRAHAM ISAAC AND ISRAEL. THE I AM YHWH JESUS CHRIST LORD
Romans 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
it's just Faith, Faith in Jesus is saving Faith because Faith is what saves you saving faith is believing in Jesus for ETERNAL life.
John 17 Jesus high priestly prayer
3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THOU HAST SENT.
NOTHING ELSE SAVES YOU EVEN IF YOU HAVE MUSTERED SEED FAITH YOU CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS.
If you like Sinclair Ferguson try Stuart Olyott, Sacha Walicord, Paul Washer, Ian Paisley, Paris Reidhead.
Sinclair forgot this question:
*[[Rom 3:3]] KJV* For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
joey candelaria. You can be sure he didn't forget it. In a 1 hour message no one can cover everything. He preached through Romans at our church and I cannot imagine a better series that took 2 1/2 years. Hyper criticism is so easy. For the venue, the audience and time restraints, he did an extraordinary job.
Joseph Mellen - I don't know why anyone who believes GOD and trusts CHRIST JESUS would not love to hear this sermon - I would think it would be music to their ears!?
God justified u
THE SUFFICIENCY OF GRACE
The classic issue between Augustinian theology and all forms of semi-Pelagianism focuses on one aspect of the order of salvation (ordo salutis): What is the relationship between regeneration and faith?
Is regeneration a monergistic or synergistic work? Must a person first exercise faith in order to be born again? Or must rebirth occur before a person is able to exercise faith?
Another way to state the question is this: Is the grace of regeneration operative or cooperative?
Monergistic regeneration means that regeneration is accomplished by a single actor, God. It means literally a "one-working." Synergism, on the other hand, refers to a work that involves the action of two or more parties.
It is a co-working. All forms of semi-Pelagianism assert some sort of synergism in the work of regeneration. Usually God's assisting grace is seen as a necessary ingredient, but it is dependent on human cooperation for its efficacy.
The Reformers taught not only that regeneration does precede faith but also that it must precede faith. Because of the moral bondage of the unregenerate sinner, he cannot have faith until he is changed internally by the operative, monergistic work of the Holy Spirit. Faith is regeneration's fruit, not its cause.
According to semi-Pelagianism regeneration is wrought by God, but only in those who have first responded in faith to him. Faith is seen not as the fruit of regeneration, but as an act of the will cooperating with God's offer of grace.
Evangelicals are so called because of their commitment to the biblical and historical doctrine of justification by faith alone. Because the Reformers saw sola fide as central and essential to the biblical gospel, the term evangelical was applied to them.
Modern evangelicals in great numbers embrace the sola fide of the Reformation, but have jettisoned the sola gratia that undergirded it.
"Justification by faith only" is a truth that needs interpretation.
The principle of sola fide is not rightly understood till it is seen as anchored in the broader principle of sola gratia. What is the source and status of faith? Is it the God-given means whereby the God-given justification is received, or is it a condition of justification which is left to man to fulfill?
Is it a part of God's gift of salvation, or is it man's own contribution to salvation? Is our salvation wholly of God, or does it ultimately depend on something that we do for ourselves?
Those who say the latter (as the Arminians later did) thereby deny man's utter helplessness in sin, and affirm that a form of semi-Pelagianism is true after all.
It is no wonder, then, that later Reformed theology condemned Arminianism as being in principle a return to Rome (because in effect it turned faith into a meritorious work) and a betrayal of the Reformation (because it denied the sovereignty of God in saving sinners, which was the deepest religious and theological principle of the Reformers’ thought).
Arminianism was, indeed, in Reformed eyes a renunciation of New Testament Christianity in favor of New Testament Judaism; for to rely on oneself for faith is no different in principle from relying on oneself for works, and the one is as un-Christian and anti-Christian as the other. In the light of what Luther says to Erasmus, there is no doubt that he would have endorsed this judgment."
I must confess that the first time I read this paragraph, I blinked. On the surface it seems to be a severe indictment of Arminianism. Indeed it could hardly be more severe than to speak of it as "un-Christian" or "anti-Christian."
Every Christian has errors of some sort in his thinking. Our theological views are fallible. Any distortion in our thought, any deviation from pure, biblical categories may be loosely deemed "un-Christian" or "anti-Christian."
The fact that our thought contains un-Christian elements does not demand the inference that we are therefore not Christians at all.
Arminianism contains un-Christian elements in it and that their view of the relationship between faith and regeneration is fundamentally un-Christian.
Is this error so egregious that it is fatal to salvation? People often ask if I believe Arminians are Christians? I usually answer, "Yes, barely." They are Christians by what we call a felicitous inconsistency.
What is this inconsistency? Arminians affirm the doctrine of justification by faith alone. They agree that we have no meritorious work that counts toward our justification, that our justification rests solely on the righteousness and merit of Christ, that sola fide means justification is by Christ alone, and that we must trust not in our own works, but in Christ’s work for our salvation. In all this they differ from Rome on crucial points.
Later Reformed theology, however, condemned Arminianism as a betrayal of the Reformation and in principle as a return to Rome.
Arminianism "in effect turned faith into a meritorious work."
We notice that this charge is qualified by the words in effect. Usually Arminians deny that their faith is a meritorious work.
If they were to insist that faith is a meritorious work, they would be explicitly denying justification by faith alone. The Arminian acknowledges that faith is something a person does. It is a work, though not a meritorious one.
Is it a good work? Certainly it is not a bad work. It is good for a person to trust in Christ and in Christ alone for his or her salvation. Since God commands us to trust in Christ, when we do so we are obeying this command.
But all Christians agree that faith is something we do. God does not do the believing for us. We also agree that our justification is by faith insofar as faith is the instrumental cause of our justification.
All the Arminian wants and intends to assert is that man has the ability to exercise the instrumental cause of faith without first being regenerated. This position clearly negates sola gratia, but not necessarily sola fide.
Then why say that Arminianism "in effect" makes faith a meritorious work? Because the good response people make to the gospel becomes the ultimate determining factor in salvation.
I often ask my Arminian friends why they are Christians and other people are not. They say it is because they believe in Christ while others do not.
Then I inquire why they believe and others do not? "Is it because you are more righteous than the person who abides in unbelief?" They are quick to say no. "Is it because you are more intelligent?" Again the reply is negative.
They say that God is gracious enough to offer salvation to all who believe and that one cannot be saved without that grace. But this grace is cooperative grace.
Man in his fallen state must reach out and grasp this grace by an act of the will, which is free to accept or reject this grace. Some exercise the will rightly (or righteously), while others do not.
When pressed on this point, the Arminian finds it difficult to escape the conclusion that ultimately his salvation rests on some righteous act of the will he has performed. He has "in effect" merited the merit of Christ, which differs only slightly from the view of Rome.
facebook.com/lovejoypeaceforever
John Stewart. Well done.
All I can say is the Truth of it all can only really be Known in Truth if one has Experienced the differences and had the discernment to Understand that one in and of themselves has nothing to do with it, but only having been enabled to Respond. A dead person cannot respond to anything
Can someone tell me where in the Bible it says we’re saved by “saving faith”?
Anyone? Mine says faith. Just simple faith.
Could this be because the term “saving faith” backloads .. sneaks .. works into the gospel of free grace?
Anyone .. “saving faith” anywhere in your bibles?
I am up early working on my class to teach next quarter. Lot’s to do by preparation. So much for being “Dr. Stevie-Weevie!” LOL!
😁😅
I am 79 and have been a Christian many years. I only discovered Dr. Ferguson during the lockdown. Have never understood election, and many key things that he has taught but mostly that he has revealed and brought JESUS to me. South African.
Watch my video series "What is Saving Faith by Gordon Clark."
You clearly haven't read Ken Wilson's paper. Wilson, Kenneth M. "Reading James 2:18-20 with Anti-Donatist Eyes: Untangling Augustine's Exegetical Legacy." Journal of Biblical Literature, vol. 139 no. 2, 2020, p. 385-407
Reformed and Calvinism are just other ways to say BIBLICAL theology. All other forms of theology are departures from the faith once for all delivered to the saints. These other forms are "another gospel" (Galatians 1:8,9), largely by using an anthropological rather than God/Christ centered hermeneutic.
calvinism is another gospel,
Calvinism = BIBLICAL theology? This is what BIBLE calls IDOLATRY! ;)
Calvinism is built on flamboyant philosophy, empty speculations but poor biblical theology. Anything could be proved through these fancy reasonings. Speculative theology plus defective philosophy equal Calvinism.
I am , by God’s grace, a Protestant. But Calvinism doesn’t represent Protestantism. Whoever believes will be saved!
skip to 2:30
Reformed theology is fascinating. It requires strong foundational emotional investment in order to embrace it. It is a belief system that seems to pride itself on "feeling right". But it makes neither logical nor scriptural sense when looked at without emotional filters, no matter how eloquently presented it is (I love me some Sinclair Ferguson as much as the next guy). The fact that it elevates the Apostle Paul and his teaching above everything and everyone else (Jesus included) in the Bible should be a red flag at the very least. And really, it's a very specific understanding and presentation of Paul's teaching - it doesn't indicate that the Apostle himself actually taught what's being preached. People define "grace", "faith", "law", "works" and "salvation" in different ways, and thus paint radically different understandings of the basic gospel message to begin with. "Saved by grace through faith" means "go to Heaven undeservedly by just believing it to be so" to one Christian, and means "Be delivered from sin and recreated in His image by His strength and enablement, through intentionally enacting it daily" to another. Talk about "another gospel", lol... "Will the real Apostle Paul please stand up!" He can't... the real Paul is kneeling before our King... the Reformed version of Paul doesn't need to stand up - he's elevated highly already... we see him very clearly....
Funny, you have the exact opposite problem that non-reformed Christians have with the reformed. They say, reformed theology takes too much emotion and humanity out of the gospel, and you say it puts too much in. You also say that different Christians understand terms differently. That doesn't matter in the slightest to the truth behind them. What matters is what the right understanding is, right? Paul said exactly what Jesus said. We love the writings of the Apostles because they help us to understand with clarity what exactly Jesus said. That does not mean we love the Apostles more than Jesus, does it? Certainly not. Peace to you.
@@dimains6011 Paul said exactly what Jesus said?
That bears a closer look. Here's an example:
Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Here's Galatians 5:14: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Also see: Romans 13:9]
Another huge distinction between the two is the topic of grace itself. Paul pioneered the idea of grace - which is why Calvinists love him so much (they aren't called "the Doctrines of Grace" for nothing.) Yet Jesus never even mentions grace once, in any of the gospels, in Acts 1 or in Revelation. At all. The only time it is attributed to Him is in 2 Corinthians 12:9, in which Paul is relaying a conversation between he and the Lord - and it makes grace and strength synonymous. So Jesus never mentions or teaches on grace, yet it is the backbone of our gospel understanding - not just Reformed. Explain that to me.
The only place in the gospels where the "unmerited favor" idea of grace is presented (in concept) is in Matthew 18:27... the Lord has compassion, forgives and sets free... then afterwards revokes His grace and reinstates the debt, based on the behavior of the servant He forgave.
Paul's teachings and example are wonderful, but he was hardly perfect, and definitely not worth elevating to the status that we raise him to. His thoughts in Romans 3 and Romans 9 are also problematic. Yet I can't help but think that the real Paul also looks at his modern caricature with a measure of disgust as well... the church has slowly warped him and his teachings into something unrecognizable. Kinda like what we've done with Jesus, now that I think about it...
One thing you both need to understand (And I hope this is so.) Jesus was the drama and Paul so eloquently explains that drama. Sure Jesus taught doctrine but His primary role was to do what could be done by no other and Paul explains why. How precious a gift we are given.
Til our faith be turned to sight.
@@spi1141 Jesus taught plenty as well, but I think I see what you're trying to say. If you read the other gentleman's comment, it becomes clear that he doesn't believe in the inerrancy of scripture, so he really has no foundation to stand on.
@@dimains6011 Certainly he has viewed Reformed Theology in an inconsistent light as so often happens. That’s why I have such a problem with red letter Bibles, since they highlight the words spoken by Jesus. Does that then mean that those words in black take on less meaning? Perish the thought, though I have met such unstable souls who call themselves “pure Christian” yet never leave the confines of their minds to grasp the understanding that all of the Scripture is about Christ. I’m not saying he is like them to that extreme, but clearly he has a dispensational mindset which inserts gaps into his understanding. I pray that he is led by The Spirit to resolve those disconnects that are so prevalent in the Evangelical Church in America today.
In the 30 years Christ has made me to follow, I never thought I would witness the fact that there is a very good chance that Christianity will be destroyed in this Country, although the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church. The change from the emphasis of objective truth to “my experience” or “my testimony,” is the death rattle. I pray I am wrong. Maranatha.
I don't have this faith, and I have not been able to find it. I find that now it seems I've grown hostile toward God/Jesus and I do not know what to do. I know I'm a damned sinner, but I cannot see it; I know Jesus is the greatest treasure, the great and all satisfying Lord and Savior, the bread of life--and yet I don't know it. There's a disconnect between my intellect and my being, and I fear I'm falling further and further from any chance of being saved, if I'm not already beyond it.
Your worry and your fear is your signal to get on your knees and allow Him to show you more about Why you care, isn't it? Why you worry about your salvation is something only God can reveal to you, isn't it? You may be fighting when you could be doing something else. I don't know enough to guide you correctly but you're saying that you care about your condition. God loves you so much and cares about you so much He's piercing your conscience. If your heart were hardened or if God had turned away from you...you wouldn't be feeling that or writing about it. I beg you to walk toward Jesus in faith that He can take care of you better than you yourself can. Keep Him in front of you, I beg you. With my Love and sincerest prayers I ask you to continue to read your bible and watch these teachings daily with gratitude for your feelings. I will pray for you as I have struggled many times for a long period when I thought it might be too late or not worth trying. Remember the only question Jesus asked the often disobedient Peter was "Do you love me."
Calvin and luther or any other from the reformation dont have the last word
It is all written i dont know why they always have to quote one of them
As if the word of God needs someone's elses view to solidify what the Holy Bible says
Quote Bible always its more powerful than any mans word
I truly love sinclair and know he is a godly man but just like all the rest in the reformed community they stand on their reformed traditions making it some kind of idol
Its so simple in a way you need truth read your Holy Bible and pray that Elohim will give you wisdom knowledge amd understanding to descern truth
The greates preacher and teacher is Elohim Yeshua Messiah and we have His word (the whole Bible)
Simply a smooth talking wolf and sheep‘s clothing wake up people!!!
Wolves do not tend the flock with such grace.
The message is too theoretical for the simple minded! The simple minded believe in the Lord Jesus and obey his commandments/ live by his words.That is how the simple minded keep faith in Jesus Christ.
That’s really a wonderful theology and theologian. However, it’s really a defective teaching if this sublime grace is not freely offered to all and each human being so whoever could believe by the gracious help of the enabling work of the Holy Ghost.
lose the WORDLY SUIT.
The western suit is a upside-down pentagram.
It even has the goat ears.
Do you really claim the SUIT is not worldly?
A nice dress sweater pants and shoes is good.
Simply a smooth talking wolf in sheep‘s clothing wake up people!!!!
🤣🤣🤣
faith is without question and its works is without merit, mans ego loves to question every thing and put merit to what it has questioned.But he is a Jew who is in secret, and circumcision is that which is of the heart, in The Spirit and not by the Scriptures, whose glory is not from the children of men, but from God.
Protestant beliefs are contradictory and self refuting which means it cannot be of God.
Belief 1) Good works is only a fruit or sign of salvation
Belief 2) Man will always produce bad fruit (sin)
Conclusion: No Protestant is saved because they will always produce bad fruit
1) Good works are a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a sign of salvation.
2) In his natural state, man will always produce bad fruit (sin).
3) The only way for a man to perform good works is through the new birth, the changing of his heart by God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
There, I hope that gives some clarity.
@@rockycomet4587 since man will always sin, no one has the sign of salvation which is good works.
@@heb597 Why not?
@@rockycomet4587 since man will always sin, then shows no sign of salvation
@@heb597 How do you come to that conclusion?
I am a born again Christian! Personally I don’t trust anybody that speaks dominantly with his hands and gestures!!!!
He built a straw man of Catholicism. Very significant misrepresentation of Catholic theology and spirituality.
Give up your cannibalism and idolatry...
@@warrensmith3070 Once I start, then I'll stop. In the meantime, I recommend you stop believing heresy. Peace, bro.
@@blessedvirginmaryisqueen8448 - I recommend you read your Bible, and trust in that...not man-made inventions...
@@warrensmith3070 I read the Bible every day, Dude, multiple hours a day, actually. After all, the Bible was given to us by God through His One True Church, aka., The Roman Catholic Church, and leads us to this same Church.
Peace!
But, you are right about avoiding man-made innovations, like "sola Scriptura" and "sola fide". Best to avoid novel, man made ideas/heresies like that.
Have a wonderful day, man!