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Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)
Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, tr. Pinkerton, 1814
8. Part 2, Section 8: What is Faith?
The symbol begins with faith, and faith is a hearty reception of the gospel.
1. With good reason the symbol begins with faith; because faith only points out to man the means of reconciliation with God; “and without faith it is impossible to please God.” Heb. xi. 6.
2. Under the term Gospel, as already pointed out, is understood the glad tidings of salvation to the children of men, through the only begotten Son of God, our Mediator Jesus Christ. Whosoever receives this doctrine with a repenting heart, believes; on the contrary, whosoever despises it, is reckoned among the number of unbelievers. But the reception of this eminent doctrine is on this account called faith; because we do not attain to it by our own reasonings, as was observed in the beginning of this Part; but God himself, by means of the word, reveals it unto us. This is confirmed by the word of God. “Go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned,” Mark xvi. 15, 16. Thus, you see how faith, in this passage, is a receiving of the gospel, and, on the contrary, unbelief a rejecting of it.
But, in order to receive the gospel, or really to believe, it is indispensably necessary that every one, 1st, Confess before God his misery; that he is under his righteous displeasure, and is unable to justify himself before his judgment seat. Hence, the Harbinger, and the Saviour himself, and also the Apostle Peter, respectively began their preaching with the word repent, Matth. iii. 2. and iv. 17; Acts ii. 38.
2. Having received the doctrines of the prophets and apostles as undoubtedly true, it is farther requisite, that we firmly rest assured that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is preached in these doctrines, is the Redeemer of the human race. And in this more particularly consists the essence of gospel faith, of which the epistles of Paul, in particular, are filled with proofs. The righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe,” Rom. iii. 22. and the whole following chapter. “We have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law,” Gal. ii. 16.
This faith is called justifying faith, because through it man is accounted just before God; yea, is accounted as such, according to the doctrine of Paul, without the works of the law: Rom. xi. 6. For how is it possible for man to have any part in his own justification, when it is impossible to be justified in any other way, than by first confessing our guilt before God, and that we have merited his wrath? However, those who are justified by faith must prove the same, and give evidence of their justification, by obeying the holy law of God. For, according to Paul’s doctrine also, “faith worketh by love;” Gal. v. 6. And such faith is styled a living faith; because it is unfeigned, and preserves alive the spark of continual progress in virtue. But such as will not confess their poverty before God, and do not place their whole hope of salvation upon their Saviour alone, or lead lives unbecoming the character of Christians, are said to possess a dead, feigned, and vain faith.
From the foregoing considerations, therefore, it is evident that faith must engage the thoughts of men, and also their hearts. Their thoughts, in “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Cor. x. 5. Their hearts, for believers ought, with Paul, to say, “The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me;” Gal. ii. 20.
Faith, according to the exalted wisdom of Paul, exists only in this life, but in the future will have no place: for there we shall see God “face to face,” where the glory of his light shineth in perfection; 1 Cor. xiii. 12. This exposition of faith should be fixed in the memory of every one; for the whole of Christianity rests upon it.