What Do We Mean When We Say "Faith Saves"?

Abstract

We hear it all the time, “You gotta have faith. Just believe.” But we also hear in the Bible, “Your faith has made you well.” What do the people of our culture mean when they speak of faith? What does the Bible mean when it refers to faith? How do the Confessions use the term faith? This paper answers these questions by explaining the various uses of the word faith, according to Augustine’s threefold description of faith: knowledge, assent, and trust.