Faith

[brightfame52]

Faith and Perseverance go together !


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 given to believe on Him and to suffer, One of the accompanying virtues of God given Faith to believe on the Name of Christ for Salvation, is perseverance or the ability to stay a course of action, a purpose, or a state , n spite of difficulties and suffering ! In this case its for the words sake, be it the Living Word,Christ or the Written Word, His Truth. Now if a man or women who claims to have Faith in Christ, but yet because of the fire of persecution or suffering 1 Pet 1:7, they begin to fall away, that person was not given Faith or the ability to believe by God, because if so, an accompanying virtue would be to endure suffering for the words sake. Lets read something here Lk 8:13

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

That word temptation peirasmos means:

iv.adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness

Mk 4:5-6

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Matt 13:20-21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

The word offended, the greek word skandalizō and does mean:

I.to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend

i.to cause to fall away

But those who Truly have been given Faith by God to believe, they shall successfully suffer persecution 2 Tim 3:12

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Because the Just shall live by Faith in the word and shall because of it suffer persecution, and they do not fall away in persecution, but indeed persevere in patience as here Lk 8:15

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Understand, those who may have received the Truth initially like here in Matt 13:20

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

But later they draw back like here Heb 10:38

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

That means they were not nothing but stony heart hearers in the first place, who had no root, and consequently showing that they had not been given by God to believe and suffer for Christ's sake as Per 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; 7

 

[brightfame52]

Faith and Perseverance go together !2


So in essence Phil 1:29 is an declaration that it has been given to be Faithful to the Faith of Christ, that we continue in the Faith inspite of severe persecution for the words sake, such perseverance is an token that our Faith in Christ has been given by God, because it gives us to both believe and suffer, which equates to Perseverance and Faithfulness, which things accompany salvation Heb 6:9

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

Heb 10:38-39

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Notice there are a group called Of them who dont draw back. That means they do not "A.of those who from timidity hesitate to avow what they believe"

They do not depart from the Faith of what they believe, or apostatize, but remain faithful !

Of those which Jesus says Rev 2:10

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer[Phil 1:29]: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Its said about an certain individual Rev 2:13

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

All chosen in Christ before the foundation are called the Faithful Eph 1:1,4

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:

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:

Understand, being faith is the result of this Phil 1:29

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

Both believe and suffer are in the present tense active. The present tense denotes a continual kind of action, so they are given to be continually believing and to be continually suffering !

The word faithful in Eph 1:1 pistos actually means :

properly, faithful (loyalty to faith; literally, fullness of faith); typically, of believing the faith God imparts.

In other words, the believing that God gives causes faithfulness, loyalty to the cause of Christ !

For it is only suitable that a God given Faith or believing would cause one to be faithful to the end 1 Pet 1:7-9

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

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

 

[brightfame52]

Believing on Christ is not of the will of man !


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.

One must be born of God to believe on His Name, such it has been given to them to do that as Per 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 right or privilege given to some to believe on His Name !

Believing on Christ is not of the will of man but of God, this is confirmed also here 2 Cor 3:5

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Paul in things Spiritual, even denies having the sufficiency or ability to even think anything of themselves, meaning things related to God and the Gospel and Ministry ! The sufficiency came from God !

That word sufficient is the greek word hikanos:

(a) considerable, sufficient, of number, quantity, time, (b) of persons: sufficiently strong (good, etc.), worthy, suitable, with various constructions, (c) many, much.

It means not to be adequate in ourselves, lacking the ability !

The word think is logizomai and means:

I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.

to suppose, deem, judge:

This has to do with the mind, to understand in the mind, to put together !

Now who can deny that believing the Gospel takes reason, judgment, for believing is the result of having the mind persuaded which means:

to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding; convince

Thinking comes before the act of believing, for no one believes anything before thinking reasonable about it, in order to believe it !

And Paul as well as other True believers deny that they has ability, sufficence of themselves to think in these sacred matters and duties !

The Sufficiency, adequacy, comes from God, the Holy Spirit ! 7

 

[brightfame52]

Faith or Believing is a Good Work !


Eph 2:8-10

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.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Believing on Christ, is one of the Good Works that we as New Creations hath of God been Created that we should walk in !

The word works is the greek word ergon and means:

/érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).


1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
1. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work

We were Created to walk in the steps of Faithful Abraham as his Children Rom 4:12

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Remember when Jesus said this Matt 3:9

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Thats what God did, in order to keep His Promise to Abraham to give him a believing seed. That word raise , as in raise up in Matt 3:9, it is the greek word egeirō and means:

I.to arouse, cause to rise
A.
to arouse from sleep, to awake

B.
to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life

C.
to cause to rise from a seat or bed etc.

D.
to raise up, produce, cause to appear
i.
to cause to appear, bring before the public

ii.
to raise up, stir up, against one

iii.
to raise up i.e. cause to be born

iv.
of buildings, to raise up, construct, erect

Interesting enough to produce also means as a verb :

to create, bring forth, or yield offspring, products,

And so believers are God given Offspring to Abraham, given according to His Promise Gen 17:2-5

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And so, believers are Abraham's Seed according to Promise Gal 3:29

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

Remember Jesus said to some jews who boasted of being Abraham's seed according to the flesh ? Jn 8:39

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Meaning they would do this Rom 4:12

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Thats because, they would have been also like Abraham was Eph 2:10

10 For we are his workmanship, created or produced in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So Faith or Believing is Good Work that identifies us as a Child of Abraham !

 

[brightfame52]

Faith is but the fruit of that abundant Life Christ the Shepherd gives to all the Sheep for whom He died. Jesus expressly stated that a purpose of His coming should result in Him giving Life to His Sheep Jn 10:10

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

The word that is the conjunction hina and means:

I.that, in order that, so that

It denotes purpose and end, the Sheep having abundant Life is the stated end and purpose of God for Christ the Shepherd coming into the world.

So now if His coming into the World does not result or end in every last one of His Sheep receiving Life and it more abundantly, He has failed His Fathers Purpose, and the statement He made here has been proven a lie. However This abundant Life that is purposed for them comes through Him giving them His Spirit as He quickens them to New Life 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [The Shepherd of the Sheep]was made a quickening spirit. or :

45 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

For that answers to His Purpose for coming for His Sheep, and He was raised from the dead specifically as the what according to Heb 13:20

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Thats right, He was raised from the dead as the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, and so He becomes to them, by sending His Spirit to them, a Life giving Spirit, giving them abundant Life, and because its His Spirit being given them through Him, of which Faith is the fruit of Gal 5:22, then Faith is an evidence of having been given Life from Christ, and that more abundantly !

This is what Paul means, as one of The Sheep, He was given this abundant Life from Christ to believe 1 Tim 1:14

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The result of Christ coming for the Sheep Jn 10:10

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


If we never believe, then simply, it was because Jn 10:26

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

 

[Lucian Hodoboc]

One must be born of God to believe on His Name, such it has been given to them to do that as Per Phil 1:29

Are you a Calvinist?

 

[brightfame52]

Faith is but the fruit of that abundant Life Christ the Shepherd gives to all the Sheep for whom He died. Jesus expressly stated that a purpose of His coming should result in Him giving Life to His Sheep Jn 10:10

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

The word that is the conjunction hina and means:

I.that, in order that, so that

It denotes purpose and end, the Sheep having abundant Life is the stated end and purpose of God for Christ the Shepherd coming into the world.

So now if His coming into the World does not result or end in every last one of His Sheep receiving Life and it more abundantly, He has failed His Fathers Purpose, and the statement He made here has been proven a lie. However This abundant Life that is purposed for them comes through Him giving them His Spirit as He quickens them to New Life 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [The Shepherd of the Sheep]was made a quickening spirit. or :

45 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

For that answers to His Purpose for coming for His Sheep, and He was raised from the dead specifically as the what according to Heb 13:20

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Thats right, He was raised from the dead as the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, and so He becomes to them, by sending His Spirit to them, a Life giving Spirit, giving them abundant Life, and because its His Spirit being given them through Him, of which Faith is the fruit of Gal 5:22, then Faith is an evidence of having been given Life from Christ, and that more abundantly !

This is what Paul means, as one of The Sheep, He was given this abundant Life from Christ to believe 1 Tim 1:14

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The result of Christ coming for the Sheep Jn 10:10

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


If we never believe, then simply, it was because Jn 10:26

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.7

 

[brightfame52]

Are you a Calvinist?

Are you interested in discussing what I posted in post 225 ?

 

[brightfame52]

Faith a witness given !


Faith also is the witness that we are righteous [by another] before God 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.

We believe this witness is that of the Spirit that Abel obtained Rom 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Children of God by Faith Gal 3:26 !

Now remember, all for whom Christ died , meaning His Obedience unto death Rom 5:19 ; Phil 2:8 and by that they are made Righteous, and so as an evidence of having been declared Righteous because of His Obedience unto the Cross, Faith is the fruit thereof, and none have the right to believe on Christ, not unless His death made them Righteous; So ones Faith in Christ is not what made them Righteous, but is given in New Life and Birth to be an evidence/witness of having been made and declared Righteous, because of Christ's Obedience Rom 5:19b; now the antichrist followers attempt to twist this Truth, as they attempt to deify the so called freewill of man ! 7

 

[brightfame52]

Believe because of 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:

The word through is the prep dia :

(a) gen: through, throughout, by the instrumentality of, (b) acc: through, on account of, by reason of, for the sake of, because of.

Paul acknowledges that he is a believer/apostle by the Grace of God 1 Cor 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

We become believers by Grace because the Grace is bestowed upon us and it begins its work in us, as it did with Paul. Its an effectual work Eph 3:7

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

That word given means the same thing as bestowed upon in 1 Cor 15:10 its the greek word didōmi:

I.
to give

II.
to give something to someone
A.
of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
i.
to bestow a gift

All for whom Christ died have this Gift of God's Grace bestowed upon them Rom 5:15

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.


Abounded here means to have been bestowed upon them, or hath been bestowed upon many !

And its by this Grace, God's effectual power at work in us, that we believe ! Paul says the same thing in Eph 1:19

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Again, we believe according to, or in sync with, or in agreement with, or in consonance with and by means of the working of His Mighty Power !

So thats what is meant by believing because of 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:

To say that men believe by their own freewill choice is an outright attack upon the Grace and Power of God !

 

[brightfame52]

Faith is a promise of the Gospel !


That Faith is a Promise of the Gospel, to be Justified by Faith is a Promise, instead of Faith being a condition man meets and performs to get Justified, which is what the antichrist followers teach.

How it faith, is a promise, and those whom Christ died for receive it, this we know by that Gospel Promise to Abraham Gen 12:1-3

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

For Paul quotes this as an Gospel Promise to Abraham Gal 3:8

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So God , having determined to Justify the heathen through Faith, is the foundation on which He said to Abraham in Gen 12:3

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Now who can deny that from this, the Promised Blessing is for God to Justify the heathen through Faith, for , Justification by Faith is given with Christ Rom 8:32

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

And Justification by Faith is given to all the Seed Isa 53:10 ; 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,

The seed here does include Gentiles Gal 3:8

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Thats why also it is written, The Just shall live by Faith ! To Live by Faith is a Promise of the Gospel ! 7

 

[brightfame52]

Faith is a promise of the Gospel !2

That Faith is a Promise of the Gospel, but to Abraham and his Seed, its also evidenced when God spake these words to Abraham Gen 15:1

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

God here promised to be Abrahams shield, abd this shield He would be to his Seed, this is the shield of Faith Eph 6:16

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And the blessing that the Lord pronounced on Abraham in Gen 15:1,5 was for him and his seed Vs 5

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Its the blessing of Abraham upon all his seed, Faith or the shield of Faith is given as a blessing to all the Seed of Abraham 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,

Gal 3:9

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Thats the proof that God is the God of his seed Gen 17:7

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Heb 8:10

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

When God puts spiritual laws in our minds and hearts, thats putting the Law of Faith in our heart Rom 3:27

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

No man can boast about having Faith, because it was received, its not natural to man ! 1 Cor 4:7

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

If faith was something every man had naturally and was wise enough to use it, it is a reason why to glory !

But Faith is of Grace and its sure to all the seed ! 8

 

[brightfame52]

Both Faith and Repentance !


That Both Faith and Repentance, which are conversion blessings, blessings that effect Gospel obedience, that they are blessings and effects of the New Covenant, which is confirmed by the Blood of Christ is seen here Jer 24:7

7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Remember Jesus said Jn 17:3

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Both Faith and Repentance are evidences, proof of both redemption and regenration through the blood of Christ, For God who gives His Elect His Son, along with Him gives us all things that pertaineth to life and godliness Rom 8:32; 2 Pet 1:3 which both Faith and Repentance pertain to 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;= Faith in the Truth

2 Cor 7:10,11

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Its also of note that this godly repentance is said to be wrought in them

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

And that these things, conversion blessings, are the direct effects of the death of Christ is seen here 1 Pet 2:24-25

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

That word returned means the same thing as it does in Jer 24:7

7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Notice, here in Jer 24:7 the hebrew word for return is shuwb and means:

I.to return, turn back

And the greek word returned in 1 Pet 2:25 is epistrephó and means:
to turn, to return

So we know that the Jeremiah passage of the promised return to God had a view to the effects of the death of Christ 1 Pet 2:24-25 !

 

[brightfame52]

The Just shall live by His Faith !


I love the shall's of God ! Lets read:

Hab 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Rom 1:17

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

Gal 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Heb 10:38

Now the just
live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Now exactly who are the Just ? Its those who are approved of God and acceptable to God, who are at peace with God, are in a right standing with God.

Its all whom have been reconciled to God and by that received into His Favor as Per Rom 5:10, The word reconciled in this verse means:

to receive one into favour

Te Just are all for whom Christ by His Obedience unto death shall make Righteous Rom 5:19b

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

The word righteous here comes from the same greek adjective dikaios also translated Just !

So it would be just as proper to say Rom 5:19

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

So therefore it is sufficient to say that all for whom Christ, by His one act of obedience, they shall be made Righteous or Just, that they all shall live by Faith ! Now who can deny this conclusion ? Thats exactly why Christ says of those who never come to believe on Him, this Jn 10:26

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

You see, if they were of His Sheep, then He died for them Jn 10:11,15 and if He died for them, they shall be made Just Rom 5:19 and if they are made Just, the promise comes into effect, The Just shall live by Faith ! 8

 

[brightfame52]

Faith comes with the Spirit of Adoption !


Faith comes with the Spirit of Adoption ! All for whom God chose in Christ before the foundation, were also predestinated to the Adoption of Sons or Children in Time, hence we read Eph 1:3-5

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,

It is this Spiritual Blessing the gives Faith out of the Spirit. All whom had been chosen in Christ before the foundation, Christ also came to be made under the Law in their behalf Gal 4:4-6

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons[huios].

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Faith is born after God sends the Spirit of His Son in Our hearts, for the Covenant does state Ezk 36:26-28

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.



27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Now when God promises that they shall be His People, and He will be their God, its the same also as saying they shall be His children 2 Cor 6:16-18

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons[huios] and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

You have the same greek word for Son [huios] in all the scriptures cited Eph 1:5, Gal 4:5-6 ; 2 Cor 6:18 !

So when God says that they shall be His People its also respecting their Adoption as Sons from being redeemed Gal 4:4-6 ! So this being made Sons speaks to be given Faith Gal 3:7

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children[huios] of Abraham.

The word for children here in the origial is huios, usually translated Sons, and the Sons or Children of Abraham are also the Sons or Children of God Rom 9:7-8

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Gal 3:26

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

Faith comes from the Spirit given in our hearts in Adoption Gal 4:6

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Remember, Faith is a fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 8

 

[brightfame52]

Faith is the Gift of God !

Eph 2:8

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

No matter how much scripture indicates that Faith, along with all Salvation blessings is the Gift of God, and not of ourselves yet the antichrist followers still want opportunity to boast of themselves, of what they did, but scripture testimony states different, Faith, yes even the act of believing, is God's Gift to His Elect, that they may acknowledge the Truth, we have the above Eph 2:8, then we have Phil 1:29

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

What can be more plainer than what Paul says to believers, that it was given to them to believe ! Their believing is an evidence that it had been given to them, lest it was not given. Its only given to Christ's Sheep Jn 10:26

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Also the word given in Phil 1:29 is the greek word charizomai from which it comes from charis which is the word grace, and so believers believe because of Grace, not because of themselves Acts 18:27

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:

The word through, the prep dia means:

ii.on account of

A.the ground or reason by which something is or is not done

Credit is given to Grace as to why one believes on Christ ! They believed on account of Grace.

Paul said he was what he was, to include being a believer as well as an apostle, by the Grace of God 1 Cor 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul is just saying what all scripture says, he was a believer/ apostle on account of the Grace of God given or bestowed upon him !

Also more scripture corroboration that Faith is not of ourselves but the Gift of God Acts 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.

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.

The words here give in Acts 5:31 and granted in Acts 11:18, its the greek word didōmi and means they are caused to repent, the giving or granting repentance is what causes them to repent !

Repentance is put in their minds, in fact thats what Heb 10:16 means by this:

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put or give my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

That word put is the same greek word didōmi and so here we see the force of the word as the giving denotes an Sovereign act of God putting His Laws into their Hearts, the spiritual laws of Faith and Repentance !

Its the fufillment of the Covenant blessings Ezk 36:27

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Thats God giving and or granting repentance Acts 5:31;11:18 !

Now, one may say, but thats speaking of repentance and not Faith ! My answer is that is true, however, Faith and Repentance are Twins joined at the hip, because repentance leads to and effects acknowledgement of the Truth 2 Tim 2:25

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give [ didōmi] them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Thats the number one priority of repentance, to lead to the acknowledging of the Truth, a persuasion of Faith !

Its a turning from darkness of false religion and false beliefs to the Light of the Gospel and the Truth it reveals Acts 26:18

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Thats their call from or out of darkness to marvelous light 1 Pet 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Thats the turning spoken of in above Acts 26:18 ! Its a Gift of the Spirit 2 Thess 2:13 ; Gal 5:22 !

But I know the antichrist followers will find a way to ignore this scripture proof that Faith, believing on Christ, is not of ourselves, but it is given as a Gift of God, to everyone that is believing !

 

[brightfame52]

That ye may know that ye have eternal life !



1 Jn 5:13

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

It was given to believe on His Name as stated in Phil 1:29

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

To those of us who Truly believe, it was given to us to believe as an evidence to know that God has given us Eternal Life, which Life was in His Son Jn 1:4, in other words believing on Christ is given to be proof positive that God did quicken us together with His Son when He raised Him up from the dead Eph 2:1-6

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

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

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

This quickening with Christ is outside of any Gospel Obedience, we were totally passive therein and included the whole Body of Christ for which He died, but there comes a time when each member must be quickened individually as proof that they were part of the Body that was quickened together with Christ, when He was quickened from the dead, and that is what believing on Him signifies, and that quickening is a consequence of having Eternal Life Legally imputed !

 

[brightfame52]

Must be spiritually minded to believe on Christ !


Rom 8:6

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Before anyone can believe on Christ in a conversion sense, they would have to be first made spiritually minded, given a mind that is spiritually capacitated, and not blinded.

Jn 12:39-40

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Rom 11:17

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

2 Cor 3:14

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

2 Cor 4:4

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Col 1:21

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

See a mind that is not spiritually minded is a mine that is alienated from God by wicked works, such a mind is at enmity to embracing Christ !

A spiritual mind is one that is under the government and influence of the Holy Spirit versus one such as this Eph 2:2-3

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Secondly to believe on Christ in the sense of conversion, requires a Mind that will yield subjection / obedience to Christ, which the carnal mind cannot do Rom 8:7

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The Law of God here is not limited to or even in this context speaking of the mosaic law, but law and commands of God in general. Its the greek word nomos, without the definite article and it means :

I.anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
A.
of any law whatsoever
i.
a law or rule producing a state approved of God

Now to believe on Christ in a conversion sense is a command. What did Paul say to the Jailor when asked the question, what must I do to be saved ? Paul replied "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"

Now understand something here, the word believe here is an Imperative in the greek, which is :

The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15) is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.

Now, this required obedience, it is not possible to be rendered by the carnal mind, for it is not subject to the Law of God and cannot be states Paul.

So that leaves us with no alternative but to realize that one has to be spiritually minded to believe on Christ in a matter of conversion and obedience and that produces life and peace ! Rom 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Thats Spiritually minded believing, when its done through the Power of the Holy Ghost / Spirit !

 

[brightfame52]

Its a work of God !

To believe on Christ, even though a person does it, for God does not believe for man, but its a work of God Jn 6:29

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

It is God's business, Employment that ye believe on Christ His Son, whom He hath sent !

There are certain ones God sent His Son to save, like Matt 15:24

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Now primarily its the Work of God the Holy Spirit, when He comes to one of the Sheep of the Lost Sheep of Israel, whether jew or Gentile [Jn 10:16] with the Gospel, causing it to be unto them the Power of God, which causes them to believe Rom 1:16

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

That word power here is the same greek word here attributing believing to the Power of the Holy Ghost Rom 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power G1411 of the Holy Ghost.

The word is the greek word dynamis and means:

I.strength power, ability
A.
inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

B.
power for performing miracles

C.
moral power and excellence of soul

D.
the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth

E.
power and resources arising from numbers

F.
power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Gill writes:

"through the power of the Holy Ghost"; not by might or power of man, but by that same divine power which first began the good work, and must fulfil it; which at first implanted the grace of hope, and must perform the work of that, as of faith. The same power is requisite to cause grace to abound, or saints to abound in the exercise of it, as was to the first production of it.

Paul indicates that believers did believe by the working of His Great Power Eph 1:19-20

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Now the way to know whether or not the Spirit energized the Gospel with Power, its when the one is caused to believe Rom 1:16, believing is the result of the Gospel being energized by the Spirit ! It gives it positive effectiveness and application, resulting in their believing !

But wonder if one does not believe the Gospel, or believe on Christ ? That means merely they were not of His Sheep Jn 10:26

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

They are not even suppose to believe because they are not His Sheep and therfore He did not come to save them Matt 15:24 !

So we are impelled to believe that when Jesus made the statement in Jn 6:29, it can only mean to His Sheep, for it was many that it was not God's will to believe, but had been appointed to disobedience 1 Pet 2:8

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

In fact they were made to stumble at the word by the decree and purpose of God ! That too was the work or doing of God Matt 21:42

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 9

 

[brightfame52]

Must be of God to hear God's Word !


Yes, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God Rom 10:17

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

But, where does Hearing come from ? Jesus will tell us Jn 8:47

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

He that is of God simply means, he that is born of God ! 1 Jn 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Thats why this very same writer says in his epistel 1 Jn 5:1

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

This is true because it gives support to what Jesus said in Jn 8:47

He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Then cometh hearing, which cometh Faith or believing ! See the consistency and symmetry of God's Truth ?

And what happens says Jesus if we are not of God ? Jn 8:47

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Then you dont hear them, consequently no Faith ! Yes we may hear God's word physically and audibly with the natural ear, but thats meaningless when it comes to producing Faith, Jesus speaks of spiritual hearing !

Now who is it that Hears the Apostles Preaching of the Gospel ? Jn tells us here 1 Jn 4:6

We are of God as in Jn 8:47]: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God as in Jn 8:47 heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Again, the Key to hearing the Gospel as a word of Salvation to you, is being Of God !

Of ek God, the prepostion ek which means:

I.out of, from, by, away from and :

A primary preposition denoting origin

This denotes being born out of God, by New Birth, or by Spiritual Birth. So no one can hear as it speaks of in Rom 10:17 which results in Faith, unless they have been Born of God or unless they are of God !