655. These statements enable it to be seen that faith in the one true God makes good to be good in its internal form too, and in the opposite case, faith in a false god makes good to be good merely in its external form. This is not essentially good, as was true of the ancient gentiles' faith in Jupiter, Juno and Apollo, the Philistines' faith in Dagon, that of others in Baal and Baalpeor, that of Balaam the wise man in his god, that of the Egyptians in their many gods. It is completely different with faith in the Lord, who is the true God and everlasting life, as John says (1 John 5:20), and in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily, as Paul says (Col. 2:9). What is faith in God but looking to Him, so that His presence is felt, and one trusts in His help? And what is true faith but this, and at the same time trust that all good is from Him, and this makes one's good bring salvation? If therefore this faith combines with good, this is a decision for everlasting life; it is quite otherwise if that faith does not combine with good, and even more so, if it combines with evil.