信心與聖靈同為一體

沒有信心的人
當人看見生命沒有改善,也沒有善功行出來時,他們就錯誤的認為:「信心是不夠的,為了要成為義人,並且要得拯救,人一定要有善功。」
當他們聽見福音時,他們的心就開始忙碌起來,用自己的能力創造一個想法,說:「我信!」 他們以為這樣就是真的信心。不過由於這只是人虛構的想法,永遠不能觸及內心的深處,所以也不會從那裡產生任何作用,當然也不會有後續的改善。

有信心的人
但是,信心是在我們裡面的一種神聖工作,能夠使人產生改變,使人從神得到重生(約1:12-13)。信心殺死了老亞當,使我們完全變成不在一樣的人。不論心靈、智慧、或者能力都不同了。並且,信心帶來了聖靈。喔!這活潑的、勤勉的、主動的、大有能力的東西就是信心。
它不可能不持續的做善功。
它不會問要不要行善。它在問之前,就已經作出善功了,並且是持續不斷的行善。
但是,凡不做這樣作善功的人就是不信的人。他摸索尋找信心和善功,卻不認識信心,也不知道什麼是善功。

信心的勇敢
信心是對神恩典的一種活潑勇敢的自信。這自信是如此確定,如此有把握,使得信徒可以用生命下千遍賭注,也在所不惜。這種對神恩典的知識和信心,現在滿懷喜悅,勇敢歡喜地與神和一切受造之物相交。

信心與聖靈的關係
這是聖靈在信心中所做的工。所以不需要強迫人,人就會樂意向眾人行善,服務眾人,忍受一切苦難。這是出於對恩典之神的愛和頌贊。因此,我們不可能分開善功和信心,就像分開火和光、熱一樣不可能。

如何得到信心
你要向上帝禱告,祈求祂使信心運行在你心裡。否則,不論你怎麼想、或做什麼,你永遠都不會有信心的。
——馬丁路德 (AE 35:370-71)

Faith, however, is a divine work in us which changes us and makes us to be born anew of God, John 1[:12–13]. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether different men, in heart and spirit and mind and powers; and it brings with it the Holy Spirit. O it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done them, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times. This knowledge of and confidence in God’s grace makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, a person is ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, out of love and praise to God who has shown him this grace. Thus it is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as impossible as to separate heat and light from fire. Beware, therefore, of your own false notions and of the idle talkers who imagine themselves wise enough to make decisions about faith and good works, and yet are the greatest fools. Pray God that he may work faith in you. Otherwise you will surely remain forever without faith, regardless of what you may think or do. (AE 35:370-71)