Question 21

What is true faith?

True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word,⁶⁴⁶⁴    James 2:19. but also an assured confidence,⁶⁵⁶⁵    2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:7–9; Eph. 3:12; Gal. 2:16; Heb. 11:1, 7–10; Heb. 4:16; James 1:6; Matt. 16:17; Philip. 1:19; Rom. 4:16–21; Rom. 5:1; Rom. 1:16; Rom. 10:10, 17; Rom. 3 :24.25. which the Holy Ghost⁶⁶⁶⁶    Gal. 5:22; Matt. 16:17; 2 Cor. 4:13; John 6:29; Eph. 2:8; Philip. 1:19; Acts 16:14. works by the gospel in my heart;⁶⁷⁶⁷    Rom. 1:16; Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21; Acts 10:44; Acts 16:14. that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation,⁶⁸⁶⁸    Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:10 , 38; Gal. 2:16. are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.⁶⁹⁶⁹    Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 5:19; Luke 1:77, 78.