Spurgeon Sermon Recap: #1031
How Can I Obtain Faith?

by Jaimie Helmer
Published May 30, 2023.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
- Romans 10:17

Charles Spurgeon, in hopes of drawing people to Christ, truly felt the necessity of expounding what true faith is. This is apparent from the countless sermons he preached on the subject of faith during his ministry. In particular, his sermon “How Can I Obtain Faith?” guides us through the various means that God uses to produce faith in individuals. An attentive reading of this sermon may clear up misconceptions we may have in our minds about the subject. Therefore, let us see what the Prince of Preachers had to say on the nature of obtaining faith.

The Simple Statement of the Gospel
Many acquire faith by simply discerning the truth of the gospel as it is explained to them. In this case, the most likely mental obstacle that kept this person from faith was a lack of knowledge. Further guidance in the way of salvation by another gave them enough information to trust in Christ. Perceiving the work of Christ that allows access to the Father is enough for them. Spurgeon states, “God’s Spirit has so prepared them that they have believed almost as soon as they have heard the saving truth.” These persons simply believe the gospel is true upon hearing it.

The Suitability of the Gospel
Others have received faith by seeing the suitability of the gospel message to their person. When they understand the human condition, the truths of the gospel become clear. Inclination to sin, the effects of the fall, and similar truths reveal the need for such a message of salvation. It is a realization of our inability to save ourselves despite our many feeble efforts. To put it simply, it is a recognition that no other message or philosophy offers a satisfactory answer to humanity’s deepest problem, namely rebellion against a holy God. The remedy God has provided is in the cross of Christ alone. Therefore, the sinner is awakened to the reality of themselves by the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Pity and Love of Jesus
The third method that Spurgeon recognizes as a way in which people attain faith is by looking at the character of Christ. Understanding the heart of Jesus for sinners causes one to behold His love for others. Spurgeon notes several verses where we can see Christ’s loving character shine through. Some of these are, “Come unto me all ye that labor,” (Matthew 11:28) and “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37). In addition, seeing the pain Christ endured to accomplish the Father’s will warms our heart and melts away hardheartedness. In the words of Spurgeon, “Faith comes by hearing of the free forgiveness procured by the agony, the stripes, the wounds, the death of Jesus, the lover of our souls.”

The Authority of the Gospel
“If God said it then it is enough for me.” This is the essence of the next way some come to faith. They see that the gospel message can be absolutely trusted due to the authoritative word of God. One may not understand all the tiny details of how the Lord operates, but nonetheless, they trust the message due to the identity of the author. Here we see a simple, childlike faith. This person is not the type to wrestle with numerous questions or raise countless objections. They are “prepared to believe it on the testimony of God.”

The Veracity of the Subordinate Testifiers
It is logical to assume that the authors who penned Scripture are reliable men to believe. This fact has brought many to faith. David, Isaiah, John, Paul, and many others were clearly reputable men who sought to honor the Lord in all they did. The majority lost everything in their lives due to following Christ, yet they still glorified God through it all. Spurgeon points us to the life of the Apostle Paul to see this. A man who once persecuted the people he now loved as brothers and sisters in the faith. Consequently, many have trusted Christ as a result of seeing the trustworthiness of the proclaimers of the gospel.

Peculiar Soul-Revealing Pointedness
Drawing from John 4’s account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, Spurgeon notes how a piercing pointedness to a hearer’s case is often responsible for producing faith in an individual. This may sound similar to the point Spurgeon made about the suitability of the gospel to the hearer’s case, but he makes sure to differentiate the two by saying, “Our Lord Jesus Christ explained to her the gospel, but she does not appear to have been enlightened by his explanations: it was that home stroke of his - “Go, call thy husband and come hither,” which won her faith.” The soul-revealing pointedness Spurgeon speaks of cuts us deep and reveals all the hidden things in our hearts. God lays before us all the muck and mire of our souls, leading us to say with the Samaritan woman: “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29)

Final Thoughts
These points show us one thing: we are wholly dependent on the Lord to produce a change in us. Spurgeon made it his aim to show people that it is not by any work or feeling that they are converted. The simplicity of faith is often obscured by our natural tendency to make excuses and justify ourselves. Yet, Spurgeon bids us all to simply look to Christ and be saved. While God may use a specific method to convert an individual, one thing remains clear: all Christians have been transformed by the message of the gospel through the regenerating work of the Spirit.

Original Sermon: How Can I Obtain Faith?