Teaching (no posting) Who Has Faith?

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Scripture makes it clear that God gives to every man faith.

Some argue that every man does not get the same measure of faith.

The KJV says "the" measure of faith.

"The measure of faith means everybody gets the same amount.

Some other translations say "a" measure of faith.

This implies that everybody does not get the same amount.

Rom 12:3
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. KJV

We will take a look at some things and consider;

Is it "the"?

Is it "A"?

:)

All the peanuts go here.
 

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Lets begin with breaking down the "faith" that God gives to every man(person).

There is what we will call "natural faith".

There is what we will call "scriptural faith".

Natural faith is the "faith" that we all "use".

Natural faith is the "faith" one has in a chair to hold a person and not collapse when sat upon.

Natural faith is the "faith" one has in a plane.

We believe it will fly and not fall out of the sky.

We also have faith in the pilot that he will successfully get the plane to our destination safely.

Then there is scriptural faith.

We will discuss what scriptural faith is later.
 
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When God gave man faith.

What did He give us?

He gave us the ability to believe.

When we choose to believe (natural faith)that the chair will hold us and not collapse.

We then act on what we believe.

We set in the chair.

If we did not believe, have natural faith in the chairs ability to support us.

We would not act and set on the chair.

If we believe that the plane will not fall out of the sky and the pilot will get it safely to our destination.

We get on the plane.
 
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This study is going to be very detailed.

Some because of the detail, having no patience, will not read it all.

They will want a quick easy to understand statement.

I could give a quick statement defining what I am saying.

However being told truth in a sentence or two.

Does not bring understanding with it.

Understanding requires the details.

The more we delve into the details the more we understand.

Let's continue with the details.

The natural faith we have is learned through the five physical senses.

Either from hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, and/or seeing.

In the process of life we learn natural faith by one or more of those senses.

Remember Thomas?

Jesus had appeared to the disciples, but Thomas was not there.

When they told him about the Lord appearing to them.

Thomas said "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe".

John 20:25
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. KJV

Eight days later Jesus shows up again.

Remember what Jesus said to Thomas?

John 20:26-29
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Jesus said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing”.

27 Then saith he to Thomas , Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Thomas believed when he was able to verify through his physical senses that Jesus was still around.

Thomas saw Jesus.

Thomas touched Jesus’ hands and side where He was wounded.

Then Thomas believed.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas , because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. KJV

Jesus said that those who believe without seeing are blessed.

Believing without seeing is “scriptural faith”

Scriptural faith is not learned through the five physical senses.
:)
 
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The Measure Of Faith II

Thomas believed when he was able to verify through his physical senses that Jesus was still around.

Thomas saw Jesus.

Thomas touched Jesus’ hands and side where He was wounded.

Then Thomas believed.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas , because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. KJV

Jesus said that those who believe without seeing are blessed.

Believing without seeing is “scriptural faith”

Scriptural faith is not learned through the five physical senses.

Scriptural faith is believing without seeing.

But, believing what?

Let’s look an example from scripture.

Ever hear of Abraham?

Of course you have.

Abraham is called by scripture as “the father of us all”

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, KJV

Are we all descended from Abraham?

No.

Abraham is more than likely not in any of our physical families.

So how is Abraham the father of us all?

The scripture tells how “but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham”.

Abraham is the “father” of those who share the faith of Abraham.

So, what did Abe do in order to be called the father of faith.

God made a promise to Abram, his name was changed to Abraham by God.

God told Abram to move away from all his kinfolk to a different land which God would show him

Gen 12:1-4
12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

God told Abram that He would make a great nation from Abram.

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Abram at seventy-five years old packed up and left.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. KJV

Abram and his wife Sarai had no children when God told him that he would make a great nation from him.

Why?

Because Sarai was barren.

Sarai could not have children.

Yet God said that He would make a great nation from Abram.

God repeated that promise several times to Abram.

In a covenant that God made with Abram.

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham.

Gen 17:4-6

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham ; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. KJV

God said that He would make Abraham a father of many nations.

Abraham has no children.

His wife Sarah, God changed her name as well, was barren.

Hopeless situation?

For natural faith that is dependent on seeing it first it is a hopeless situation.

After all Sarah has never had children because she is barren.

Abraham was seventy five when God first said that He would make Abe the father of many nations.

Twenty five years later at one hundred years old.

Abe and Sarah remained childless.

Yet even at a hundred years old, Abe, having no child from Sarah believed what God said to him.

He believed in the hope God gave him of a child.

Abe believed against all natural hope according to what God told him.

Rom 4:18-21

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Abraham did not consider that at 100 years old his own body was now dead relative to any natural hope of reproduction.

Abraham did not consider that his wife Sara’s womb was not only barren but she was passed the time of child bearing.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

He knew the facts in the natural.

But he did not stagger at what God said through unbelief.

Abraham continued to believe what God said in spite of everything in the natural screaming at him 24/7.

“You old fool, you think you are going to have a child, impossible.”

Scripture calls that “strong in faith”.

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Abraham was fully persuaded that what God said, God was able to do.

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. KJV

Scripture says that because Abraham was strong in faith that it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Rom 4:22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. KJV

Rom 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. KJV

“Scriptural faith” is believing what God said.

When one believes what God said like Abraham, not being moved by unbelief.

Not even being moved by the (seemingly) “impossible hope”.

That is faith.

We will pick it up here next time.
:)
 
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The Measure Of Faith III

“Scriptural faith” is believing what God said.

When one believes what God said like Abraham, not being moved by unbelief.

Not even being moved by the (seemingly) “impossible hope”.

That is faith.

Ok.

Now that we have defined what scriptural faith is.

We will continue with the questions.

Is it "the"?

Is it "A"?

Lets do so by considering some “faith” moments from scripture.

Remember this event?

Jesus entered a ship with his disciples.

Matt 8:23-26
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

A storm came along and covered the ship with waves.

Jesus was sleeping through the storm.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

With all the “goings on” around them, big waves covering the ship, winds blowing very strong.

The disciples became fearful, woke Jesus up saying “help, we have had it”.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Jesus got up rebuked the winds and sea and everything became calm.

Notice what Jesus said to them.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith ? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. KJV

Jesus ask them why they were afraid.

Then He told them they were of little faith.

He did not say anything like;

I understand you are afraid because you are of little faith.

Jesus was not understanding with them.

He got onto them.

Jesus did not say “I can do this, after all I am the Son of God”.

No, Jesus did not say anything like that to them.

He gave them a hard time about why they did not do something.

Now.

Jesus called them “of little faith”, obviously expecting more of them.

Was He expecting of them something they were not capable of?

Was He mad at them because they woke Him up?

Was He being too demanding?

Of course not.

It was a teaching moment.

He was teaching them, letting them know they could have done the same thing.

Except for.

They were of little faith.

Jesus expected more of them.

That means they could have done more.

That means they had the capacity to do more.

They did not know it.

Even after Jesus told them they could have done the same thing.

It is obvious by verse 27, it did not penetrate into their thinking.

Matt 8:27
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! KJV

Next time
:)
 
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Measure Of Faith IV

Jesus expected more of them.

That means they could have done more.

That means they had the capacity to do more.

They did not know it.

Even after Jesus told them they could have done the same thing.

It is obvious by verse 27, it did not penetrate into their thinking.

Matt 8:27
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! KJV

Let consider another time that Jesus said “ye of little faith”.

Remember Peter when he walked on the water?

Matt 14:25-32

The disciples were in a ship and Jesus came out to them walking on the water.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

The disciples, not being use to seeing people walk on water were afraid.

Jesus told them to cheer up, that it was Him.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Peter said Lord if it is really you bid me to come out there with you.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Well, what else was Jesus going to say?

Stay there Peter it is not really me?

Jesus spoke one word “come”.

Peter started walking on the water out to where Jesus was.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

As Peter walked he noticed the strong wind.

A strong wind makes big waves.

Fear came to Peter.

He started to sink and cried out to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Immediately Jesus reached out and caught Peter.

Even though Peter had walked on water Jesus said he was of little faith.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith , wherefore didst thou doubt? KJV

Jesus said that Peter’s doubt was the reason he started to sink.

Jesus did not say that Peter started to sink because he did not have enough faith.

Let’s look at a couple of things a bit closer.

What was the “point” at which Peter could walk on water?

The “point” was the word that Jesus spoke to him.

Remember?

Jesus said to Peter “come”.

Jesus spoke one word.

The word that Jesus spoke held in it the power for Peter to walk on the water all the way to where Jesus was and back to the ship.

When Peter heard the word “come” spoken by Jesus.

Peter then acted on that word, got down from the ship and started walking to Jesus on the water.

What caused him to start sinking?

The doubt that fear produced.

What would have happened if Peter had caught his fear?

Remembered and thought on the word Jesus spoke?

Peter would have overcame his fear and continued to walk on the water.

Jesus said Peter was of little faith.

Even though he started out great.

Peter wavered.

Peter would have sunk, except for the Lord catching him.

We will bring in another scripture.

Faith “comes” or is set in motion by hearing the word of God.

Rom 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV

Now we have the foundation for scriptural faith.

1. God gave to every man faith.
2. Faith “comes” or is set in motion by hearing the word of God.
3. Faith acts on what is said.

Scriptural faith is believing what God said.

When a person hears the word of God.

The faith that is already in them “comes” or is set in motion.

At this “point”, there are several things that can happen.

The person will have an impulse to act on the word that was heard.

The person will start to act.

However many if not most will stop because of one fear or another.

Perhaps we will break down those fears later, perhaps not.

If that fear is not overcome, either immediately or later.

That person will “put the brakes on” and stop faith in its tracks.

A person can stop out of fear, but after rereading, re-thinking, can put their faith in motion again.

Next we will bring in the Holy Spirit’s “part” in our faith moments.
:)
 
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Measure Of Faith V

Faith “comes” or is set in motion by hearing the word of God.

Rom 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV

Now we have the foundation for scriptural faith.

1. God gave to every man faith.
2. Faith “comes” or is set in motion by hearing the word of God.
3. Faith acts on what is said.

Scriptural faith is believing what God said.

When a person hears the word of God.

The faith that is already in them “comes” or is set in motion.

At this “point”, there are several things that can happen.

The person will have an impulse to act on the word that was heard.

The person will start to act.

However many if not most will stop because of one fear or another.

Perhaps we will break down those fears later, perhaps not.

If that fear is not overcome, either immediately or later.

That person will “put the brakes on” and stop faith in its tracks.

A person can stop out of fear, but after rereading, re-thinking, can put their faith in motion again.

When a person hears the word of God and their faith is set in motion.

The Holy Spirit has a part.

His part determines if the person is acting in true faith.

There is true faith.

There is also presumption.

There is also foolishness.

Doesn’t take a genius to realize that we want to act in true faith.

Not presumption.

Certainly not foolishness.

The Holy Spirit’s part is to reveal the truth of a scripture to us.

That is the teaching that He does.

There are times the revealing can be upon hearing.

That occurs mostly when the message of Jesus is first heard resulting in a person being saved/born again.

As we get into the scriptures and learn what God said we can do, what we are, who we are.

It generally takes some “soaking” in the word concerning those things before the revelation of them are made real to us.

When that revelation happens we know that we know that we know the truth of them.

Then we can act in true faith to receive what the word says.

Want to know your true faith level?

What do you know that you know that you know?

Take any scripture.

Do you really know that you know that you know in your heart (innermost being) the truth of that scripture.

How real is it to you?

If it is not real to you.

And you are trying to act on it.

You are not in faith.

You are in presumption and/or foolishness.

Next time.
:)
 
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Measure Of Faith VI

Faith “comes” or is set in motion by hearing the word of God.

Rom 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV

Now we have the foundation for scriptural faith.

1. God gave to every man faith.
2. Faith “comes” or is set in motion by hearing the word of God.
3. Faith acts on what is said.

There are several more times Jesus spoke to those of little faith.

Again, if those whom Jesus classified as being of little faith.

If they were incapable of what Jesus said they did not do because of “little faith”.

Then Jesus is not just.

He would be expecting from them what they could not do.

Over time the disciples noticed the importance of faith.

Walk around with Jesus for a while and you can’t miss it.

They also evidently recognized their own “little faith”.

They thought they needed more faith.

Many think that today.

If I just had more faith I could do so much better.

When one believes they do not have faith.

When one believes they just do not have enough faith.

They are in a state of mind or thinking that is hopeless.

How do you get more.

If “more faith” is what is really needed.

The disciples thought they needed more faith.

Their thinking was “we just need more faith”.

So, one day they ask Jesus for something.

They said to the Lord "We need more faith; tell us how to get it."

Luke 17:5
One day the apostles said to the Lord, "We need more faith; tell us how to get it." NLT

The KJV says “increase our faith”.

Luke 17:5-6

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Now, with that question the disciples were expecting Jesus to reveal the great truth of how to get more faith.

I can see them going away from the conversation with more questions.

The narrative does not comment on their reaction to His answer.

If you ask Jesus the same, “I need more faith, tell me how do I get it”?

His answer to you would be the same as He answered them.

What is your reaction to the answer Jesus gave them.

Jesus told them (KJV) “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed”.

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. KJV

Did Jesus tell them if they had faith as small as a mustard seed?

Remember, He has already told them, more than once that they are of little faith.

Why would He now say to them that they need “small faith”?

They already have “small faith”.

He has told them that already.

Jesus did not comment to them regarding the size or amount of faith.

When He said “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed”.

His reference was not to “just a little faith”.

They already was of “just little faith”.

His reference was to the seed.

:)
 
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Measure Of Faith VII

Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. KJV

Jesus did not comment to them regarding the size or amount of faith.

When He said “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed”.

His reference was not to “just a little faith”.

They already was of “just little faith”.

His reference was to the seed.

When Jesus said “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed”.

He was not referring to the size of their faith.

He was referring to the seed.

What do you do with a seed?

A seed has to be planted.

A seed can produce nothing until it is sown.

Jesus then told them how to plant the seed of faith.

Jesus said “ye might say”.

Faith has to be planted like or as a seed before it will produce anything.

Faith is planted by words that are spoken.

With that in mind let’s consider this verse again.

2 Cor 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; KJV

Where is Paul referring to where it written in scripture?

The Psalmist said;

Ps 116:10
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: KJV

The AMP says;

Ps 116:10
I believed (trusted in, relied on, and clung to my God), and therefore have I spoken [even when I said], I am greatly afflicted. AMP

The way faith works is that what a person believes they speak.

It is important what their speech or what they are saying is directed to.

Jesus said that faith is planted by speaking.

Then He showed us where to direct what we are speaking to.

In this verse He used a tree as the example.

Other times when He was talking to them about this principle.

He used a mountain as an example.

Jesus said that we should say or speak to the problem or obstacle that is before us.

Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. KJV

Jesus said that “ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea”;

Notice in the example that Jesus is giving us.

The purpose in speaking to the tree was to get it out of the way.

We can see that because that is what Jesus said that a person might say.

Then Jesus said that the tree should obey or do what it was told.

Luke 17:6e
and it should obey you. KJV

Jesus said that the tree representing an issue in your life that needed to be removed or dealt with.

He said that the “tree” should be spoken to.

He said that what we should speak to the “tree” is what we want it to do.

He said “ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea;”

Ye might say something like “get out of here”

Whatever words are spoken to the “tree”(life’s issues).

Those words are how faith is planted.

That is enough to think about for now.

We will continue next time.

:)
 
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Measure Of Faith VIII

Then Jesus said that the tree should obey or do what it was told.

Luke 17:6e
and it should obey you. KJV

Jesus said that the tree representing an issue in your life that needed to be removed or dealt with.

He said that the “tree” should be spoken to.

He said that what we should speak to the “tree” is what we want it to do.

He said “ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea;”

Ye might say something like “get out of here”

Whatever words are spoken to the “tree”(life’s issues).

Those words are how faith is planted.

Let’s go back to our scripture that is in question.

Rom 12:3
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. KJV

Strong’s Concordance uses #9999 for words that are not in the Greek text.

These words that are numbered 9999 were added by the translators.

Their (the translators) thinking was that by adding these words it would help express what the verse was saying.

NT:9999 NOTE: inserted word (x); This word was added by the translators for better readability in the English. There is no actual word in the Greek text. The word may be displayed in italics, or in parentheses or other brackets, to indicate that it is not in the original text.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

I believe as do many others that it would have been better to not add most of the words.

The word “the” is not even in the Greek text.

So, lets leave the word out and take another look at the part of the verse we are discussing.

Rom 12b
according as God hath dealt to every man measure of faith.

First lets look at the word translated “measure”.

The word translated "measure" is NT:3358.

The word means “determined extent”, “portion measured off”, “measure or limit”.

2. determined extent, portion measured off, measure or limit: with a genitive of the thing received, Rom 12:3; 2 Cor 10:13; (Eph 4:7);

(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

“Determined extent”.

The word “extent” is defined as;

ex·tent noun \ik-ˈstent\
: the range, distance, or space that is covered or affected by something or included in something

: the point or limit to which something extends or reaches

The word “determined” is defined as;

determine (dɪˈtɜːmɪn)
vb
1. to settle or decide (an argument, question, etc) conclusively, as by referring to an authority
2. (tr) to ascertain or conclude, esp after observation or consideration
3. (tr) to shape or influence; give direction to: experience often determines ability.
4. (tr) to fix in scope, extent, variety, etc: the river determined the edge of the property.

The definition that fits the use of the word as used in “determined extent” is “to fix in scope, extent, variety, etc: the river determined the edge of the property”.

“Determined extent” expresses that the range, distance, or space that is covered or affected by something or included in something is fixed in scope.

Another meaning of the word “measure” is “portion measured off”.

The meaning of “portion measured off” is clear without defining each word.

A portion is a certain amount.

“Portion measured off” shows a certain amount measured off.

Another meaning is “measure or limit”.

God has dealt to every man a determined extent of faith.

God has dealt to every man a portion measured off of faith.

God has dealt to every man a measure or limit of faith.

The meaning(s) of the word translated “measure” show that every man received the same determined extent.

The same portion measured off.

The same measure or limit.

Next we will consider the word translated “dealt”.
 
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Optimax

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Measure Of Faith IX

The meaning of “portion measured off” is clear without defining each word.

A portion is a certain amount.

“Portion measured off” shows a certain amount measured off.

Another meaning is “measure or limit”.

God has dealt to every man a determined extent of faith.

God has dealt to every man a portion measured off of faith.

God has dealt to every man a measure or limit of faith.

The meaning(s) of the word translated “measure” show that every man received the same determined extent.

The same portion measured off.

The same measure or limit.

Next we will consider the word translated “dealt”.

Rom 12:3
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. KJV

The word translated “hath dealt” is NT:3307

The meaning or the word is “to bestow”, “impart”.

to bestow, impart: tini, 1 Cor 7:17;
ti tini, Rom 12:3;
(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vine’s signifies "to divide into parts" (meros, "a portion, part"); hence, "to distribute, divide out, deal out to,".

merizo NT:3307 signifies "to divide into parts" (meros, "a portion, part"); hence, "to distribute, divide out, deal out to," translated "hath dealt in Rom 12:3.
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

The use of the word “dealt” or “hath dealt” defines what is “happening” by the definition of the word used.

Definition of DEALT

verb (used with object)

1. to give to one as a share; apportion: Deal me in.

2. to distribute among a number of recipients, as the cards required in a game: Deal five cards to each player.

3. Cards . to give a player (a specific card) in dealing: You dealt yourself four aces.
Copyright © 2000 Me. All rights reserved.

In an environment where something is dealt.

Everybody got five cards.

No one had an advantage by being dealt more cards than the others.

No one was disadvantaged by being dealt less cards than the others.

Everyone was dealt the same number or measure of cards.

Everyone was dealt the same amount of cards.

God dealt to every man the same amount of faith.

If He did not deal to every person the same amount of faith.

Then He is totally unjust.

Then He is totally unfair.

That would make God a respecter of persons.

He would be a respecter of persons because He gave us all the same instructions.

He tells everyone of us that we are to live by faith.

If God gave me less faith than He gave you.

Then He has put me at a disadvantage.

I cannot do what He told me to do if the amount of faith was not enough to accomplish what He said I should do.

:)
 
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Optimax

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A few thoughts to consider.

What makes the difference between "o ye of little faith"

And "great faith"

Jesus recognized both.

Matt 8:10
Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith , no, not in Israel. KJV

The man that Jesus ascribed "great faith' to.

That man had a great understanding of a faith.

Those to whom Jesus ascribe to be of "little faith".

Had no or little understanding of faith.

Each of us have a choice.

We can be of "little faith".

We can be or "great faith".

How much effort are we willing to give for great understanding of faith.

Some will use "little faith" as an excuse.

Not willing to exercise the effort to gain a better understanding.

:)
 
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Optimax

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2 Cor 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; KJV

Where is Paul referring to where it written in scripture?

The Psalmist said;

Ps 116:10
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: KJV

The AMP says;

Ps 116:10
I believed (trusted in, relied on, and clung to my God), and therefore have I spoken [even when I said], I am greatly afflicted. AMP

The way faith works is that what a person believes they speak.

Faith is believing and speaking.

True faith is believing and speaking what God said.

:)
 
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geetrue

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I don't know if this a teaching thread or a discussion thread, but it is sure good Optimax.

Faith is a gift, right?
We all have faith when we come to know the Lord and believe that he paid for all of our sins on the cross at Calvary.
We confess that faith with communion.

If we need faith to get out of a sticky situation ... where doe it come from?

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God

Without faith you can not please God

My burdens are many, but I have faith that Jesus hears my cries and he has answered many prayers.
I have found that I have to wait no more than three days for things to get better.

That's what I call a gift of faith.
 
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cedric1200

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The Measure Of Faith II

Thomas believed when he was able to verify through his physical senses that Jesus was still around.

Thomas saw Jesus.

Thomas touched Jesus’ hands and side where He was wounded.

Then Thomas believed.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas , because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. KJV

Jesus said that those who believe without seeing are blessed.

Believing without seeing is “scriptural faith”

Scriptural faith is not learned through the five physical senses.

Scriptural faith is believing without seeing.

But, believing what?

Let’s look an example from scripture.

Ever hear of Abraham?

Of course you have.

Abraham is called by scripture as “the father of us all”

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, KJV

Are we all descended from Abraham?

No.

Abraham is more than likely not in any of our physical families.

So how is Abraham the father of us all?

The scripture tells how “but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham”.

Abraham is the “father” of those who share the faith of Abraham.

So, what did Abe do in order to be called the father of faith.

God made a promise to Abram, his name was changed to Abraham by God.

God told Abram to move away from all his kinfolk to a different land which God would show him

Gen 12:1-4
12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

God told Abram that He would make a great nation from Abram.

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Abram at seventy-five years old packed up and left.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. KJV

Abram and his wife Sarai had no children when God told him that he would make a great nation from him.

Why?

Because Sarai was barren.

Sarai could not have children.

Yet God said that He would make a great nation from Abram.

God repeated that promise several times to Abram.

In a covenant that God made with Abram.

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham.

Gen 17:4-6

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham ; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. KJV

God said that He would make Abraham a father of many nations.

Abraham has no children.

His wife Sarah, God changed her name as well, was barren.

Hopeless situation?

For natural faith that is dependent on seeing it first it is a hopeless situation.

After all Sarah has never had children because she is barren.

Abraham was seventy five when God first said that He would make Abe the father of many nations.

Twenty five years later at one hundred years old.

Abe and Sarah remained childless.

Yet even at a hundred years old, Abe, having no child from Sarah believed what God said to him.

He believed in the hope God gave him of a child.

Abe believed against all natural hope according to what God told him.

Rom 4:18-21

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Abraham did not consider that at 100 years old his own body was now dead relative to any natural hope of reproduction.

Abraham did not consider that his wife Sara’s womb was not only barren but she was passed the time of child bearing.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

He knew the facts in the natural.

But he did not stagger at what God said through unbelief.

Abraham continued to believe what God said in spite of everything in the natural screaming at him 24/7.

“You old fool, you think you are going to have a child, impossible.”

Scripture calls that “strong in faith”.

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Abraham was fully persuaded that what God said, God was able to do.

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. KJV

Scripture says that because Abraham was strong in faith that it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Rom 4:22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. KJV

Rom 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. KJV

“Scriptural faith” is believing what God said.

When one believes what God said like Abraham, not being moved by unbelief.

Not even being moved by the (seemingly) “impossible hope”.

That is faith.

We will pick it up here next time.
:)
 
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Bob Carabbio

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The KJV says "the" measure of faith. "The measure of faith means everybody gets the same amount.

What the Bible says (Regardless of "Translations") is "dispensed" faith - i.e. "Faith" is Dispensed by God's Word to US AS NEEDED.

Faith is BASED FOUNDATIONALLY on God's WORD to YOU, and is ALWAYS a "Gifting". Humans HAVE NO "Faith organ", and the only thing WE can generate internally is "HOPE", and/or "Belief" (Give mental assent to) something.

However the operational specifications for Biblical FAITH are given clearly in Heb 11:1. If what we CALL "Faith" is NOT a "SUBSTANCE" (An absolutely established substantive reality) of what we "hope for", and an incontrovertible EVIDENCE that what we don't see (yet) IS OURS - that what we CALL Faith - isn't Faith at all.

By the way, this will be my last post on this forum, since I don't bother with forums that don't have a "Threaded" format so I can tell who's talking to whom.
 
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