Ingredients of Saving Faith

The blind begger Bartimaeus' coming to Christ and receiving his sight is one of the most touching narratives in the Gospels, but in this narrative nothing stands out more than his faith in the Lord Jesus. After his sight was restored, Jesus tells him, "Thy faith hath saved (Gk.) thee." The sermon identifies three essential ingredients of saving faith found hin Bartimaeus: 1) He believed in the Jesus as the Messiah, the divine-human one sent into the world; 2) His sense of need of mercy from the Lord; and 3) The persistence of his faith. Such faith is not of one's self and always leads to salvation. Bartimaeus is a model for all who would seek to know if their faith is a true saving faith.