Faith

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The Gospel is a word of Salvation to the Saved !


Eph 1:13

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The Gospel cannot be and is not the Gospel of ones Salvation who is yet in a lost state, that would be a false message, but it is so when one has been saved already !

The Gospel as a word of Salvation is sent to them that have been born of God, since such ones are in a saved state experimentally, here is proof of the same !

Peter writing in 1 Pet says 1 Pet 1:23

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Those who obeyed the Truth, did so through the Spirit, which meant they had been born of the Spirit, or Born again, and the Gospel is said to be preached unto them in Vs 25 ! 9

 

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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:

Many in false antichrist religion, who exalt the flesh ability of man in their false salvation profession, do refuse to bow to the scripture testimony that Faith as it pertains to Salvation and the Spiritual things of God that its not of the natural man, but its a Gift of God through His Spirit, for the scripture teaches us that Faith is the fruit of the Spirit of Christ Gal 5:22

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

Fruit of the Spirit is in the Genitive Case , meaning describing what kind of fruit, its fruit out of the Spirit, not out of the flesh, and faith or faithfulness is that kind of fruit, its out of the sphere of the Spirit !

Even the word fruit clarifies the origin of Faith, its the word karpos and one of its meanings is :

I.
fruit
A.
the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields

B.
the fruit of one's loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity


II.
that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result
A.
work, act, deed

B.
advantage, profit, utility

C.
praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering

D.
to gather fruit (i.e. a reaped harvest) into life eternal (as into a granary), is used in fig. discourse of those who by their labours have fitted souls to obtain eternal life

In this case its the Spirit, faith and the other graces of Vs 22 are the effect, or result of the Spirit ! 9

 

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The Gift of God ! 2


Faith is the Gift of God, or believing in Christ which is the same, its a Gift of God, because its the result / effect of God's[The Spirit] working Power, in fact that same Power Utilized when Christ was raised from the dead 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,

Also its called the Operation of God Cor 2:12

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Faith is the evidence of our Spiritual Union with Christ when God raised Him up as Our Head from the dead after having been delivered for their offences Rom 4:25

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

So Faith to believe and trust and rest in Christ for Salvation accompanies Him as the Gift given to them by God 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?

 

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The Gift of God ! 3


For believing in Christ for all of Salvation was not left to chance and human freewill, for those Christ died for, but along with the Gift of Him to them a provision was made to effect it by the very same Power that raised their Head and Saviour from the Dead, after He had died for their sins; So this is another way the Scripture validates that Faith , the Gift of God, belief in Christ, was given with the giving of Christ 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;

These words are within this scripture of Truth "it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him"

The word given here , the greek word charizomai is the same word used for give in Rom 8:32

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?

This certainly solidified that Faith itself accompanies the giving of Christ, when He was delivered up for the Elect.

Now finally To say man believes on Christ for Salvation as a result of his or her freewill decision out of their nature, it is nothing short of a outright attack on the Very Power of God that Raised up Christ from the dead, its an exaltation of the flesh of man over and above the Power of God ! 2 Thess 2:3-4

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 9

 

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The Faith of God's Elect !


Saving Faith or we may also call it converting Faith, that Faith which gives EVIDENCE Heb 11:1 of being converted to the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus 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;

Now its the Faith of God's Elect, mainly because its Faith which God's Elect Christ Isa 42:1

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

He is the Author and finisher of it Heb 12:2

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.

Its Faith / Trust that He had first Himself, and which He communicates to His Seed Heb 2:13

13 And again, I[Jesus ] will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

That word Trust is but an synonym for Faith, its the greek word peithō and means:

I.
persuade
A.
to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe

B.
to make friends of, to win one's favour, gain one's good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one

C.
to tranquillise

D.
to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something


II.
be persuaded
A.
to be persuaded, to suffer one's self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing
i.
to believe

ii.
to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person


B.
to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with


III.
to trust, have confidence, be confident

Yes, His Children or Seed or offspring will be characterized by Trust in God.

Abraham was a Type and was given a Seed , children that would follow in his steps Rom 4:12

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.

Christ the antitype was given Children that walk in the steps of that Faith or Trust He had per Heb 2:13

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Christ ensures they will put their Trust in God's Word and Obey as He did ! Thats why scripture is written to the Faith of God's Elect, it is to them who have been given Faith liken unto their Head and Saviour Christ, who is also God's Elect Isa 42:1

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 9

 

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The Faith of Jesus Christ !



Rom 3:22

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

That word faith pistis also means faithfulness Which would render Rom 3:22

Even the righteousness of God which is by faithfulness of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Now the prep by here is the word dia which means:

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

i.by reason of


ii.on account of


iii.because of for this reason


iv.therefore


v.on this account

So its even the Righteousness of God which is, on the account of, the Faith/Faithfulness of Jesus Christ !

The word Faith/Faithfulness is in the Genitive case which means:

Genitive Case
For the most part, the genitive is often viewed as the case of possession. In more technical terms one noun in the genitive case helps to qualify another noun by showing its "class" or "kind". The genitive case has more uses than most other cases, but in general a noun in the genitive case helps to limit the scope of another noun by indicating its "kind" or "class". It is generally translated into English with a prepositional phrase starting with the word "of". The most common use of the genitive is to show possession (although it does not necessarily indicate actual, literal ownership).
For instance: "the servant of the high priest" (Mark 14:47). The words "of the high priest" are in the genitive case in Greek and modify the word "servant". (In Greek the word "of" is not present, but it is supplied in English in the translation of the genitive case). Here the genitive helps to qualify "which" servant the writer is referring to. It is helping to limit the sphere of all servants to a particular one.
And: "But you have received a spirit of sonship..." (Rom 8:15). Again the word "sonship" is in the genitive case, telling what kind of spirit we have received. Greek Nouns (Shorter Definitions)

Faith/Faithfulness therefore is Of Jesus Christ, its His Subjective Faithfulness that supply's believers with the Righteousness of God.

The Faith / Faithfulness of Jesus Christ is the ground of a Believers Justification / Righteousness before God !

Their Righteousness before God is contributed to the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ, which Righteousness is also Justification before Him !

Then, the Fruit of this, is God given Faith in Christ . Thats right, Faith to believe in Christ is the fruit of having been Justified or declared Righteous by the Faithfuness of Jesus Christ !

Now to confuse this matter is deadly. So understand, the grounds, bases and the meritorious cause of the believers Justification before God, is Christ's Faith/ Faithfulness to the Covenant of Redemption, or simply His Obedience unto Death Rom 5:19; Phil 2:8, but the believers Faith in Christ is the fruit or effect of that Justification they received by Christ's Faith/Faithfulness, or His Obedience unto Death.

Jesus obedience unto death is the same as when He told the believers in sardis to be Faithful unto death Rev 2:10

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: 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.

For faithfulness unto death and obedience unto death are the same thing, Hence Jesus Christ's Faithfulness unto Death resulted in the believers Justification before God, that's before they believe, which believing is the fruit of Christ's Faithfulness, So in actuality, ones believing in Christ, is but the fruit of Christ's Faithfulness or obedience unto Death ! 9

 

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Faith is that good work begun in us by God the Spirit !


Phil 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

That word begun is the greek word enarchomai and means to:

I.to begin, to make a beginning, to originate; be the originator of:

Now that same word enarchomai made up of the word archomai which also means:

I.to be the first to do (anything), to begin


II.to be chief, leader, ruler


III.to begin, make a beginning

Is also where the word author is from here Heb 12:2

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.

So Christ by sending His Spirit in us, giving us Life from the Dead, by that is the Author or beginner of our Faith. He begins the Work of Faith in those He died for, His Seed Isa 53:10

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Its a fatal mistake to believe and or teach that Faith in the matter of the things of God, begins from the natural man, that it originates in the mind of the flesh, for that is nothing but an attempt to steal Glory from Christ and the accomplishment of His Works. He begins it un us and shall perform it in us until the Day of Christ Phil 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

This is also the basis for the P in TULIP the final perseverance in Faith for the Saints, its being performed by Christ through His Spirit ! 9

 

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Children or Sons of God by Faith in Christ !

Gal 3:26

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

Understand this, the evidence that one is a Son of God by Creation, it is that they shall be manifested to be one by regeneration and consequently Faith in Christ, which has been the case since the beginning of time or the world. Adam the first man was a Son of God in the beginning Lk 3:38

Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

No Adam did not have Faith in Christ immediately at his creation, but because he was the Son of God by Creation, Faith in Christ had been predetermined through his sin, For the Law / Commandment was given to bring him to faith in Christ, [The Seed of the Woman] Gal 3:24

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Command not to eat of that tree was in reality a schoolmaster to bring him a Son of God to Faith in Christ the Messiah, the Seed of the Woman. Them also in Gen 6:1-2

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Are called the Sons of God were believers in Christ, the coming seed of the women, or else they could not have been Sons of God.

In fact, all mankind that was first Created in Adam, are as Adam a Son of God Lk 3:38

38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

And as such they must be born again and given the Gift of Faith in Christ, for we are manifested Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Gal 3:26 ! 10

 

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Rom 10:17 ; 2 Cor 2:14-16

Rom 10:17

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

2 Cor 2:14-16

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God /Christ ! Now whenever in the purpose of God, the Gospel is to be a Savour of Life unto Life, its when it [The Gospel] is being heard by them which are Spiritually Alive, who have quicken and opened ears, so then by the Gospel, immortailty and Life are brought to Light as Per 2 Tim 1:10-11

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

In the economy of Salvation, the Gospel Preacher has been appointed to Preach and teach the Gospel to the Spiritually alive that Life Spiritual may be brought to Light /made evident !

Now to them, the Spiritually alive, the Gospel works in them both Faith and Repentance; Yes the Gospel to the Spiritually alive works Faith, Paul writes 2 Thess 2:13-14

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:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Its only when one has God given Faith, a fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22, that one then believes the report of the Gospel, for the Prophet asked Isa 53:1

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Jn 12:38

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Rom 10:16

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

This by nature indicates that men by nature alone, they cannot believe the Gospel, the Doctrine ! When Paul makes an appeal such as this one recorded in Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

It can only be unto them that have been already made alive, so that Life and immortality can be brought to Light by the Gospel. Thats what those duties[Faith/ Repentance] do, bring to Light the New Spiritual Life they have been given in Christ !

 

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Faith is the Gift of God !


Most religionist believe that Faith is something the natural man has or has the ability to do, but they are dead wrong and deceived ! See, Christ has been the author of a 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.

The writer here is very precise in stating to believers of like precious Faith, that it was not of themselves, but Christ was the Author of it. Now what does this word Author mean ? Its the greek word archēgos and means:


I.the chief leader, prince

A.of Christ


II.one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer


III.the author

That word predecessor denotes that He is the Father of Our Faith, much like it is said of Abraham regarding believers, that he is the Father of the Faithful Rom 4:11,12,16

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:


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.

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 3:7,9

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

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

But what Abraham could not do, he could not produce Spiritual Children with Faith,

But Christ could, so He is the True Father of the Faithful, which He produced in Abraham's stead.

Another definition for that word author in Heb 12:2 which is neglected is :


I.beginning, origin


II.the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader


III.that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause


IV.the extremity of a thing

A.of the corners of a sail



V.the first place, principality, rule, magistracy

A.of angels and demons

Christ is the active cause of our Faith if we believe in Him. Our Faith begin to be because of His causation !

See, the natural man wants to take credit for faith as being of his ability, which is a lie, and it steals credit due to Christ ! 10

 

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Faith is the Gift of God ! 2


So Faith is the Gift of God in that Christ, the Gift of God Jn 4:10

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Because Christ, who is the Gift of God, is its Author causer , the effectual producer of it, and thats why, all who Live by Faith, do so because they live by the Faith of the Son of God, who Loved them and 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.

Christ as the Head does communicate His Faith to each of His Members of His Body Rom 12:3

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

He does this by giving them His Spirit Rom 5:5;Titus 3:5-6 and of course Faith is the fruit of His Spirit Gal 5:22

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

So its the work of Christ's Spirit in us that effects Faith in Christ and our beginning to Live by Faith, hence we Live by the Faith of the Son of God, So are believing is not of us, but of Christ that by His Spirit now lives in us ! And its all the Gift of God !

 

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Faith to believe on Christ is not our own, but the work of God!


Faith to believe on Christ is not our own, but the work of God! Its the Work of God the Holy Spirit in us to Truly Believe on the Son, who died for us, if indeed He did die for us 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.

Christ was sent to save some Jn 3:17

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

This World is not all without exception, but all of God's Elect without distinction, the World of Spiritual Israel, the Church ! The Body of Christ, for God has only Promised to save one world of people, Israel Isa 45:17

17 But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Here again Jn 6:40

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The End result of God the Father sending His Son was for the purpose of them believing on Him who were seeing Him spiritually, with a God given spiritual sight ! Now their seeing and believing on Him was not their own natural ability, credit is given to it being the Work of God Jn 6:29, God the Holy Spirit, He produces that Faith which is of the operation of God Col 2:12

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

That word operation is the greek word energeia and means:

working, action, productive work, activity; in the NT, confined to superhuman activity.

This describes that its of the power of the Spirit that produces our act of believing or Faith in Christ, its His operation or working in us both to will and to do of God's pleasure which in this case is to Believe on the Son whom He has sent to seek and to save !

Again believers believe by the working of His Power Eph 1:19

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

Believe it or not the Mighty Power is the Spirit of God, See Believers are but building materials for Gods Spiritual Temple being Built by Christ, and a Type was that Temple to be built that was prophesied in the OT Zech 4:6

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

I quote John Gills comments on this verse Zech 4:6:

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then he answered, and spake unto me, saying,.... In great condescension, in order to instruct him into the true meaning of the vision:

This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel; this signifies what was said by the Lord to Zerubbabel, by some one of the prophets sent unto him:

saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts: that is, that as the candlestick was supplied with oil, from the two olive trees by the side of it, without the help of any man, to pour in the oil, and trim the lamps; so the temple should be built by Zerubbabel, not through the multitude and strength of men, but through the Spirit of God, animating, exciting, encouraging, and strengthening them to go through the work. The temple was a type of the church, and Zerubbabel a type of Christ; he was so in the high esteem he was had in by the Lord; he was chosen by him; made as a signet, and was precious to him, Haggai 2:23 in his titles and characters, a servant of the Lord, and governor of Judah, Haggai 1:1 and in his work, in bringing the Jews out of captivity, and in rebuilding the temple: so Christ is the chosen of God, and exceeding dear and precious to him; is his righteous servant, and Governor of the church, or King of saints; and who has redeemed and delivered his people from the captivity of sin, and Satan, and the law; and is the builder of his church; who has laid the foundation of it, and will bring in the headstone; and which church is built up in all generations through the conversion of sinners; and that is done, not by external force, by carnal weapons, or moral persuasion; but by the sword of the Spirit, the word of God; and not by the power of man's free will, but by the efficacious grace of the divine Spirit: it is indeed done by power and might, but not of the creature: man, whatever power he has to do things natural, civil, outwardly religions, and materially moral, or however in appearance, has no power to do anything spiritually good; not to think a good thought, nor do a good action, in a spiritual manner; much less to work such a work as the work of regeneration, conversion, and sanctification; since he is dead in sin, and can not quicken himself; his understanding is darkened, yea, darkness itself, and he can not command light into it; his will is stubborn and obstinate, and he can not bend it, and subdue it; his heart is hard as a nether millstone, and he cannot soften it, and repent of his sins, in a truly spiritual, gracious, anti-evangelic manner; his affections are inordinate; and he is a lover of sinful pleasures, and not of God, nor of anything divine, to which his carnal mind is enmity; he cannot believe in Christ of himself; faith is not of himself, it is the gift of God, and so is repentance, and every other grace. The work of grace on the soul is expressed by a regeneration, a resurrection from the dead, a creation, and the new man, or a transformation of a man into another man; all which require almighty power to effect: regeneration is not of the will of man, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God, of Jehovah the Spirit: sanctification is called the sanctification of the Spirit, and every grace of it is a fruit of his; it is he who is the Spirit of life from Christ, that quickens men when dead in trespasses and sins, and enlightens their dark minds with spiritual light, in divine things; it is he that produces evangelical repentance in them, and faith in Christ is of his operation; it is he that begins the work of grace on the heart, and carries it on, and causes to abound in the exercise of every grace, and performs the work of faith with power. The Targum, instead of "by my Spirit", renders it "by my Word".

When we believe, its just the manifestation of us being of those chosen building materials God has Chosen in Christ to construct the Building of His Spiritual Temple 1 Pet 2:5

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

A Spiritual House is another way of saying a Temple or habitation of God Eph 2:20-22

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So by understanding this, Faith is not of our own by nature, but its a work or production of the Spirit of God in us, to manifest our lively stone status in the building of the Spiritual Temple of the Lord !

 

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Faith to believe on Christ is not our own, but the work of God 2



Basically, when Jesus says that believing on Him is a work of God, God the Holy Spirit, in essence He is indicating, that believing on Him is the Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22

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

The word fruit karpos :


I.fruit

A.the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields


B.the fruit of one's loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity



II.that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result

A.work, act, deed

So the effect or result of the Spirit is Faith ! Or the Work, Act/Action, deed of the Spirit is Faith !

If we recall earlier we showed how Faith is of the operation of God Col 2:12 and that the word operation energeia means also :

I.working, efficiency working, action, productive work, activity. It means the same exact thing as fruit in this, act deed, work !

Heres why. The word energeia is actually Two words combine #1en #2.ergon from which we get the word work :

III.an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work

So that energia is the Activity of the Spirit that effects, produces Faith and or Believing on Christ or on His Name !

Thats the only way we can put Faith in Christ, if its the effect of the Spirit in us producing that result, so where is Boasting ? Why do religionist erroneously think that Faith to believe on Christ is something man can do naturally when the scripture teaches the exact opposite ? Its because of pride in mans heart, any man or women who believes Faith in Christ is a natural ability, they are proud and deceived, and in unbelief to this day ! Its the Work of God Jn 6:29, the Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22 ! 10

 

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Not from the natural mind !


The scripture that many religionist like to refer to as they attempt to make their act of Faith/Belief the cause why they are Justified before God is Rom 5:1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Now myself, I believe the Faith here belongs to Christ, His Faithfulness / Obedience, and by it, all for whom He died have Peace with God !

However if it does refer to the individuals Faith, whereby their Justification is made known to them through God given Faith, a fruit of the Spirit, and they receive the peace of God in their souls, even at that, Faith is not a product of the natural mind ! All men by nature, are carnal and the scripture is plain with this indictment against the carnal mind and God 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.

Folks the carnal mind and the natural mind are one and the same, and it is void of any experimental peace with God ! Faith also has along with it understanding as in Heb 11:3

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Yet the natural mind cannot understand the things of God 1 Cor 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know G1097/understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But [fn]a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually [fn]appraised.NASB

So these things considered it makes it impossible for natural human faith to any part to do in Justification before God. It would have to be Faith from the New Born Spiritual Man, which means they were already a New Creature before they exercised Faith as their own act !

 

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Whosoever liveth and believeth in me !


Jn 11:26

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Man by nature are sinners and dead to God, and not Living in the Spiritual sense.

By nature, though we live physically, yet we be dead spiritually, as to say, dead while we live 1 Tim 5:6

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

The word dead here means simply to be spiritually dead !

Also remember the comment Jesus made here Mark 8:22

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. See Lk 9:60 !

Well the dead here that is to bury the dead, again means the spiritually dead, those destitute of the Life of God,

and thats how we are by nature, dead to God, alienated from the life of God Eph 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Thats being dead, not physically, but spiritually !

Now, because of this lack or destitution of life by nature, sinners by nature cannot believe on Christ, not as the scripture requires to experience salvation/conversion, because by nature we are dead in sin Eph 2:1,5

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

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

Col 2:13

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

The word IN as dead in your sins, its a predisposition en and means:

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between

By nature we are in a permanent fixed state of spiritual death and alienation, destitute of spiritual life !

So to have Faith in Christ requires life, to be made free from death, we must be living, and the Spirit quickens or gives Life Jn 6:63 and the Fruit of the Spirit is Faith or Believing Gal 5:22 !

Without the Spiritual Life from the Spirit, there can be no Faith, not even no Seeking God. True Faith Seeks after Christ/ God Heb 11:6, and pleases God, yet without the Spirit and in the flesh man cannot please God Rom 8:8, nor does he seek after God Rom 3:11

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

And the word seek here in Rom 3:11 is the same seek that describes the activity of Faith in Heb 11:6 !

So this is proof positive that in order to believe on Christ in a salvation sense of conversion, man must first be made to Live, and that Spiritually, then comes to past the Words of the Blessed Saviour Rom 11:26

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

 

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Faith that is of the operation of God !



Col 2:12

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

This is the same as saying that Faith is the fruit , operation of the Spirit of God, Gal 5:22

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

Lets demonstrate by word study. The word operation is the greek word energeia and means:

I.working, efficiency

A.in the NT used only of superhuman power, whether of God or of the Devil

effectual working as in 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.

Eph 4:16

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Now the word fruit in Gal 5:22 is the greek word karpos:

II.that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result

A.work, act, deed

The english word for operation means:

effect, functioning, performance, working

works similar words :act, enterprise, procedure, process, project, undertaking

Also another scripture that lends to the fact that believing is of the fruit , operation of the Spirit of God is 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,

That word working in Vs 19 is the greek word used for operation in Col 2:12, and Paul plainly says the Ephesian believers had believed according to the working, operation of His Mighty Power.

That Mighty Power is the Spirit of God who raised up Christ from the dead 1 Pet 3:18

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The Holy Ghost is sometimes called the Power of God like 2 Cor 6:7

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

This no doubt refers to preaching accompanied by the Holy Ghosts Power as in 1 Thess 1:5

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

So Faith / believing in Christ is the result of the Operation, Fruit, and or Power of the God the Holy Spirit , His Power and Grace ! 11

 

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The Spiritual Life that is before and requisite to believe is from Christ the Head of the Church, His Body ! He communicates it as the Last Adam, the Head of His Body the Church 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made[by the purpose of God] a living soul; the last Adam was made[by the purpose of God] a quickening spirit.

So Christ's Members of His Body believe with the Life we receive from Christ through His quickening 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 quickening here is in response to Christ being a quickening Spirit from 1 Cor 15:45, the Spirit carries out the Will of Christ in giving Life to one of His once dead in sin members ! And so by this Christ is the Author of Our 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.

That word author means:


II.one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer


III.the author


I.beginning, origin


II.the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader


III.that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause


Christ is the active cause of our Faith, it begins to be primarily because of Him as the Last Adam.

Now the wicked religionists in the pride of his heart would tell us that faith is a product of his own freewill according to the flesh, exalting their human will over Christ's Spirit !

 

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Predestinated to Faith in Christ !

Those who come to Faith in Christ were predestinated thereunto, whereby we read in Eph 1:4-5

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,

Predestinated to the adoption of Children or Sons by Jesus Christ ! The word for Children is actually the greek word huiothesia made up of Two words tithēmi :

I.to set, put, place

And the word huios :

I.a son

Hence to set or place as a Son through or by [dia] Jesus Christ !

And we are declared to be the Children/ Sons of God by Faith in Jesus Christ Gal 3:26

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

Yes that word children here is the same greek word huios = Son !

And its because we were always Sons secretly even in Adam Lk 3:23, because of the Work of Christ to deliver us from the fall in him, The Spirit of Adoption is sent into our hearts to declare our Adoption Gal 4:6

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

And with the Spirit is effected the Fruit of Faith Gal 5:22 by which we come to Faith in Christ Jesus Gal 3:26.

Also Gal 4:6 is the fulfillment of the Covenant Promise to Ezk 36:26-27

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.

All of this was Predestinated by God according to His choosing us in Christ before the foundation ! 11

 

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Faith is the effect of election this week know by the inspired text of 2 Thessalonians 2:13, where it is stated that certain men had been beloved of God, chosen to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief/Faith in the Truth. That word belief being the Greek word pistei, a noun meaning Faith, so it actually can read and faith in the truth, which springs from having been beloved and Chosen, it is also why Paul calls it the faith of God's elect or Chosen Titus 1:1 ! Because Faith is the fruit of Gods Election in Christ!

 

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Faith is not a natural ability but a Spiritual Blessing !


Faith is not a natural ability but a Spiritual Blessing ! Its one of the many blessings Spiritual that God blesses His Chosen in Christ with Eph 1:3-4

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:

And therefore its also called the Faith of God's Elect or Chosen 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;

The word elect here is from the word chosen in Eph 1:4, the word eklegomai:

I.to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one's self

One translation is :

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, [fn]for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,NASB

The Bible teaches that Faith is a Spiritual Blessing as it is a fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22

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

So this Faith is given to us of God as a Spiritual Blessing in accordance with He having Chosen us in Christ before the foundation !

Also this means that we were in Christ before we received Faith, so Faith is a consequence/ evidence of having been Chosen in Christ before the foundation !

Yes this means that a person is in Christ before they have Faith in Him ! 11