Article 12

Of saving faith. We confess: that saving faith is not an empty or hidden thing unborn in man; nor does it consist in our having a historical knowledge drawn from the holy Scriptures, and having much to say about it, without having the real substance or meaning of it. But the real and true faith, which avails before God, is a sure knowledge of the heart in a sure confidence, which we receive from God, not through our own power, will, or ability, but through the hearing of the Word of God; and which, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, is imprinted on and written in the heart, and works so powerfully in us that by it we are drawn away from all visible and perishable things to the invisible and living God, gaining by this a new spiritual taste for what is heavenly, and not for what is earthly. For saving faith, accompanied by hope and love, is of such a nature that it conforms to things not seen. Therefore all true believers gladly and obediently submit themselves to all the commandments of God contained in the holy Scriptures, and, when necessary, testify to them and confess them with the mouth before kings, princes, lords, and all men, not allowing themselves to be drawn away from them by any means whatever, though on that account money, property, body and life be sacrificed to plundering, water, and fire. For the power of God, which preserves them in the faith, strengthens them, so that they count all the sufferings of this time brief and light, not avenging themselves, but praying for their persecutors, gladly suffering for the name of the Lord whatever is laid upon them, because of the faith, hope, and love which they have toward their Creator and His heavenly riches.

Where this true faith is received in the heart, there the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as witnesses of it, must follow and flow out. On the contrary, unbelief, with its unfruitful works of darkness, must flee, as darkness before the clear sunlight. By this faith, which is the beginning of the Christian doctrine, we become children of God, overcome the world, are armed against all the subtle schemes of the devil, become sanctified, justified, saved, and partakers of all the benefits of God shown in Christ Jesus; and without this faith it is impossible to please God.

In this true faith we cannot stand still, but, with humble fasting, praying, and pleading in the Spirit, we must ask for help, support, and new strength in all divine virtues, to the end, so that God may strengthen and preserve us in it. Where this is neglected, men may fall from the faith; the good Spirit may be taken away, and their names blotted out of the Book of Life, and written again in the earth. To this true faith, which is a noble gift of God, all men who have come to understanding and knowledge, so that they can hear and understand the Word of God, without distinction of persons, are called through the divine word and invited to come; but all infants, and those whom God permits to remain in their infancy, are excepted and excluded from this. They are under the grace and favor of God through the atonement of Jesus Christ, by which He, through His blood, cleansed and redeemed the whole human race from the fall of Adam, without requiring of them any other means than faith, hope, love and the keeping of certain commandments of God. It is therefore a great error that some ascribe faith to newborn infants; or [that they say] that without this they cannot be saved. It is a sure sign that such persons do not know the true faith, and do not believe the words of Jesus Christ, who has promised the kingdom of heaven to infants without this.

For since true faith consists in hearing, believing and accepting the good things which God offers us through His Word; and since, again, unbelief consists in despising and rejecting those things; and since infants have neither knowledge, ability, inclination, nor feeling concerning any of these things, as all intelligent persons see and know; therefore it must truly follow that neither faith nor unbelief may be attributed to infants; but they are simple and without knowledge, and in this state perfectly pleasing to God, since He has set them as examples for us, that we should imitate them in their simplicity.

How the true faith is a gift of God, and is worked in the hearts of men through the hearing of God's Word, read: "For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2, verse 8; Romans 12, verse 3; Colossians 2, verse 12; Philippians 1, verse 29; Jude, verse 3.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10, verse 17; Hebrews 6, verse 2.

With regard to how we must believe in God through His Word, read: "I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on me through their word." John 17, verse 20; Ephesians 1, verse 9; John 7, verse 38; John 14, verse 1; Hebrews 11, verse 6; First Peter 1, verse 21; Second Timothy 3, verse 15.

Concerning how true faith is not empty, but shows its effective power and nature, read: "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations," and so on. Romans 1, verse 5; Romans 16, verse 25; Acts 6, verse 7.

"When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which works effectively also in you who believe." First Thessalonians 2, verse 13.

"In Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love." Galatians 5, verse 6.

He who does not show from his faith the seven virtues required, "is blind, and cannot see afar off," and so on. Second Peter 1, verse 9; James 2, verse 26.

"But the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2, verse 4; Hebrews 10, verse 38; Romans 1, verse 17; Galatians 3, verse 11.

By faith we become righteous and partakers of the benefits of God. Acts 26, verse 18; Romans 10, verse 10; Genesis 15, verse 6; Romans 4, verse 3; Galatians 3, verse 6; Mark 16, verse 16.

We must pray to God to be strengthened and kept in the faith. Luke 17, verse 5; First Peter 1, verse 5.

When the grace of God is neglected through unbelief and evil works, one may fall away from the faith, and be blotted out of the Book of Life. Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. First Timothy 4, verse 1; Second Peter 2, verse 1; First Timothy 6, verse 10.

"Which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8, verse 13.

"One who turns back from righteousness to sin: the Lord prepares such a one for the sword." Sirach 26, verse 28; Jeremiah 17, verse 13; Proverbs 3, verse 21; Hebrews 6, verse 6.

"The Lord said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." Exodus 32, verse 33; Revelation 3, verse 5; Psalm 69, verse 29; Isaiah 1, verse 2; Isaiah 30, verse 1; Jeremiah 18, verse 7.

How infants are simple and without knowledge, and that therefore neither faith nor unbelief may be charged to them; but that they are well pleasing to God through His grace, without any other means, read: "Moreover, your little ones, which you said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it." Deuteronomy 1, verse 39; Matthew 19, verse 14.

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." First Corinthians 13, verse 11; Hebrews 5, verse 13.

"Brothers, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be children." First Corinthians 14, verse 20; Ephesians 4, verse 14; Matthew 18, verse 2; Matthew 19, verse 13; Mark 10, verse 13; Luke 18, verse 15.