Saving faith is the faith of God's elect; the special gift of God to them, wrought in them by his Spirit.
Interpretation
Saving faith is a divinely granted belief that leads to salvation, bestowed upon God's chosen individuals.
This quote by Thomas Boston emphasizes the idea that saving faith is not merely a human effort or decision but a profound gift from God, cultivated by His Spirit within the hearts of those He has chosen. It suggests that true faith, which leads to salvation, is uniquely designed for the elect and highlights the sovereignty of God in the process of salvation.
In practice
In a sermon on grace, one might quote this to illustrate God's role in salvation.
Sinners in their natural state lie dead, lifeless, and moveless; they can no more believe in Christ, nor repent, than a dead man can speak or walk: but, in virtue of the promise, the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus, at the time appointed, enters into the dead soul, and quickens it; so that it is no more morally dead, but alive, having new spiritual powers put into it, that were lost by Adam's fall.
Call it no more free-will, but slavish lust; free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating grace loosens the bands of wickedness.
Free grace will fix those whom free will shook down into a gulf of misery.
Whoever be the instruments of any good to us, of whatever sort, we must look above them, and eye the hand and counsel of God in it, which is the first spring, and be duly thankful to God for it. And whatever evil of crosses or afflictions befalls us, we must look above the instruments of it to God.
No work nor deed of ours whatsoever, no not faith itself, can be the condition of the covenant of grace properly so called; but only Christ's fulfilling all righteousness.
The law discovers the disease, and the gospel the physician.
Hope is like an anchor. Our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life, but unlike an anchor, it does not hold us back.
The Eucharistic mystery stands at the heart and center of the liturgy since it is the fount of life by which we are cleansed and strengthened to live not for ourselves but for God and to be united in love among ourselves.
I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care.
A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying "Thank You!" to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as a child and friend of God.
The glory of God's faithfulness is that no sin of ours has ever made Him unfaithful.
Prayer is the hand of faith on the door knob of your heart, inviting Jesus to enter.
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