Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • Focus on the Family

    Strengthening families through biblical principles.

    Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.

  • Guest, Join Papa Zoom today for some uplifting biblical encouragement! --> Daily Verses
  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ

    Heard of "The Gospel"? Want to know more?

    There is salvation in no other, for there is not another name under heaven having been given among men, by which it behooves us to be saved."

Bible Study Faith is a Gift—Not a Work! –NC

2024 Website Hosting Fees

Total amount
$905.00
Goal
$1,038.00

netchaplain

Member
Though it will manifest works (Jam 2:18), faith in God is not something which can be produced, only desired, and even the desire for faith does not originate from man because it too must be given from God; “For it is God which worketh in you both to will (desire) and to do of His good pleasure†(Phil 2:13). All this is also readily confirmed by what John the Baptist said; “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven†(John 3:27).

If faith was a work it could not be used in delivering saving grace, by virtue of Ephesians 2:8, 9—“not of worksâ€. â€Works†have no part in obtaining nor retaining grace but rather are products of the evidence of grace; same as “faith is the evidence†of grace, which cannot be seen except by works (Heb 11:1).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that (faith) not of yourselves: it (faith) is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.†A good example of faith being a gift (not faith as one of the gifts of the Spirit) is Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . faith.†Another point of interest is the fact that Christ “has the preeminence†in all things (Col 1:18).

When the Bible commentator John Gill (1697–1771) asked a Greek/Hebrew professor what the word “that†in Ephesians 2:8 referred to His reply was: "Here you ask a wonderful theological/exegetical question to which I can only give an opinion, and not a definitive answer. The problem is that there is NO precise referent. Grace is feminine. Faith is feminine. And even Salvation (as a noun) is feminine. Yet it must be one of these three at least, and maybe more than one, or all three in conjunction.

“Since all three come from God and not from man, the latter might seem the more likely. However, it is a tautology (needless repetition of an idea or statement) to say salvation and grace are "not of yourselves," and in that case it certainly looks more like the passage is really pointing out that man cannot even take credit for his own act of faith, but that faith was itself created by God and implanted in us that we might believe. So, that is basically my opinion, though others obviously disagree strenuously, but from an exegetical standpoint, the other positions have to explain away the matter of the tautology."

There is no better prospective concerning our security in Christ than to realize that we have nothing to offer God other than ourselves. As it has been well stated, “When Christ comes to us He does not use anything He sees, but what He brings.†Understanding and maintaining this scenario throughout our earthly fellowship with God is the sole means by which a Christian can “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ†(2 Pet 3:18). Otherwise one is bereft to bare the bondage of self-sufficiency, thus lacking the “all sufficiency†which abounds only if it is “all graceâ€; “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work†(2 Cor 8:9).

When we think any of God’s blessings have to be deserved, we place emphasis on man, which results in “little faith†(Mat 6:30); when we realize none of His blessings in this life require merit, it evidences “great faith†(Mat 8:10). I believe many Christians have not fully enjoyed God’s blessings because they think they have to deserve them, in which case would void grace. It should be common knowledge in Christendom that justice is receiving what we deserve. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve and grace is receiving what we do not deserve.
 
I loved this post and I agree with what I understood. And I completely agree with what your signature states.

So do you think that when we are saved by grace, through faith (that God has given us as a gift so that we can receive Him) that we can reject this gift by free will.

Do we have the free will to choose?

If not then God does not draw all, so they are doomed.
Calvinists believe that some are created by God to be bad? What do you think?

I have no intentions of debate you on your answer to the questions I have asked. After all I asked.

Blessings Deb
 
two good post! The word "faith" has come to mean alot of things that the bible itself never intended. "faith" is not religion, although many religious claim the word.

Faith has an object Jesus Christ the Righteous!

True faith in Jesus Christ requires that one have the Spirit of Christ. For if one does not have the Spirit, they are not His.

If one has the Spirit and they walk in faith, that life will be manifest. The just shall" live" by faith.

Life is in the Spirit and the Spirit is life.

The scriptures are a whole and together they form a spiritual mirror, that shows us who we are in Christ "in spirit"

To forget Pauls writtings and try to understand James or John or any other scripture, always ends in great error.

There is a reason that the scriptures declare with all boldness that PAUL was the one who preached and taught the true gospel. All men judged according to His Gospel.

In James and John, the Holy Spirit assumes that we have heard and heeded Pauls report?

it seems that most legalist find ways to deny his gospel, and James is used by some, to support their false doctrines? But one knows the gospel, james makes perfect sense!
 
"faith" is not religion, although many religious claim the word.

I am glad you said that.

Also people somehow love turning their teaching into a masterpeice. Talking about faith and having faith are not the same, I think.

If you want to teach someone Faith, show your own.
 
The scriptures are a whole and together they form a spiritual mirror, that shows us who we are in Christ "in spirit"

To forget Pauls writtings and try to understand James or John or any other scripture, always ends in great error.

There is a reason that the scriptures declare with all boldness that PAUL was the one who preached and taught the true gospel.

Good point indicating that "Scriptures are a whole"! They must be used unbroken because any doctrine can be based on part of Scripture, but truth is based on the whole of Scripture.

Paul and the other Apostles taught in unison and from the same Teacher. The Lord Jesus used the Twelve to teach the Gospel and He used Paul to "make known the mystery of the Gospel" (Eph 6:19).
 
So do you think that when we are saved by grace, through faith (that God has given us as a gift so that we can receive Him) that we can reject this gift by free will.

Do we have the free will to choose?

Hi Sis - I believe volition (an act of making a choice or decision) is mandatory to incur responsibility of guilt or innocence and volition is a "likeness" of God in man, as evidenced by God giving Adam and Eve their choice concerning "the forbidden tree" and the allowed trees. Another example is Deuteronomy 30:19, which encourages to "choose life".

As for OSAS, I'm sold because I see no Scriptural indication of "once saved, maybe always saved" and the entirety of my spiritual life in Christ (36 yrs. now) rests on my being convinced that "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom 11:29).
 
Where does the scripture say that faith is a gift?

You could say - everything is a gift. Your whole life is a gift. Where does it bring you?

Can "faith being a gift" be an excuse for not having one? Probably not.

Then faith is not just a gift. Faith is a fruit, I would say. Faith is always more, than what we say it is.
 
When we think any of God’s blessings have to be deserved, we place emphasis on man, which results in “little faith” (Mat 6:30); when we realize none of His blessings in this life require merit, it evidences “great faith” (Mat 8:10). I believe many Christians have not fully enjoyed God’s blessings because they think they have to deserve them, in which case would void grace. It should be common knowledge in Christendom that justice is receiving what we deserve. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve and grace is receiving what we do not deserve.

I underlined what raises my question. You can still think blessings need to be deserved. But you do not have to place emhasis on man. Instead you repent.
 
Hi Sis - I believe volition (an act of making a choice or decision) is mandatory to incur responsibility of guilt or innocence and volition is a "likeness" of God in man, as evidenced by God giving Adam and Eve their choice concerning "the forbidden tree" and the allowed trees. Another example is Deuteronomy 30:19, which encourages to "choose life".

As for OSAS, I'm sold because I see no Scriptural indication of "once saved, maybe always saved" and the entirety of my spiritual life in Christ (36 yrs. now) rests on my being convinced that "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom 11:29).

Thank you so much for your timely and straight forward response. I too believe as you do.

The Lord is so good to us. Just before I saw your post I was discussing this with my daughter. I told her that I thought that part of being made in the likeness of God would include free will although I hadn't thought of it before. There it was in your post! The Lord really does listen in and know when we need conformation. Where did that thought come from? I believe the Holy Spirit.

Bless you and Mrs Chaplain, Deborah
 
So here it is the wee hours of the morning and it dawned on me that I always believed that free will was a part of being made in the likeness of God. I am I getting old or...I've been spending so much time in irrestible grace threads that I was doubting my beliefs. Hmm...
 
You can still think blessings need to be deserved. But you do not have to place emhasis on man. Instead you repent.

Hi SB - Meritorious rewards will be awarded "according to our works" (1 Cor 3:14, 15) from this life in eternity, but I believe everything God does in our life, from salvation onward, is in the form of gifts and never rewards. Being deserving or worthy from self places emphasis man and not God.

God's blessings to your Family!
 
What a wonderful post netchaplain. Very straightforward and clear, encouraging and edifying, and backed up with scripture throughout. Bless you. :pray

Hi Brother Ed - Thanks for the compliment and I like the comment on the "word". That's what drew me to the material I share, because of the persistent use of Scripture, which keeps the line of thought in check and the mind on the Lord.

God's blessings to you Family!
 
So do you think that when we are saved by grace, through faith (that God has given us as a gift so that we can receive Him) that we can reject this gift by free will.

Do we have the free will to choose?

Deb - I wanted to include this in my answers to you concerning OSAS. One can "fall away" from learning about saving grace through faith, but one will not want to "fall away" if they have received saving grace through faith.
 
Your words to SB are encouraging to me also for that is usually how I begin doubting. Thinking that I am not doing enough for God, or have asked for too much already.

Thanks for letting me know you were encouraged because knowing this also encourage me!
 
Even the faith to believe is given God's elect. For the question who's will is it? Jesus Christ is our faith and our rightouness. Read Romans 9: 15 thru 23 carefully. Does God use some people for his purpose.........Of course. Did he die for everone..If he did why then are not all saved. He didn't make it possible for men to be saved. HE saved all his people whom he died for and they will be amazed and give him all the honor and glory. To do less denies whom he is...thanks for your faith. There is not a debate over free will........You are his and thank him for what he did, does ,and will do, or you are not his and hate the truth. I thank him for HIS spirit he gives to his people he choose. Thanks and this is not meant to be anymore than thanking him for his work, plans, will, power, might, Grace and Mercy. One final question? What is NC? Is it a translation, or does it stand for something.
 
Even the faith to believe is given God's elect. For the question who's will is it? Jesus Christ is our faith and our rightouness. Read Romans 9: 15 thru 23 carefully. Does God use some people for his purpose.........Of course. Did he die for everone..If he did why then are not all saved. He didn't make it possible for men to be saved. HE saved all his people whom he died for and they will be amazed and give him all the honor and glory. To do less denies whom he is...thanks for your faith. There is not a debate over free will........You are his and thank him for what he did, does ,and will do, or you are not his and hate the truth. I thank him for HIS spirit he gives to his people he choose. Thanks and this is not meant to be anymore than thanking him for his work, plans, will, power, might, Grace and Mercy. One final question? What is NC? Is it a translation, or does it stand for something.

Hi JNS - Like your post, very relevant and paralleles the thread! NC is NetChplian. God's blessings to your Family and keep up the good word.
 
Back
Top