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.
My goal is GOD HIMSELF. Not joy, not peace, not even blessing but HIMSELF...my GOD.
My faith always has been and always will be important to me.
Faith's most severe tests come not when we see nothing, but when we see a stunning array of evidence that seems to prove our faith vain.
You know, it's one thing to say you believe. It's another thing to have your faith tested severely and come out on the other side of it still believing God.
If you are going to live by faith, then expect your faith to be tested. A faith that can't be tested can't be trusted.
Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.
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