"Once the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. 'What did he find?' asked the cohort. 'A piece of the truth,' the Devil replied. 'Doesn't it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?' asked the cohort. 'No,' said the Devil, I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it.'"
K. Snodgras
Just over four hundred years ago, in late October, a young Augustinian monk, professor of theology and pastor in Whittenburg, Germany, in the fire of his zeal for Christian truth, nailed 95 thesis to the door of the Castle Church. He had left the study of law and entered the priesthood, seeking to be justified before God. His name was Martin Luther. As a result of studying the Scriptures, he discovered biblical truths that had long been covered and obscured by the ritual and rubble of Rome. One of the great truths then restored to the Church was justification by faith alone.
The issue before us today is not a denial of justification by faith alone, but rather a perversion of that doctrine. Present-day preaching often excludes the possibility of spurious (or non saving) faith; however, religious deception is the worst kind of deception because of it's eternal consequences. We must distinguish properly between justifying faith, and a spurious or counterfeit faith.
The Bible very clearly warns against spurious faith; therefore, I wish to direct attention to it's warnings and note some differences between spurious and true believers. I intend to cite biblical cases of spurious faith, showing that the Scriptures teach the existence of belief which is not saving faith. I propose also to to define true faith and give some biblical examples of that faith which savingly joins one to Jesus Christ for all eternity.
Spurious or Counterfeit Faith
The Bible teaches that there is spurious faith. In the parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of temporary faith. "They on the rock are they, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13). These believers recieved the word with joy and believed for a season; but in the time of trial, they fell away. They lacked "root and fruit" and they did not continue.
Paul spoke of "Believing in vain" (Cor. 15:2). This is non-saving faith. Though it has many marks of true saving faith, the evidence of temporary faith soon appears. It lacks the following characteristics of saving faith: (1) continuance in trusting Christ, and in devotion to Him and His service; (2) desire to be useful in Christ's church; (3) attendance to Christian duty; (4) love of prayer and the Word of God and of assembling with God's people in worship; (5) devotion to loving the people of God as such; (6) progress in knowledge of self, sin, and the Savior; (7) progress in loving holiness and hating sin, with increased conviction of and humility concerning personal sinfulness.
A very vivid example of spurious faith is the case of Simon Magus. Of him it is written, "Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip" (Acts 8:13) as far as Paul had. Although Paul believed all the Scripture before his conversion, his faith was not saving faith. Note also Agrippa. "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe" (Acts 26:27). But this faith did not save him.
James speaks of dead faith (James 2:17, 26), the giving of mere mental assent to certain historical facts. He also speaks of devils' faith (James 2:19). This is a religious appropriation of these facts. The demons have a sound confession. They believe in the person ("Jesus, thou Son of God") and the power ("art thou come to torment us?") of Christ (Matt. 8:29).
It is indeed searching and solemn to discover how much the Bible speaks of unsaved people having faith in the Lord. Though it seems incredible, there are those willing to have Christ as their Savior, yet who are most reluctant to submit to Him as their Lord, to be at His command, and to be governed by His laws. But more shocking still, there are unregenerate persons who profess Christ as Lord, and yet are not in possession of saving faith. The scriptural proof of this assertion is found in Matthew 7:22, 23: "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" Here is a large class (many) who profess subjection to Christ as Lord, who do many mighty works in His name, and thus can even show you their faith by their works, and yet theirs is not saving faith. "Depart form Me," said Jesus.
It is impossible to say how far non-saving faith may go or how close it may resemble true saving faith. Saving faith has Christ as its object; so has spurious faith. "Many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men," (John 2:23, 24). Saving faith is wrought by the Holy Spirit; so also spurious faith has an apparent spirituality and may even partake to some degree of illuminating grace (Hebrews 6:4). Saving faith is a receiving of the Word of God so also is spurious faith. "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately received it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles." (Matt. 13:20, 21). Saving faith will cause a man to prepare for the coming of the Lord; so will spurious faith. Both the foolish and the wise virgins had the lamp of profession--they all trimmed their lamps and said "Lord, Lord"--but half heard the answer, "I know you not" (Matt. 25:1-13). Saving faith is accompanied with joy; so is spurious faith. "they on the rock....receive the word with joy (Luke 8:13).
When we realize how far spurious faith can go in its counterfeits, we are prone to say, "All this is very unsettling and confusing." Yes, it is distressing! But, if we value our souls or care for the souls of others, we will not dismiss this subject lightly. Since the Bible teaches that there is a faith in Christ which does not save and that it is easy to be deceived, we must earnestly seek the help of the Spirit. The Spirit Himself cautions us at this very point, "A deceived heart has turned him aside" (Isa. 44:20). "The pride of your heart has deceived you" (Obad. 3). "Take heed that you are not deceived" (Luke 21:8).
Satan uses his cunning and power most tenaciously and successfully in convincing people that they have saving faith when they do not. He deceives more souls by this stratagem than by all other devices combined. How many Satan-blinded souls will read this and say, "It does not apply to me; I know that my faith is genuine." Satan dissuades many from heeding that most salutary exhortation: "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves" (Cor. 13:5). We will consider this text later.
Our Lord's parables show that He continually warned against self-deception. Spiritual houses often look the same until the storm of God's judgement comes (Matt. 7:24-27). Then it is revealed that one house is spurious (built on sand) and one is genuine (built on rock). Wheat and tares look so much alike that only the Lord Himself can separate them (Matt. 13:24-30).
Failure to recognize the Bible's teaching on counterfeit faith has led to other errors. The tendency is to treat spurious believers as saved but not consecrated or filled with the Spirit. The folly is often compounded by calling those who give no Bible evidence of saving faith carnal Christians, since they do not act like Christians. The solution to this unbiblical dilemma is sought in some kinds of second experience or second work of grace. Thus there is constant appeal to the carnal Christian, who in reality is a spurious believer, to finally surrender to Christ's lordship and be filled with (even baptized in) the Spirit.
The great theologians of the past recognized that the Bible distinguishes between spurious faith and saving faith. Charles Hodge speaks of historical or speculative faith, temporary faith and saving faith (Systematic Theology 3:67-68). James P. Boyce, one of the greatest Southern Baptist theologians and principal founder of their first seminary, speaks of implicit faith, historical faith, temporary or delusive faith, and saving faith (Abstract of Systematic Theology, pp. 389-94). With these great men of God, we hold tenaciously to that great hopeful and liberating truth of the Bible--justification by faith alone. But we also recognize that faith which is alone is not the faith which justifies.
True Saving Faith Described
Regeneration is inseparable from its effects, one of which is saving faith. Without regeneration it is morally and spiritually impossible to savingly believe in Christ. Except a man be born again, he cannot see, he cannot understand, he cannot come to Christ (John 3:3; 6:37, 44; 1 Cor. 2:14). Regeneration is the renewing of the heart and mind; and the renewed heart and mind must act according to their nature.
Regeneration is the act of God alone. But faith is not the act of God. It is not God who believes in Christ for salvation; it is the sinner. Although it is by God's grace alone that a person is able to believe, faith is an activity of the person alone. In saving faith we receive and rest upon Christ alone for salvation. True, this is a strange, and to some extent, undefinable mixture. but this is precisely what the Bible teaches. This is God's way of salvation, expressing His supreme wisdom, power, and grace.
The Acting of True Saving Faith
True justifying faith is, in the Lord's deep wisdom and condescension, variously expressed in Scripture according to its different actings toward God and its outgoings after Him. True faith is sometimes spoken of as a desire for union with God in Christ--as a willing. And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev. 22:17). Scripture also speaks of looking to Him. "Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth" (Isa. 45:22; this text was used of God in Spurgeon's conversion). This may be the weakest act of faith. True faith is also expressed as hungering and thirsting after righteousness" (Matt. 5:6).
True faith sometimes goes out in the act of leaning on the Lord; the soul taking up Christ as a resting-stone because God has so offered Christ. Though He may be a stumbling-stone and a rock of offense to others, true faith is not ashamed of Him (Rom. 9:33). The acting of true faith is sometimes expressed in Scripture as
