Faith

[brightfame52]

Faith in Christ is a Gift that must be granted by God, Jesus said of one that believed not on Him Jn 6:64-65

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

The word given is sometimes translated granted, Peter uses the same word to indicate that also our repentance must be granted from Acts 11:18

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

And when this word is used, it means that God actually causes the action to occur, meaning, when He gives faith or repentance, it causes those actions to occur from the ones its given to ! 45

 

[brightfame52]

Faith in Christ is the evidence, corollary of Divine Election

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.

Titus 1:1

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 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:

Eph 1:4; 2:8

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

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

The Elect are given Faith so they can realize their election !

 

[brightfame52]

Faith/Believing is given to the Sheep on behalf of Christ in order to believe on Him for Salvation Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

This believing given is God giving them assurance [Faith] that Christ did die for them and put away their sins, and He was raised again for their Justification. Acts 17:31

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The word assurance is the same greek word pistis for Faith

And the word given is the greek word parechō and means:

to be the authors of, or to cause one to have

So God, those whom Christ died for, for His Sake will causes them to have faith, assurance, and they believe on Him ! Also Christ Himself, who is God, is said to be the Author of the believers Faith 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.

It is God's spiritual work of persuading us that we have salvation through Christ !

 

[brightfame52]

Belief of the Truth !

Belief of the Truth is part of the Salvation God gives us, who are His chosen, if we are blessed to be in that number

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:

Belief of the Truth here is also Faith, for the word belief here is the same noun used for faith pistis

G4102 - pistis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)​

G4102 - πίστις pístis, pis'-tis; from ; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel)...
www.blueletterbible.org

As you can see this Faith or belief of the Truth is a producing/product of the Sanctification of the Spirit which is another way of saying the New Birth. 47

 

[brightfame52]

If faith was something that generated from the flesh and behaviour of man, then no Divine Promises could be sure to all the seed Rom 4:16

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

 

[brightfame52]

The Faith to believe in Christ is in and by grace, yeah even the regenerating grace of God Acts 18:27

. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace

This is the Grace of regeneration, the power of God effectually at work. This is insuperable grace that reigns through righteousness effecting a conversion to Jesus Christ. What people fail to realize, is that God's grace isn't a mere sentiment of graciousness that is offered, but the executing of Spiritual power to bring about desired result, hence it is said Grace reigns through righteousness Rom 5:21

21 that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Also notice that its reign is unto eternal life! 47

 

[brightfame52]

Faith to believe in Christ is not natural, its in fact a Spirit of Faith, its also like common to OT believers and NT believers, Paul writing to the Church in Corinth referenced an OT quote from the Psalms that inidicates that 2 Cor 4:13

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” II Cor.4:13.

Ps 116:10

10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: 48

 

[brightfame52]

Faith being a Spiritual fruit, its not out of the natural man, but a purchase of the death of Christ, in that He purchased all Spiritual Blessings for His Church Eph 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

[brightfame52]

Believing on Christ, Faith in Him is a byproduct of Him Shedding His Blood for us, for each whoever He died, it, His blood purges their conscience, causung them to believe in Him and become a servant, follwer of Him, or God in Him Heb 9:14

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Certainly, we cant serve the Living God apart from Faith in Him

We must serve Him acceptably Heb 12:28

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

Those who Christ died for, He as their High Priest sprinkles the Blood to their conscience

Heb 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 49

 

[MoreCoffee]

@brightfame52, you've been faithfully posting about faith for a long time now. It's interesting how "faith" and faithful, can have such wide meanings, isn't it?

 

[brightfame52]

Sure to all the seed Rom 4:16

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Faith to believe in Christ is sure to all the seed. The seed is the Spiritual seed of Abraham, whether jew or gentile. and they shall be identified by faith in Jesus Christ, and faith is sure because its the product of grace. Sinners can only believe through or by Grace Acts 18:27

27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

If Faith was of the flesh, it wouldn't be sure, they which are in the flesh cannot please God Rom 8:8

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

[brightfame52]

Faith to believe in Jesus for Salvation, isnt something generated by the so called freewill of man, but its a special blessing of Gods ordaining, God must ordain it 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.

 

[brightfame52]

Faith to believe in Christ is not of ourselves, because that Faith is that which overcomes the world and believes in the True Christ 1 Jn 5:1-5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Now the natural man hasnt overcome the world, in fact only One has overcome the world, thats Jesus Christ John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Now those for whom He died, receive from Him by the New Birth Faith that overcomes the world, so as in Vs 4, whoever is born of God overcomes the world, which Faith is an evidence of. Believing the Truth about the True Jesus Christ is evidence of one having been born of God Vs 5

 

[brightfame52]

Faith to believe in Jesus Christ is not of ourselves but the Gift and Blessing of God, so much so, that Paul when he heard about the Faith of some in Jesus Christ that he Thanked God for it, knowing that God only can cause it Eph 1:15-17

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Also similar, Paul thanked God when he knew some obeyed the Gospel Rom 6:17-18

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

So God is Thanked for their obeying or believing because in order to do so, they had been made free from sin, and made servants of righteousness, meaning obedient believers.

We cant have Faith in Jesus Christ until we are made free from sin ! 49

 

[brightfame52]

Faith is the Gift of God,

Some have been chosen to it 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

It is given to some to believe in Jesus, the True Jesus Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Its a Gift given and not something natural to man.

Now these who are given this Gift of Faith are the ones called by the Gospel and consequently they believe ! They were called according to Gods eternal purpose 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

[MoreCoffee]

But does faith alone save?

 

[Lamb]

But does faith alone save?

Depends on your definition of faith, who gives it and what it grasps onto.