Faith Illustrated

Spurgeon explains that the Christian’s greatest act is committing the soul entirely to Christ, just as Paul declared, “I know whom I have believed.” Spurgeon shows that saving faith involves three movements: renouncing all trust in self, placing full confidence in Christ’s power and willingness to save, and surrendering oneself wholly to Him as Lord, much like a fugitive clinging to the crucifix for refuge or a lost climber trusting a guide in the storm. He illustrates how Paul abandoned his former righteousness—his pedigree, zeal, and law‑keeping—as worthless, choosing instead to rely solely on Christ’s atonement, resurrection, and intercession. Spurgeon emphasizes that believers must continue this act of trust throughout life, resting not in their ability to keep themselves but in Christ’s ability to “keep that which I have committed unto Him.” He concludes that Paul’s confidence was justified because he knew Christ—His deity, His redeeming work, His unchanging love—and had proven Him through long experience, climbing “summit after summit” of trial until he could say with unshakable certainty that Christ would preserve him to the end.Sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon on August 21st, 1859.