What a mystery is this! How utterly incomprehensible!

(Charles Simeon) LISTEN to audio!  Download Audio

It is true that we must be saved . . .
  by grace alone,
  through faith alone,
  in Christ alone!

It is equally true that faith does not save us because it produces good works.

Jesus has, by His substitutionary and sin-atoning death, "brought in an everlasting righteousness" for His people.

Hear the blessed tidings brought to us by the Prophet Isaiah, "He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, we are healed!" Isaiah 53:5

Stupendous thought! We are healed by His stripes! We are healed by stripes inflicted by Jehovah on His beloved Son! What a mystery is this! How utterly incomprehensible! Well does the Apostle say, "How unsearchable are God's judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33

Faith saves us simply as apprehending Christ, in and through whom we are reconciled to God. But the faith which apprehends Christ aright, will always . . .
  "work by love," Galatians 5:6
  and "purify the heart," Acts 15:9
  and "overcome the world!" 1 John 5:4-5

If the faith which we possess does not operate in this way, it is a mere dead faith—and can no more save us than the faith of devils!

Yet many rest their hope for salvation, in a mere notional faith that is unproductive of good works.

God-given saving faith always unites us unto Christ, as branches to the vine; and enables us, by virtue derived from Him, to bring forth fruit to His glory!