Walking past a store window, a minister overheard the following conversation between three young girls, one of whom was blind.

"Isn't that teddy bear cute? I just love its pink bow!" the one exclaimed.

"I see what you mean," said the second. "I think it's really neat."

The blind girl, however, stood with a blank expression on her face. The display window prevented her from feeling the teddy bear's features, and she had no way of appreciating its attractiveness. She remained unmoved by the others' excitement over what they saw.

The minister used this scene as an example of spiritual blindness when he preached from I Corinthians 2: 14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

How do both the example and the text illustrate the need for spiritual, enlightening knowledge as an element of saving faith?

Assent or agreement is the second element found in true saving faith. It, too, is produced by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Assent refers to a hearty agreement with God's Word and way of salvation, which are worked in the recipient of saving faith.

When experiencing saving faith, a person not only learns to know the gospel's content -Jesus Christ and Him crucified - but he also becomes emotionally attached to, and involved with, this