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Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

My flesh and heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, 10, they that are far from Thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from Thee.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works.

- Psalm 73:1-2; 16-17; 22-28


Read Question and Answer 21 of the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is not only certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel, in my heart; that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.

Where are knowledge and confidence described in this answer? Can you find assent in it?

    "What happened?" Luther asked. "Who has died?"

    "God," she answered seriously.

    "Who?" he asked.

    "God," she repeated.

    "Nonsense!" he stated, "That is impossible, of course!"

    "Yet," she replied quietly, "you go about day after day hopeless and discouraged!"

    The truth of this lesson hit home with Luther. He wrote, "Then I observed what a wise woman my wife was."

    What lesson regarding trust in God did Luther's wife so vividly illustrate? Explain the truth of the following statement:

    "No faith acts as if there is no God; little faith acts as if there is a little God; great faith believes there is a great God." What does this statement teach us about believing in God with a trusting faith?

The three elements of saving faith are knowledge, assent (agreement), and confidence (trust). Explain how the Canaanitish woman revealed these three elements after studying the verses printed in the chart below:

THE THREE ELEMENTS OF
TRUE SAVING FAITH
Revealed in the Canaanitisb Woman's Faith
Element
Example

1. Knowledge

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, 0 Lord, Thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with the devil.

Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.

- Matthew 15:22,25

2. Assent (Agreement)

But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord.

- Matthew 15:26-27a

3. Confidence
(Trust)

Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, 0 woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

- Matthew 15:27b-28


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