What Is Saving Faith?

Author: John Piper

What happens in the heart when it experiences real saving faith? John Piper argues that faith in Christ is not saving unless it includes an “affectional dimension of treasuring Christ.” Nor is God glorified as he ought to be unless he is treasured in being trusted. Saving faith in Jesus Christ welcomes him forever as our supreme and inexhaustible pleasure. 

What Is Saving Faith? explains that a Savior who is treasured for his all-satisfying worth is more glorified than a Savior who is only trusted for his all-forgiving competence. In this way, saving faith reaches its God-appointed goal: the perfections of Christ glorified by our being satisfied in him forever. 

• Written by Best-Selling Author and Pastor John Piper: Explores a critical and misunderstood element of the Christian faith, urging believers to ask the unsettling question, Do I have saving faith?
• Theologically Robust: Studies respected theologians’ work regarding salvation, including John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Henry Scougal, John Owen, Wayne Grudem, and J. I. Packer
• Accessible: Written for students, nominal or thoughtful Christians, and church leaders of all levels, as well as anyone interested in the nature of faith and the essential relationship between faith and feeling

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Introduction: What Are We Really Asking?

PART 1: THE ROOTS OF MY CONCERN

1. Taking the Lordship Battle to Another Level
2. The “Free Will” Air We Breathe
3. Why I Am Not A Roman Catholic
4. Is Saving Faith Is Affectional, Does It Merit Justification?
5. Provocative Voices from Church History
6. Does “Saving Allegiance” Clarify “Saving Faith”?

PART 2: SEEING REALITY THROUGH SIX HUNDRED LENSES

7. Confident Trust in What Jesus Says (Clarifications 1-4)
8. Saving Faith Receives Christ Himself (Clarification 5)
9. The Spiritual Sight of the Glory of Christ (Clarification 6)
10. The Substance of Things Hoped For (Clarification 7)
11. The Root of All God-Pleasing Works (Clarification 8)
12. A Supernatural Creation of God (Clarification 9)

PART 3: RECEIVING CHRIST AS OUR SUPREME TREASURE

13. Saving Faith Receives Christ, but Not in Vain
14. The Message of Jesus about His Supreme Value
15. The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ Jesus
16. We Have This Treasure in Jars of Clay

PART 4: CHRIST, THE BELIEVER’S TREASURE AND SATISFACTION

17. Saving Faith Is the Substance of Hoped-For Joy
18. Saving Faith as Love for the Truth of the Gospel
19. Saving Faith Overcomes the World
20. Whoever Believes in Me Shall Never Thirst

PART 5: CALLING FOR FAITH WHEN FAITH IS AFFECTIONAL

21. The Offer of Treasure
22. Counting the Cost of Embracing the Treasure
23. Warning People to Flee from Judgment to Joy
24. Repentance, the Renovation of the Heart’s Desire
25. Does Affectional Faith Make Evangelism Impossible?
26. Does Affectional Faith Undermine Assurance?

Conclusion: Saving Faith, Designed for the Glory of God

Appendix: A Response and Challenge