The Essence of Saving Faith: Treasuring Christ
For a long time, I’ve grappled with the limitations of single words like “faith,” “belief,” and “trust” to convey what’s required for salvation. While Scripture uses these words to describe the path to salvation, they’re often isolated from their broader context. To truly understand what faith and trust mean, we need to examine how they’re used in illuminating biblical contexts.
Beyond Isolated Words
When theologians have traditionally described saving faith, they’ve assumed it involves more than just confidence in Christ’s competence. The concept of fiducia (cordial trust) alongside notitia (knowledge) and assensus (mental assent) implies a deeper level of trust that views Jesus as desirable, admirable, and worthy of our affection. Simply trusting Jesus as an effective rescuer from hell is insufficient; saving faith must experience Christ as our supreme treasure.
Treasuring Christ: The Affectional Dimension of Saving Faith
I argue that treasuring Christ is an essential aspect of saving faith. This isn’t just about intellectual assent or confidence in Christ’s abilities; it’s about embracing Him as our all-satisfying treasure. When we receive Christ as our treasure, we include all that He is: treasured Savior, treasured Lord, treasured wisdom, and more. Where Christ is not received as treasure, He is being used – a tragic misunderstanding that falls short of saving faith.
Diverse Affections, One Treasure
The heart experiences treasuring Christ differently as it embraces various aspects of His greatness and beauty. There’s joyful treasuring, satisfying hunger, quenching thirst, and more. Each of these affections is precious and treasured, but the affectional experience is unique in each case. Saving faith treasures all of Christ’s glories, as each is known.
Receiving Christ as Supreme Treasure
Saving faith always views Christ as having supreme value. He is not a treasure alongside other roles or excellencies; He is a treasure in all His roles and excellencies. When we focus on Jesus as our treasure, we include every dimension of Christ, making up the totality of His infinite value. Embracing Him as a second- or third-tier treasure is an affront, not saving faith.
The Offense of Not Treasuring Christ
Jesus told a story to illustrate how it offends Him when we fail to treasure Him above the things of this world. Real estate, possessions, family – preferring these over the treasure of Christ makes Him angry. It’s an affront to Him and destruction to us. Saving faith receives Christ as a treasure, valuing Him above all else.
Conclusion
Saving faith is not just about intellectual assent or confidence in Christ’s abilities; it’s about embracing Him as our all-satisfying treasure. Where Christ is not received as treasure, He is being used – a tragic misunderstanding that falls short of saving faith. Let us strive to receive Christ as our supreme treasure, valuing Him above all else.
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