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Where Did Our Faith Come From?

Dougcho

Dougcho

Member
Did we create our own faith … and then believe in Jesus and the Gospel?
Or, did it come from somewhere else … like from God?

Jude 3
“… the FAITH which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (NKJV)
“… the FAITH that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people.” (NLT)
“… the truth which God gave, once for all, to His people …” (LB)
Jude says our faith was given to us, and entrusted to us.

2 Peter 1:1
“To those who have received a FAITH of the same kind as ours …” (NASB)
“This FAITH was given to you …” (NLT)
“To: All of you who have our kind of faith. The faith I speak of is
the kind that Jesus Christ our God and Savior gives to us.” (LB)
Peter says our faith was given to us, and we have received it.

Acts 13:48
“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.
and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” (NKJV, NASB, NIV)
“When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for His message;
and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.” (NLT)
Luke says these Gentiles were chosen first, and then they became believers.
Jesus says, “You did not choose Me; I chose you.” (John 15:16)

Acts 16:14
“… and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” (NASB)
“… the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.” (NLT)
“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (NIV)
Luke says Lydia needed God’s help to respond to (and accept) Paul’s message.
Even though she was a worshiper of God … Lydia needed God
to open her heart before she could believe Paul’s Gospel message.
Does this mean that God made her OPEN to believe,
or that God gave her the faith necessary to believe?

It appears that Scripture says:
we don’t create our own faith … God gives it to us,
so we can believe in Jesus and the Gospel.

Additionally … James 3 seems to say:
regarding Abraham’s experience …
BELIEF in God comes first, followed by FAITH,
which is proven by GOOD DEEDS (works).
So, perhaps God gives us BELIEF first
before we will be able to have FAITH.
 
Dougcho said:
Did we create our own faith … and then believe in Jesus and the Gospel?
Or, did it come from somewhere else … like from God?

Jude 3
“… the FAITH which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (NKJV)
“… the FAITH that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people.” (NLT)
“… the truth which God gave, once for all, to His people …” (LB)
Jude says our faith was given to us, and entrusted to us.

2 Peter 1:1
“To those who have received a FAITH of the same kind as ours …” (NASB)
“This FAITH was given to you …” (NLT)
“To: All of you who have our kind of faith. The faith I speak of is
the kind that Jesus Christ our God and Savior gives to us.” (LB)
Peter says our faith was given to us, and we have received it.

Acts 13:48
“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.
and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” (NKJV, NASB, NIV)
“When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for His message;
and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.” (NLT)
Luke says these Gentiles were chosen first, and then they became believers.
Jesus says, “You did not choose Me; I chose you.” (John 15:16)

Acts 16:14
“… and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” (NASB)
“… the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.” (NLT)
“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (NIV)
Luke says Lydia needed God’s help to respond to (and accept) Paul’s message.
Even though she was a worshiper of God … Lydia needed God
to open her heart before she could believe Paul’s Gospel message.
Does this mean that God made her OPEN to believe,
or that God gave her the faith necessary to believe?

It appears that Scripture says:
we don’t create our own faith … God gives it to us,
so we can believe in Jesus and the Gospel.

Additionally … James 3 seems to say:
regarding Abraham’s experience …
BELIEF in God comes first, followed by FAITH,
which is proven by GOOD DEEDS (works).
So, perhaps God gives us BELIEF first
before we will be able to have FAITH.
Click to expand...

Faith comes from God.

Faith comes to us when we hear God speaks to us.

Faith requires that we believe and therefore obey what we heard God say to us, in order for faith to be complete and therefore produce the intended divine result.


Example:


By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7


God warned Noah of His intention to flood the earth and wipe out the ungodly and instructed Noah to build the Ark to saved his household of eight people.

Noah moved with godly fear and prepared the ark and saved his household.

Noah heard God and did what He said.

That is what “by faith” means.
 
Faith come from God not sinful man.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
Romans 9:16 So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift] AMP

John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— 13 who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].

Simple as that
 
Fastfredy0 said:
Romans 9:16 So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift] AMP
Click to expand...

Yes God choose a specific lineage for the Messiah which is the context.
 
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
 
God opens people’s eyes

“But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation,
both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power
of God to save them …” (1 Corinthians 1:24, Living Bible)
The translators stand against Arminian theology …
when they write that God opens the eyes of those who are “called”.
People are called after their eyes have been opened ... so they can believe.

God alone saves

“God has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all
… so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God.
For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus
… As it says in the Scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast, let him boast
only of what the Lord has done.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-31, Living Bible)
The translators stand against Arminian theology …
when they write that God alone is responsible for one’s salvation!

But, it is God’s mercy and grace (unmerited favor)
that is the underlying reason for all of it.
 
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