Faith

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A fifth reason why men dont believe the Gospel or in Christ is because they are lost. The Gospel is being hid to them that are Lost, resulting in their believing not, since the god of this world has blinded their minds 2 Cor 4:3-4

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

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.

Also its to be noted that the word hid in verse 3 is both times in the perfect tense, indicating that the Gospel is being permanently hid from the lost ! These will never believe the True Gospel, because they are permanently lost !

 

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Faith to believe in Christ/God is one of the results /purposes of the resurrection of Christ !

Proud religious men constantly deem salvation Faith in Christ a result of mans freewill, the natural man at that ! This is gross error and disregard for the Power of God, and the Gift of God which produces Faith in the Elect of God, hence why its called the Faith of Gods Elect 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;

Several scriptures instruct us the Faith is the result of the power of God, for instance one is in Eph 1:19-20

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Now Peter writes of this same Truth here 1 Pet 1:20-21

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

When Christ was raised from the dead, God gave Him Glory ! Why ? SO THAT your Faith and Hope might be in God !

Now understand what Peter is saying , and saying it to. Hes saying , when Christ was raised from the dead, God the Father gave Him Glory so that , the word that in the greek is the conjunction hóste which means:

so that, therefore, so then, so as to.

a conjunction, derived from 5613 /hōs, "as" and 5037 /té, "both-and") – wherefore (with the result that both . . . ), connecting cause to necessary effect which emphasizes the result (the combined, end-accomplishment). The result involved then is the combination of both elements in the correlation, underscoring the inevitable effect of the paired elements.

So God raised Him Christ from the dead, gave Him Glory, so that the result and effect would be their Faith and Hope in God !

And Hes saying it to the Elect 1 Pet 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 25

 

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All True Believers are Gifts to Christ from His Father !

True Believers are given to Christ as part of His Glory and Reward for His Redemptive undertaking via the Cross, and all of the Law obedience that led up to it, Hence Jesus says of those Love Gifts from the Father Jn 6:37

All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.

They shalll come because they have been predestinated to come! Paul writes of it here Eph 1:5

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

The word shall in Jn 6:37 is a word that means:

will have to,is determined to,or definitely will:

And the word come, as in shall come is the greek word heko and denotes:

metaphorically, to come to one i. e. seek an intimacy with one, become his follower:


So the coming denotes Faith in Christ. So God the Father gives them to Christ so that they become His followers ! Just like this Jn 10:27,29a

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all 26

 

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Faith is the evidence of new birth !

Paul proves that as we consider two scriptures in Galatians. In Gal 5:6 he writes

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Now lets look at Gal 6:15

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Now in both of these scriptures hes denouncing a false teaching of the jews who were mixing salvation by Grace with salvation by works, saying that being physically circumcised as Gods people were commanded under the old covenant system, was necessary for salvation for the gentiles. Paul is saying that circumcision means absolutely nothing for salvation, God has no regard for it at all, but what God notices is Faith which woketh by love, in Gal 5:6! But in Gal 6:15, God notices a new creature, not whether you are circumcised!

The point is this, we can't have the Faith which worketh by love without having been made a new creature by the Spirit. You see both Faith and Love God notices are fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 27

 

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The Faith/Faithfulness of Jesus Christ !

Everyone Christ died for, He also lived for, He obeyed the Law for them as Adam failed to do, but Christ was faithful in all that He did in accordance to the Will of God for them He Lived and died for Heb 3:1-2a

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;


2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

This was His Covenant Mediator Faithfulness as the Surety of His People, His Church, His Sheep, The Body of Christ. Now this Faithfulness is part of that Righteousness which is imputed to the Elect, when according to His One Obedience [for them], the many were made Righteous Rom 5:19

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

It can also read without harm, the manny shall be made Faithful by the Obedience of One. That word faithful in the text Heb 3:2a

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. its the greek word pistos which means:

trustworthy, faithful, believing. Also the root of pistos faithful and pisteou Faith are the same which refers to persuasion . So when God imputes righteousness without works Rom 4:6

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, He imputes unto them Faith or Faithfulness without works. Its Piety to God without works from them.

Hence thats why Paul testifies to and so does every true believer Christ died for Gal 2:20

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.This is the testimony of all Christ Loved and gave Himself for.

So Imputed Righteousness declares them Faithful before they become believers in time, and its why they must become believers experimentally in time, to show that Christ made them Righteous. All believers believed First in Christ their Surety with the Faith or the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ !28

 

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To believe on His Name is given to some !

Jn 6:40

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.

Now religionist erroneously think that believing on the name of the Son is a condition man has to perform in order to get everlasting life, being all so ignorant that naturally no man can believe on the name of Christ, for men in the flesh, naturally cannot please God Rom 8:8, which believing on the Son does please God.

But who is it that seeth the Son and believes on His Name ? Well the context tells us , look at Vs 37 of John 6

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

In the first place its all that the Father giveth to the Son [election], they come to Him, believing on His Name.

Secondly, its to them that it has been given to, to believe on His Name 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;

Yes to believe on Him and to believe on His Name are one and the same !

Thirdly, its to all of them that have been appointed to Eternal Life Acts 13:48

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
And Fourthly its Christ Sheep that believe on His Name Jn 10:26

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

 

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Christ is the author/causer of our Faith !


The boastful religionist doesn't believe this, no they believe that they have generated a faith from their flesh that believes the Truth of the Gospel, the Faith Jude 1:1

However the True Believer shall understand that their Faith to believe, was not their own, but the Gift of God, given with the giving of Christ Rom 8:32

32He 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?

Lets look at 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.

The word author archégos means:

originator, author, founder, prince, leader.

Hes the source of our Faith,

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


False religion credits themselves for their bogus faith, whereas true Christians credits Christ for their Faith ! 28

 

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Faith also is the effect of Christ's one offering sanctifying those He died for Heb 10:10

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And then Jesus says 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.

In other words Faith in Christ is a means of being Sanctified by Him, corresponding with 2 Thess 2:13

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

If one for whom Christ died never comes to Faith, belief of the Truth by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, then Christ's one offering failed to do its job, and we know that's not the case !

 

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Faith is the Gift of God Our Saviour !

2 Pet 1:1

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

First of note, Faith is given as a result of Christ being a risen Saviour, all for whom He died and rose obtain it from Him ! See one can never say Christ is their Saviour if they don't obtain Faith from Him !

 

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Faith is the Gift of God Our Saviour ! 2

Now Peter uses the preposition en here 2 Pet 1:1

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

Συμεὼν Πέτρος δοῦλος καὶ ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῖς ἰσότιμον ἡμῖν λαχοῦσιν πίστιν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

This is that same righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel 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.

This is the righteousness of God imputed or charged to all whom Christ was made sin for 2 Cor 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

Now in this imputed Righteousness of God, faith accompanies it, so eventually everyone that has it imputed to them, shall obtain it in order to live by Faith, Faith comes to the redeemed sinner, so they can embrace this righteousness into their consciousness, to live by it! 28

 

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Faith is communicated by the Spirit, in new birth, into the mind of them redeemed by the blood of Christ. Its one of those Spiritual Blessings Christ's Sheep inherit from Him 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:

Now since Faith is a spiritual blessing, its activated and maintained by a Spiritual power, the Spirit.

 

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Faith is the Gift of God as is His Grace. 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 4:7

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

True Believers believe because of Grace 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 is the prep dia and means:

through, on account of, because of

The testimony of scripture here is they believed on account of or because of Gods Grace, and not because of their so called freewill which is nothing but the arm of the flesh to boast.

Paul says he was a believer by the Grace of God 1 Cor 15:10

10But 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 was a believer and apostle by the Grace of God.

Now its of Faith so it will be of Grace Rom 4:16

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

Faith is the result of and evidence of Grace given or bestowed. Faith/or believing isn't conditioned on the sinner else the promises of God could not be sure to all the seed.

 

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Faith to believe on Christ is the fruit of Election, not the cause of election as some falsely teach. Remember Paul wrote in 2 Thess 2:13 unto them Chosen by God:

3 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:

The word belief here is not the verb but the noun pistis which in the NT is translated Faith 239 times

So Faith, belief of the Truth is one of the Salvaic ends to which they were Chosen, as the Beloved of God !29

 

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Faith to Believe in God !


Natural mans religion always seeks to deprive Christ/God of their Glory due. One way they do this is by attributing Faith Heb 11:1 unto the natural man, which is a lie. Sure man may have a natural faith, but that has absolutely nothing to do with God in Salvation. But the Faith in God that has to do with Salvation in and through Jesus Christ, who is God, comes from Christ and is part of the Glory He received from the Father when He raised Him from the dead. Lets look at 1 Pet 1:21

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him[Christ] glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.


Faith and Hope in God, in the realm of Salvation, is the result of God giving Christ Glory after raising Him from the Dead.

Thats what 1 Pet 1:21 tells us. Key to understanding this is the word that:

that your faith and hope might be in God.

Its the greek Conjunction hóste and it means:

so that, therefore, so then, so as to.

hṓste (a conjunction, derived from 5613 /hōs, "as" and 5037 /té, "both-and") – wherefore (with the result that both . . . ), connecting cause to necessary effect which emphasizes the result (the combined, end-accomplishment). The result involved then is the combination of both elements in the correlation, underscoring the inevitable effect of the paired elements.


So understand that according to Peter here Faith in God is the necessary effect, the inevitable of effect of God raising up Christ from the dead and giving Him Glory !

Thats why Peter writes in his 2 nd epistle to these same believers 2 Pet 1:1

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

 

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Faith to believe on Christ as to salvation/conversion isnt something men naturally can do, Jn 6:44

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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

It must be given by God as a Gift of Grace to believe on Christ Phil 1:29

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

You see that ? Its given for men to believe on Christ for the sake of Christ. This is a favour God does for Christ, His sake because of what He done, hence Jn 6:44 says the Fathers draws them and vs 65 its given to some by the Father to come/believe on Christ, but its not natural for man to do so !

 

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So Faith is the Gift of God Eph 2:8; Acts 18:27;2 Pet 1:1; Its the result of the power /operation of God Eph 1:19;Col 2:12;1 Cor 2:5

 

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Who really believes in Christ ?

That would be Christ's Sheep, Jesus says of them who never do believe, Jn 10:26

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

Of course that statement tacitly assumes that if they were of Christ's Sheep they would believe on Him !

And heres why this would be true. All for whom Christ died were His Sheep, we have Christ particularly stating who He died for here Jn 10:11,15, He being the Good Shepherd that did what Jn 10:11

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep And not only that but scripture affirms that He was brought from the dead after having given His Life for the Sheep, as who 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,

You see that ? He was brought again from the dead as our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep!

Thats confirmation also that He died therefore as the Great Shepherd of the Sheep ! Back in Heb 2:9 He therefore tasted death for every Sheep, and was brought from the dead for them.

Now as a result of His having died as the Shepherd of the Sheep and being raised again for them, God will do this for them Heb 13:21

21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Now what does this entail, make you perfect in every good work to do His Will ? 29

 

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Who really believes in Christ ? continued:

"make you perfect in every good work to do His Will " Now the words make you perfect are in the greek are the word katartizō which means:

to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete

1. to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair
   1. to complete
2. to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust
   1. to fit or frame for one's self, prepare
3. ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be

The meaning is that God will spiritually equip, fit , prepare, frame the Sheep to do His Will. This is done by furnishing them with His Spirit 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.

God equips the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant to do His Will, which Will for them first and foremost is to Believe on Christ ! 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 word will here is the same word will in Heb 13:21

21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Blood of Christ the Great Shepherd of the Sheep ensures that everyone He died for [His Sheep] sees the Son Spiritually and believe on Him ! Thats Gods Will for them !

 

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Who really believes in Christ ? continued:

So because of the Blood of the everlasting covenant shed by the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, God will equip the Sheep, furnish the Sheep with what is needed to do His Will, which will of His is for the Sheep to believe on Christ. He will undertake to work IN them that which is well pleasing in His sight. Which one of such things is to keep His commandment to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ 1 Jn 3:21-23

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

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

So thats something God works in His Sheep that is well pleasing in His sight !

 

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How is Faith obtained ?

Man by nature doesn't have a Faith that pleases God, for it is written :Rom 8:8

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

Man by nature man have a faith, but its no better off in the things of God as the devils faith in God James 2:19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But neither devils or natural man has the Faith of Gods Elect 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 how is this Faith obtained ? Peter informs us 2 Pet 1:2

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

Its obtained through the "righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

This Faith is obtained by Christ's Character as a Saviour. Those He came to save shall through Him obtain this Faith.