Faith

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Faith pleases God Heb 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The reason why Faith pleases God is because Faith is wrought into the Elect by God, Heb 13:20-21

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,

21 Make 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. 38

 

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Once again, another scripture that is indicative of Faith having been wrought in us by God, its when men come[by Faith] to the light Jn 3:19-21

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

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

 

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Faith is the Gift of God lest we have occasion to boast ! Eph 2:8

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

1 Corinthians 4: 7: 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?

Does one person believe and another person doesnt ? Who made them to differ ?

That word glory in 1 Cor 4:7 is the same greek word for boast in Eph 2:9

Not of works, lest any man should boast

So if one says that their believing in salvation was what made the difference in being saved and lost, and say it was faith of themselves, and not the gift of God, you have reason to glory, to boast because you made yourself to differ. So you have bragging rights ! Those who speak of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone but then brag about their faith, saying it was their decision for Jesus that made the difference, have not yet believed salvation is of the Lord or of grace. As long as a sinner believes that something he did contributes is a factor to his salvation he has not believed that salvation is of the Lord or of grace. 39

 

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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;

To believe on Him for all of Salvation:

Faith/believing is given when God draws His sheep to Christ and teaches us in the newly created heart who Christ is and what Christ, by himself, has accomplished for His people. Thats why its said of them whom the Father draws this Jn 6:44-65

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.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

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God gives His Chosen the Gift of Faith when He gives them His Spirit 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:

 

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Faith to believe the truth is a sanctification blessing 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: 39

 

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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.

Col 2:6

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Now understand something, a persons receiving Christ, is a actual consequence or effect of grace given through the Spirit, and founded on Gods Love and Election.40

 

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When Christ stated that it was His mission to give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given Him Jn 17:2-3

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

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

And that the same might know the True God and Jesus Christ, that meant that He would give them the Gift of Faith. For its only by the Gift of Faith does a sinner come to know the True God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.

John writes a similar statement in 1 Jn 5:20

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

 

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When a sinner is drawn to Christ its synonymous with being given the gift of faith or believing on Christ. This is taught in scripture because those who are drawn come to Christ Jn 6:44

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.

Now coming to Christ and believing on Christ are the same as we look at Jn 6:64-65

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

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

The word come erchomai does mean to follow Christ. Remember Jesus says that His Sheep shall follow Him Jn 10:27


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

So this coming to follow / by Faith believing is resultive of drawing. Drawing equates to the Gift of Faith being given. 40

 

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By Donald Martin Sr:

“To them which have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1: 1 The word “obtain” is unique in its scriptural application, which defined by the English language means: “to attain, possess, or gain.” In Peter’s epistle, he declares as he writes to the Asian believers that they HAVE OBTAINED this like precious faith. Faith being defined as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 1:1) is a supernatural gift of grace alone. Man, by nature, is faithless in the state of total and absolute depravity through sins dread curse. “For without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). Therefore, in order to please God, one must have “obtained” this gift of grace called faith. Knowing that the absolute sovereign grace of God can only dispense such glorious gift upon undeserving souls, faith is that attribute which causes the heir of divine grace to lay hold upon the person of our Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour of sinners. When one is revealed that faith is a fruit of the Spirit , it manifest that without the Spirit abiding within the child of God through regeneration and the new birth it is impossible to believe that God is who He says He is and the rewarder of them which diligently seek Him. The scriptures further indicate that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), therefore, He alone causes faith to occur and evidenced within the elect heir of free and sovereign grace. Consider that when we shall see our Lord and Saviour in immortal glory, faith will have finished its work, for we shall see Him as He is, and be like Him, immortal and incorruptible per the promise of Him who has called us with a Holy calling into the kingdom of His darling Son. How often have you heard sincere and earnest pleas “exercise your faith and come to Christ” by the neo-evangelical invitation? This is loading an impossible deed upon the hearts and minds of sinners. For faith is the evidence of life and until Spiritual life is granted the depraved alien sinner by the operation of the Holy Spirit they shall remain dead, deaf and blind to all spiritual declaration by any gospel minister. For the gospel shall only be heard by those chosen in Christ by the Father and quickened with hearing ears which manifest LIFE in the New Born heir of grace. “The gospel brings LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light” (divine revelation), the gospel does not nor cannot cause LIFE!!! The gospel is only good news to them which have been given a spiritual ear “to know the joyful sound” and rejoice in it. May God bless us to praise our Saviours righteous name for granting this so great gift of faith that we might be caused to believe on Him who alone gave himself for us on that tree as the ultimate sacrifice and redeemer of sinners per the predestined and determined will of God the Father, the Almighty sovereign who only hath immortality. http://www.gracechapelobrien.net/dem/Obtained Faith.pdf

 

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GRACE, SALVATION, FAITH: THE GIFT OF GOD



Ephesians 2: 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.



Grace is a gift—grace is given from God to whomsoever God chooses, not based on anything in the sinner. (Rom 9: 11, 15, 16) Grace is not of works or it ceases to be grace. (Ro 11:6) God says of grace “and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Salvation is a gift—“Salvation is of the Lord.” (Jon 2: 9) No aspect of salvation is performed by the sinner but by the triune God in Christ Jesus. Christ himself is Salvation. (Lu 2: 28-30) God says of salvation “and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Faith is a gift—we have no reason to boast in our faith. If a heart surgeon put a new heart inside of you and you awoke to find yourself breathing, would you say, “Well at least I took a breath!” Breathing is the natural effect of life, without us making a concentrated effort to do it. Faith is the breath of the Spirit, the effect of Christ the Life dwelling in us. (Gal 2: 20) When God gives a new heart we find ourselves believing on Christ and cannot do otherwise. God says of faith “and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” BY Sovereign Grace Baptist Church | View Article 40

 

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One of the fundamental truths of the scripture is that Faith in regards to Salvation is the Gift of God Eph 2:8; Phil 1:29; 2 Pet 2:1, hence its not an act of the unregenerate man or woman that anteceded being born again. Now if this wasnt the case we would have the anti scriptural teaching of a natural man in the flesh pleasing God Rom 8:8 and this prior to being born again. A man cannot believe in a spiritually conversion manner whilst still being spiritually dead and under the dictates and dominion of the flesh. If this were the case it would make Salvation a compensation for a mans work of the flesh, and not a Free Sovereign Gift from God, which it is.

 

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Faith in Christ is a gift from God with Christ, because of what Christ did at the cross on your behalf of those He died for 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;

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?

To believe on Christs name is one of those things freely given to those people Christ was delivered up for. 41

 

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The faith, therefore, of God’s people is a gift, or the result of divine power. It is called ‘the faith of the operation of God’ Col 2:12, that is, it is the result of God’s ‘operation.

Same truth taught in 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,

2 Pet 1:3

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue

Remember acknowledging the Truth is after godliness 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

 

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Our faith in Christ is the fruit and result of the omnipotent power, irresistible grace, and effectual call of God the Holy Ghost. Its Gods Power drawing men and women to Faith in Christ 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.

 

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The only True Faith that is linked to Salvation is not found within the natural man, but as Peter writes 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:

Thats right it comes from the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 44

 

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Christ 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.

This is a broad statement, inclusive of the fact that He is the cause of our Faith. The word author means: Originator, the inaugurator, leader, pioneer, forerunner. The word is translated differently in Heb 2:10

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Jesus is the author of faith, the originator, the inaugurator, the source, and the cause of Faith. The natural man has no faith ability Jn 6:44.

Christ is the cause of Faith in all the spiritual seed of Abraham, and its He that causes Abraham to have a believing seed Gal 3:7

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

Abraham could not produce a believing seed, no more than he could produce a believing Isaac, so its Christ that produces the Abrahamic believing seed, He is the source of their faith, true to Gods promise.

We dont have Faith of ourselves, Eph 2:8, the Faith by which we are saved[converted] we received from 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: 45

 

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The Believers Faith is the fruit of the New Birth, the renewing of the Spirit 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:

Titus 3:5-6

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Notice, Jesus Christ as Saviour will shed the Holy Ghost on them He saves, causing their regeneration and renewal.

Hes not our Saviour if He doesnt do that for us. And Faith is the result, fruit of that.

 

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Believing in Christ for all Salvation isnt something generated out of the natural man, man cannot do that Jn 6:44, to true believing in Christ is the result of the working of Gods Almighty Power 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,

We believe corresponding to and in agreement with the working of Gods Mighty Power. And yet people tell us they believe in Christ by their own freewill decision. Thats supplanting the Power of God !

 

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Faith is a gift from the Risen Savior, it is imparted into the redeemed soul by the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration, therefore being a heavenly blessing, and can only act and move under heavenly influence. Heb 3:1

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