Faith is a gift from God

[Stewardofthemystery]

We know “Gods grace”, or “Gods favor” is a gift, but what about faith?

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Faith is also shown as a gift from God…

Romans 12:6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

1 Corinthians 12:7-9
King James Version
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”

So truly a man can receive nothing except it be given to him from heaven-John 3:27

Peace

[Brightfame52]

Faith to trust Christ is very rare !


Lk 18:7-8

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

That Faith which is precious and bestowed in Salvation is very rare,
2 Pet 1:1

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Yes, its only a small amount of the "Them that have obtained it"

This Faith is not through Adam, the natural man knows nothing of it, So

and all men do not have it 2 Thess 3:2

2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

In Fact, Faith is the God given seal with the Spirit 2 Cor 1:22

22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Now let me show you the correlation of Faith and Sealing. Faith is defined here Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now the word sealed is the word sphragizō and means:

I.to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal
A.
for security: from Satan

B.
since things sealed up are concealed (as the contents of a letter), to hide, keep in silence, keep secret

C.
in order to mark a person or a thing
i.
to set a mark upon by the impress of a seal or a stamp

ii.
angels are said to be sealed by God


D.
in order to prove, confirm, or attest a thingI.

to confirm authenticate, place beyond doubt
a.
of a written document

b.
to prove one's testimony to a person that he is what he professes to be

Now the word attest means:

to give proof or evidence of

Then the word prove means to:

to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument

Faith is that which marks us as Children of God, born of God !

Gal 3:26

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Here in Heb 11:4

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Abel had Faith in Christ Jesus, to him He was that coming Seed of the Women Gen 3:15 !

And So all who belong to God are sealed with the Spirit to produce the fruit of Faith.

This also proves the necessity of the New Birth prior to Faith in Christ, and f we have not the Spirit, we are none of His Rom 8:9

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Yes even the OT Prophets had the Spirit of Christ in them as Per 1 Pet 1:9-11

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The Prophets in the OT had the Spirit of Christ in them as the Believers in the NT do Rom 8:9 ! Which Spirit seals us with Faith in the Testimony of God !

[Brightfame52]

Belivers by the Command and Will of God !


1 Tim 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

1 Jn 3:23

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Believers become Believers by the Commandment of God, in the same effectual manner in which Paul the Apostle became a Believer/ Apostle 1 Tim 1:1

In fact, all believers to one degree or another are Apostles of Christ or sent ones !

Notice again that his apostleship was according to the commandment of God OUR Saviour and Jesus Christ, If God is Our Saviour and Jesus Christ He has Commanded our Faith, by Decree/injunction;

This verse more than indicates that Believers become believers according to the Command of God. It equally as well means that we become believers according to the will of God as here it also regards Paul's Apostleship Eph 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

That word will is thelēma:

I.
what one wishes or has determined shall be done
A.
of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ

B.
of what God wishes to be done by usI.

commands, precepts

II.
will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure

Remember, an Apostle, though a Unique Office, is nevertheless only part of an whole of the Body of Christ, a member of it Eph 4:11-13

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

1 Cor 12:27-30


27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church [Body of Christ], first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

What be more clearer that Apostles as well as other subordinate offices are assigned by God to the Mystical Body of Chris, the Church Vs 27

The Apostles are merely members of that Body along with other members who are not Apostles by Office, but members together none the less. Scripture says God has Sovereignly set them in their stations Vs

28. The word set τίθημι:

It means to appoint,I.to set, put, place, to choose,to give a place in.

The point is this, the Appointment of God to be a Apostle like Paul or Peter is no more important, less appointed that His setting those into the office or work of helps 1 Cor 12:28

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

All have been appointed in the same manner as the Apostles were 1 Cor 12:14-21

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

The Apostles cannot boast and say, Well I was made an Apostle by the Commandment of God as 1 Tim 1:1 or the Will of God Eph 1:1 and you were not ! That would be inaccurate !

In fact the same word will Paul uses in Eph 1:1 is the same one he uses here in 1 Cor 12:18

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

So, this is undeniable scripture proof that those of us who are True believers in Christ, became so by the Sovereign Commandment of God 1 Tim 1:1 and Will of God Eph 1:1.

To deny this is to deny truth of scripture. ! 5

[Brightfame52]

Another way to define Faith Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is that which gives spiritual evidence or persuasion of our Saving Interest in the Person and Work of Christ for God's Elect ! 5

[Brightfame52]

Receiving the things pertaining to God !


Faith by which one receives Christ, or believes on His Name, is only ascribed to those who have been born of God Jn 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

For the natural man cannot receive the things of God 1 Cor 2:14, which the Person and Work of Christ is, that which pertains to God Heb 2:17

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Heb 5:1

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

BTW the scriptures are of those things which pertain to the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor 2:14

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Now the scriptures are said to 2 Pet 1:20-21

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Tim 3:15-16

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

So its only logical that, that which the scriptures declare 1 Cor 15:3-4

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Be revealed by its Author 1 Cor 2:10-12

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.5

[Brightfame52]

without me ye can do nothing.


Jn 15:4-5

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Before we can bear fruit, we must be in Christ, and Christ in us, So before we can believe [Faith] we must be in Christ and again, Christ in us by His Spirit, For Faith/ Believing is a Fruit of His Spirit Gal 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

We know believers are in Christ before they believe, because Christ says of His Sheep before they Hear and Believe and follow Him this Jn 10:16

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The word have is the greek word echo:

I.
to have, i.e. to hold
A.
to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as


II.
to have i.e. own, possess

A.to be closely joined to a person or a thing

Yes if He has them, they are in Him. Also all believers were ordained to Eternal Life before they believed Acts 13:48

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

For they were ordained to Eternal Life because they were heirs of promise Gal 3:29

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Heb 6:17

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

And to all the Heirs of Promise its given to them to believe on Christ Phil 1:29. They had been ordained to Eternal Life by being in Union with Christ their Mediator Head before the world began, when this Eternal Life was promised Titus 1:1-2

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Here it was promised to Christ and His Seed Chosen in Him Eph 1:4. Remember Gal 3:16-19

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now the Promised Inheritance in Vs 18 is Eternal Life, and the Promise was initially made to Christ in Eternity Past, indicated in Vs 16,17,19, God's Promise was made to Christ before the world began Titus 1:2, and those Chosen in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4, they were ordained with Him as joint Heirs with Christ Rom 8:17, and they believe Acts 13:48. 5

[Brightfame52]

The Faith of the Son of God !


Gal 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Everyone Christ die for were crucified with Him [Rom 6:6], and as the fruit thereof they shall live by His Faith Rom 1:17,Heb 12:2, which denotes Faith out of Jesus Christ, He is the Author of it, and its out of or because of His Faithfulness. Now why is this so ? Its true because all for whom He died,in Covenant Obedience Rom 5:19, He is made a quickening Spirit by His Resurrection 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].AMP meaning He gives them Life, wherefore Adam gave them death. He gives them Life to live as stated here Jn 6:33

33 The bread of God comes down out of heaven and breathes life into the cosmos.

Jn 10:10

10 The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.

So its the World of His Sheep. Yes in this Life He gives them Life by His Spirit Jn 6:63

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Spirit here is being mediated by Him, that's why we have 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

The Spirit comes in His Name "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name"

And by this The Spirit that comes in His Name. Now by sending them His Spirit, He gives them the Fruit of Faith Gal 5:22, that's why He says this Jn 12:24


24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He bringeth forth much Faith !6

[Brightfame52]

The Faith of the Son of God !2


The Lord Jesus Christ by New Birth imparts Faith to all for whom He died, so that the Life and Faith a True Christian Lives by is from out of the Son of God, who gave Himself for them Gal 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The Life a Believer lives in the flesh, is a Spiritual Life from New Birth. One of the sure evidences of Christ having died for one, is that they shall live by Faith or His Faith of which He is the Author and finisher of Heb 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

This is True of the OT Saints just recapitulated in Hebrews Chapter 11, Yes, Jesus is the source of their Faith also.

Now this is true because the scripture makes the promise to the Just :

Hab 2:4;Rom 1:17;Gal 3:11;Heb 10:38 "The just shall live by faith" !

The reason for this based upon the obedience of Christ Rom 5:19

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

By this, all for whom He Lived and Died [His Obedience] made then Righteous. The word Righteous here is the greek word dikaios:

I.righteous, observing divine laws
A.
in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of GodI.

of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined

ii.
innocent, faultless, guiltless

iii.
used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life
a.
only Christ truly


iv.
approved of or acceptable of God

Its also the word translated Just as it is here Rom 1:17

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

So Rom 5:19 can read thusly:

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made Just.

And what is the promise in Rom 1:17 about the Just ? The Promise of God is that they shall live by Faith.

So having been made Just by His Obedience, He must quicken them into a life of Faith, and so it cometh to pass, that the Just, made so by His Obedience do come to live by Faith. They must first be made alive, given the ability to here, and from that ability to Hear, from the Life given out of quickening, comes Faith Rom 10:17

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The hearing of the Gospel as in Rom 1:16-17. All for whom Christ died shall live by Faith, or His death for them was a utter failure to God, for that's His Fruit unto God !

[Brightfame52]

That Faith that embraces/Receives a Knowledge of Salvation, its a fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

This is also reaffirmed to be true here seeing that Faith is the belif of the Truth 2 Thess 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Apart from This His[The Spirit] Sanctifying Work, man could not believe in Christ to embrace Salvation Knowledge.

Paul writes and indicates that True Faith in Christ as Lord has been wrought by the Spirit 1 Cor 12:3

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

The word by here is en and denotes instrumentality, means, agency, So Pauls point is that no man can truly Say Lord and mean it save by the agency working of the Spirit. John means the same thing here Jn 3:21

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

So Scriptures like Rom 10:9-10

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

They are describing the Evidence being manifested, The Believing and Confessing, as the Fruit of the Spirit, of the Sanctification of the Spirit unto belief of the Truth ! 2 Thess 2:13 ! Its His Work in the regenerated heart casing belief of the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus ! 6

[Brightfame52]

Faith to believe in Christ is not of ourselves !


Eph 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is not a more plainer statement in Holy Writ that should shut the mouths of false believers, freewillers, arminians and the such, who make their arrogant boast about their faith so called, generated from their flesh, because they deny that Faith is a Gift and Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22.

Faith here by the inspired Apostle writer is clearly stated to be " NOT OF OURSELVES " Lest any man should boast, its the Gift of God.

Yes I know many will now begin their dispute and opposition to this Truth with the greek gender arguments, of neuter vs feminine and the Like, but in the end it does not matter one bit about that, simply because Paul is teaching that the Totality of Salvation by Grace through Faith is the Result of the Gift of God, Salvation itself is by Grace Eph 2:5

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved )

Because its a Raising from the dead, and Faith is merely something that accompanies Salvation as alluded to here Heb 6:9

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Salvation, Faith are One Unified whole. So no matter how the false believers and enemies of Righteousness attempt to pervert the Gift of God, this verse stands here as a testimony against them, that Faith in Salvation is not of ourselves, but the Gift of God, so we cannot boast, but yet in still, that's exactly what they do with Faith in this verse, make it their own and boast ,as to that's why they are saved opposed to one who is not ! Their so called faith made the difference, and that's boasting ! 6

[A Freeman]

Why do people quote Ephesians 2:8-9, and leave out verse 10?

Ephesians 2:8-10
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to DO good WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (do them - good works).

In other words, walk-the-walk -- by living by God's Law and crucifying the "self" daily -- instead of just "talking-the-talk".

The Holy Spirit (our connection to Father) is meted out to us based upon our OBEDIENCE TO GOD.

Acts 5:29-32
5:29 Then Peter and the [other] Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
5:31 Him hath God exalted with His right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
5:32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

John 14:15 If ye love me, KEEP my COMMANDments.

We will all be judged ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, so we should all be striving for perfection (Matt. 5:48), to be as selfless, loving and kind to others as possible.

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his WORKS.

Revelation 20:12-15
20:12 And I saw the "Dead", small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another Book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life: and the "Dead" were judged out of those things which were written in the Books, according to their works.
20:13 And the "sea" gave up the "Dead" which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their WORKS.
20:14 And death and hell were cast into the "Lake of Fire". This is the second death.
20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the "Lake of Fire".

John 3:19-21
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be revealed.
3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.