Where does Saving Faith come from?

STommy

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I know it says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But what exactly does that mean? Do I just need to hear the Gospel in order to be opened to saving faith? And what if I hear the Gospel but faith and repentance don't come? Is it something God gives me? If so can I ASK for it? And then there's the stumbling block that is James. There is true faith and false faith. What's the difference?

To sum up: Where does SAVING FAITH come from? Is it a gift from God that I can ask for? Does it come from hearing the Gospel?

And: What's the difference between true and false faith?
 
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Carl Emerson

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Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.

This is a living breathed Word to your innermost soul where your spirit is and you now that you know that it is God.

Yes you can ask for it.

Then you respond in either belief to salvation, or unbelief which is rejecting God's word.

Welcome to CF by the way
 
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STommy

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Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.

This is a living breathed Word to your innermost soul where your spirit is and you now that you know that it is God.

Yes you can ask for it.

Then you respond in either belief to salvation, or unbelief which is rejecting God's word.

Welcome to CF by the way

Thank you for the welcome and the response.
 
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Mr. M

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John 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
 
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I know it says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But what exactly does that mean? Do I just need to hear the Gospel in order to be opened to saving faith?
No, you need to hear it and then respond to it by either rejecting it or accepting it and putting your faith in Christ.

And what if I hear the Gospel but faith and repentance don't come? Is it something God gives me? If so can I ASK for it? And then there's the stumbling block that is James. There is true faith and false faith. What's the difference?
God doesn't do it for you. His part is to reveal the truth to you and then you have to decide what to do with that knowledge.

To sum up: Where does SAVING FAITH come from? Is it a gift from God that I can ask for? Does it come from hearing the Gospel?

And: What's the difference between true and false faith?
Do you have any thoughts on where saving faith comes from or do you just not have any idea of what the answer is and you are trying to find the answer?

Anyway, my answer is that I believe God reveals the truth through the preaching of the gospel and then saving faith comes from our hearts when we decide to believe what we have heard.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

As for the difference between true and false faith, that's simple. If you really mean it and you intend to make Jesus not only your Savior but also your Lord then that is genuine and true faith. If you just believe intellectually but aren't sorry for your sins and have no real intention of wanting to serve Christ then that would be what you called false faith.
 
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Jeshu

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Faith is a gift of God as is the willingness to repent. All good comes from God.

True faith trusts Jesus to have died for one's sin. True faith loves God and loves serving Him. Untrue faith doesn't trust in Jesus as Saviour but looks at other avenues to be saved. Own works usually!
 
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STommy

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No, you need to hear it and then respond to it by either rejecting it or accepting it and putting your faith in Christ.

God doesn't do it for you. His part is to reveal the truth to you and then you have to decide what to do with that knowledge.

Do you have any thoughts on where saving faith comes from or do you just not have any idea of what the answer is and you are trying to find the answer?

Anyway, my answer is that I believe God reveals the truth through the preaching of the gospel and then saving faith comes from our hearts when we decide to believe what we have heard.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

As for the difference between true and false faith, that's simple. If you really mean it and you intend to make Jesus not only your Savior but also your Lord then that is genuine and true faith. If you just believe intellectually but aren't sorry for your sins and have no real intention of wanting to serve Christ then that would be what you called false faith.

And if I'm not sorry then what?
 
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And if I'm not sorry then what?
If you're not sorry for your sins then your sins will not be forgiven. Your attitude towards sin should be like the tax collector in this parable:

Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
 
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STommy

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If you're not sorry for your sins then your sins will not be forgiven. Your attitude towards sin should be like the tax collector in this parable:

Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

I want to be like him. But I'm not sorry. I don't have godly sorrow like the Bible says. How can I get to that point?
 
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I want to be like him. But I'm not sorry. I don't have godly sorrow like the Bible says. How can I get to that point?
What is holding you back? You say you want to be like Him and at the same time you're saying you're not sorry for your sins. Those two things contradict each other.
 
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Jeshu

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I want to be like him. But I'm not sorry. I don't have godly sorrow like the Bible says. How can I get to that point?

Ponder the cost - Jesus on the cross - as well as all the misery sin causes in our lives as well as others. If wrong upsets you then that is God pointing out to you that you need to change. If you enjoy doing wrong then you haven't understood the cost of wrong yet and need to look at life's sufferings
 
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STommy

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What is holding you back? You say you want to be like Him and at the same time you're saying you're not sorry for your sins. Those two things contradict each other.

I know sin is bad. I know I should be sorry for it. But I'm just not. I've read the gospels and nothing happens. And I dare not try to manufacture fake tears before God. I guess my heart is what the Bible would call hardened to sin. I don't know its true sting if you will. I know its bad but I guess I don't know how truly bad it is, to the point where I feel godly sorrow.
 
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STommy

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Ponder the cost - Jesus on the cross - as well as all the misery sin causes in our lives as well as others. If wrong upsets you then that is God pointing out to you that you need to change. If you enjoy doing wrong then you haven't understood the cost of wrong yet and need to look at life's sufferings

Can God fix what I would call my hard heartedness? I guess I've traveled the path of sin to far and my conscience has been "seared" as I think Paul called it. Is this why people say the mind/heart needs to be renewed?
 
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I know sin is bad. I know I should be sorry for it. But I'm just not. I've read the gospels and nothing happens. And I dare not try to manufacture fake tears before God. I guess my heart is what the Bible would call hardened to sin. I don't know its true sting if you will. I know its bad but I guess I don't know how truly bad it is, to the point where I feel godly sorrow.
I assume you are aware of the end result of not confessing your sins and putting your faith in Christ? Hell (Hades) is described as a place of torment (Luke 16:19-31). That doesn't concern you enough to want to turn away from your sins and embrace a righteous life that God can help you live instead? Will whatever pleasure you get from your sins during this lifetime be worth the eternal torment you will have to suffer if you aren't sorry for your sins and don't ask for God to forgive them?
 
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Can God fix what I would call my hard heartedness? I guess I've traveled the path of sin to far and my conscience has been "seared" as I think Paul called it. Is this why people say the mind/heart needs to be renewed?
Remember when I told you before that Paul considered himself the worst (chief) of sinners? If he could have his mind/heart renewed then so can you.
 
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Can God fix what I would call my hard heartedness? I guess I've traveled the path of sin to far and my conscience has been "seared" as I think Paul called it.

Yes God can do this. If He instils the will to break with sin into you then you He will. Keep looking at the cross. Jesus died so you can go through this time in your life, He paid your price. If that leaves you cold then indeed your heart is seared by sin.

i remember in my life it had to do with the accuser in my heart i did not want him as boss any longer so i let Jesus dismantle him from my guilty conscience. A free heart is free from sin indeed. Life is so very much better now that Christ has set me free from my sin and gave me a loving caring heart instead of that stone.

For you the question remains. Will you lay down your gone wrong life for Christ as He laid down His righteous life for you?

Do you agree that gone wrong needs correction? Then seek after rebirth in Christ. Why you would not want Jesus as your King i will never understand He is best King ever. i have never served anyone as good as Jesus.

Jesus is awesome and you prefer sin? You must really be out of your right mind.

Praying Jesus comes and lays you low in your sinful self and brings you alive in your righteous self.

Peace.
 
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STommy

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I assume you are aware of the end result of not confessing your sins and putting your faith in Christ? Hell (Hades) is described as a place of torment (Luke 16:19-31). That doesn't concern you enough to want to turn away from your sins and embrace a righteous life that God can help you live instead? Will whatever pleasure you get from your sins during this lifetime be worth the eternal torment you will have to suffer if you aren't sorry for your sins and don't ask for God to forgive them?

Am I afraid of hell? Absolutely. But I am so consumed and blinded by sin that it feels normal at this point. I desire to turn and be sorry though. (It sounds like an idiotic contradiction I know). But what I feel is more of a fear of hell than a respect for God and a deep heartfelt sorrow. But at the same time, I don't fear hell nor God enough to actually be sorry, turn, and be saved.
 
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I know it says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But what exactly does that mean? Do I just need to hear the Gospel in order to be opened to saving faith? And what if I hear the Gospel but faith and repentance don't come? Is it something God gives me? If so can I ASK for it? And then there's the stumbling block that is James. There is true faith and false faith. What's the difference?

To sum up: Where does SAVING FAITH come from? Is it a gift from God that I can ask for? Does it come from hearing the Gospel?

And: What's the difference between true and false faith?
Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit.
 
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UnpopularOpinion

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I know it says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But what exactly does that mean? Do I just need to hear the Gospel in order to be opened to saving faith? And what if I hear the Gospel but faith and repentance don't come? Is it something God gives me? If so can I ASK for it? And then there's the stumbling block that is James. There is true faith and false faith. What's the difference?

To sum up: Where does SAVING FAITH come from? Is it a gift from God that I can ask for? Does it come from hearing the Gospel?

And: What's the difference between true and false faith?

so order is like this

1. God drags you towards him
2. You want to be saved
3. You are given opportunity to get saved
a) Preacher who preaches gospel to you
b) Dream/vision
4. You hear the gospel
5. You understand the gospel
6. You decide
a) accept and be saved
b) reject be damned

if b then nothing happens
if a then you're sealed by Holy Spirit


the order is important , number 2 doesn't happen unless number 1 happens
 
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Am I afraid of hell? Absolutely. But I am so consumed and blinded by sin that it feels normal at this point. I desire to turn and be sorry though. (It sounds like an idiotic contradiction I know). But what I feel is more of a fear of hell than a respect for God and a deep heartfelt sorrow. But at the same time, I don't fear hell nor God enough to actually be sorry, turn, and be saved.
I am so glad you are being honest about your sins.

There are lots of ways we all use to justify our sins: “I am better then most people”, “I did not hurt anyone by them”, “Other ‘Christians’ do them”, “I do not want to be hypocritical”, “I am only human”, “God does not stop me”, “Jesus’ blood is cleansing me” and you might have even better excuses.

I taught a one-hour Sunday School class in prison and there were 42 prisons who were baptized in prison 38 were devout and 4 did it because they were, “going to school” (still members of a gang, still carrying a weapon, acting like they were spiritually growing) all to get out on parole. The 38 were fanatical 24/7 strong, never found alone, always witnessing to others, studying the Bible, praying, fasting, taking turns spending the night praying over other Christians and also protecting those Christians from a night attack. These guys were watched constantly by the snitches looking for any sign of weakness (something Christ would not do) so the snitches could tell the bulls and the bulls could go after the weak to make them slaves. For these 38 any weakness (sin) carried with it the threat of a beating and possible death, so why would other prisoners want to join them?

All mature adults start out as soldiers of satan, with their enemy being God (the One speaking out against what they like, the one threatening hell for them, the one pestering them with His presence). The problem is these soldiers are spirally down into the pigsty of life, sometime unnoticeably for a while.

These soldiers of satan do things that hurt others which weighs on their conscience and they do not like where they are headed. They may not like God and could still hate God, but the burden created by sin is heavy, so they just go to God hoping for some undeserved help and are willing to accept God’s charity as charity. That willingness is all God needs to shower the person with unbelievable gifts including eternal life, Godly type Love, purpose, new friends and forgiveness.

I am saying: you do not have to really be “sorry” about hurting you enemy God right now, but you have hurt others which can weigh on you. Are you willing to accept God’s undeserved help?
 
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