FAITH: as opposed to rational assent, John Newton You wish me to explain the distinction between faith and rational assent; and though I know no two things in the world more clearly distinct in themselves, or more expressly disting-uished in Scripture, yet I fear I may not easily make it appear to you. You allow faith, in your sense, to be the gift of God; but in my sense, it is likewise wrought by the operation of God Col. 2:12—that same energy of the power of his strength by which the dead body of Jesus was raised from the dead.
Can these strong expressions intend no more than a rational assent, such as we give to a proposition in Euclid? I believe fallen reason, is, of itself, utterly incapable even of assenting to the great truths of revelation; it may assent to the terms in which they are proposed, but it must put its own interpretations upon them, or it would despise them. The natural man can neither receive nor discern the things of God; and if any would be wise, the apostle’s first advice to him is, Let him become a fool, that he may be wise; for the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God.
Indeed, when the heart is changed, and the mind enlight-ened, then reason is sanctified, renounces its curious disquisitions, and is content humbly to tread in the path of revelation. This is one difference; assent may be the act of our natural reason; faith is the effect of immediate almighty power.
Another difference is, faith is always efficacious, it “worketh by love;” whereas assent is often given where it has little or no influence on the conduct.
Thus, for instance, every one will assent to this truth, All men are mortal; yet the greater part of mankind, though they readily assent to the proposition—and it would be highly irrational to do otherwise—live as they might be supposed to do if the reverse were true. But they who have divine faith, feel, as well as say, they are pilgrims and sojourners upon earth.
Again, faith gives peace of conscience, access to God, and a sure evidence and substance of things not seen Rom. 5:1,2, Heb. 11:1; whereas a calm, dispassionate reasoner may be compelled to assent to the external arguments in favor of Christianity, and yet remain a total stranger to that communion with, that Spirit of adoption, that foretaste of glory, which is the privilege of believers.
So likewise, faith overcomes the world, which rational assent will not do. Witness the lives and tempers of thousands, who yet would be affronted if their assent to the gospel should be questioned. To sum up all in a word, “He that believes shall be saved.”
But surely many who give a rational assent to the gospel, live and die in those sins which exclude them from the kingdom of God; as saith the apostle, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; Of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Faith is the effect of a principle of new life implanted in the soul, that was before dead in trespasses and sins; and it qualifies not only for obeying the Savior’s precepts, but chiefly and primarily for receiving from and rejoicing in his fulness, admiring his love, his work, his person, his glory, his advocacy. It makes Christ precious, enthrones him in the heart, presents him as the most delightful object to our meditations; as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and strength; our root, head, life, shepherd, and husband. These are all scriptural expressions and images, setting forth, so far as words can declare, what Jesus is in himself, and to his believing people.
But how cold is the comment which rational assent puts upon very many passages, wherein the apostle Paul endeavors (but in vain) to express the fulness of his heart upon this subject.