Christian's great interest - Guthrie - III - Part 1, Chapter 3

Required reading
The Christian's great interest by William Guthrie (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue reading Part 1 by reading Chapter 3.

My summary
Guthrie continues his First Part of the book looking at 'How a person may know if he hath a true and special interest in Christ and whether he doth lay just claim to God's favour and salvation.'  Now he gives the first evidence, faith.

Firstly he looks at three mistakes as to what faith is:
(i) Some conceive faith to be a difficult, mysterious thing, hardly attainable;
(ii) Some make no use of this mark, as judging it a high presumptuous crime to pretend to so excellent a thing as is the very condition of the new covenant;
(iii) Others do not meddle with this noble mark of faith, because they judge it a work of the greatest difficulty to find out where faith is.

Then Guthrie describes true saving faith, using terms such as looking, willing, leaning, trusting, staying, waiting.

He is then careful to give some further explanations concerning saving faith.  For example, not every believer hath all these various actings and exercises of faith but all believers do have a heart's satisfaction with God's plan of salvation by Christ.

Finally some comparisons are made between the faith of hypocrites and the faith of true Christians.

What grabbed me
Once again I found the section comparing reprobates and Christians helpful.  Particularly the point that hypocrites '...still hold fast somewhat of their own...they still retain their former lovers, and will not break their covenants with hell and death, imagining they may have Christ with these things equally sharing in their heart.'

Our God is a jealous God and will not allow us to keep on worshipping our idols.  Saving faith has affection for only one god.

Next week's reading
Continue reading Part 1 by reading Chapters 4 and 5.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.