Faith is a Gift!

RobertZ said:

What if the person resist God when God reaches out?

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blasphem of the holy spirit. the one sin that can not be forgiven.

JM said:

Can you give us a quote where Johnny Mac states that?

I have Mounce's Basic Greek on my shelf. It's widely used and accepted as faithful and scholarly. He states that faith is a gift.

jm

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If faith is a gift, who is it given to and must they accept?

If no one else will ask it, then I will....

Is Faith Really A Gift??.......

Arc said:

If faith is a gift, and God gives us faith, then it is God believing in Himself. Does God need to believe in Himself?

It's gramatically incorrect to say "it is the gift of God" refers to the word faith in Eph 2. Even John MacArthur agrees (and he's a Calvinist).

The gift of God is salvation. We access grace by faith (rom 5:2).

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You either misquoted or misunderstood John MacArthur. I took this straight from his website, from a sermon called The Reality of Supernatural Faith.


"Now, where do we get this kind of faith? What is the source of it? Well, the source of it is the Holy Spirit. God. "For by grace are you saved through faith." You know that one? Ephesians 2:8. And that, what, not of yourself. See, that faith isn't natural - supernatural. And the wonder of wonders is that God in His grace granted you that faith, because that's more faith than the natural man can exercise...He can barely trust what he can experience."

Welcome to Grace to You

Is faith that a chair will not collapse underneath you when you sit on it a gift?

Is faith in a bridge when you drive you car over it a gift?

Is faith in surgeon when you are lying on an operation table a gift?

Is ALL faith a gift....or just faith in God?

Hammster said:

Faith isn't a mystical goo.

I'm cookoo for Forum Runner.

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You mean faith doesn't work like this?

YouTube - YCDTOTV - Prime Slime

Hebrews 12:2 "fixing our eyes on Jesus; the author and perfecter of our faith,.....

2 Peter 1:1 "Simon Peter, a bond servant and Apostle o9f Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savoir, Jesus Christ."

Romans 12:3 "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."

Our faith i8s a gift of God. We cannot believe in Jesus unless God does a prior work in us, for we are blinded by our own deafness and by the god of this age.

Tim Myers said:

Is faith that a chair will not collapse underneath you when you sit on it a gift?

Is faith in a bridge when you drive you car over it a gift?

Is faith in surgeon when you are lying on an operation table a gift?

Is ALL faith a gift....or just faith in God?

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Well, the bible teaches that faith is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8 for example). I am not sure if faith in something else could be a gift or merely our own perception. faith in God is a bit different than faith that a chair won't collapse (I had one collapse before lol) since God will never collapse.

Chris81 said:

You mean faith doesn't work like this?

YouTube - YCDTOTV - Prime Slime

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Sure can't ignore Hebrews 11th Chapter. Faith moves people to action before they see any results yet, looks like to me. Everything God did is a gift, we sure wasn't around to earn anything. I hope this is not offensive, though who knows, never seen such a mess. Like a church sign I saw, 'Jesus is coming soon, and He sure is mad." We need to get things in order, grow in Christ, unity in theology is not gonna get straightened out before then. Christendom can't even get the elementary things resolved.

"Just faith in God.
"
I disagree....I believe ALL faith comes from God.....

Because God is the One who created us with the ability to have faith in anything.....whether it is faith in God, faith in a bridge, or faith in a chair......

I only see obscure scriptures that some give showing grace being given. But here are scriptures that say when: “the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” “Even the righteousness of God (justification, grace) which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe” “Being justified freely by his grace (2nd) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood(1st)” “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith…Seeing it is one God, which shall justify(God’s grace bestowed after) the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith (man believes first).” “Abraham believed God, and it (His faith) was counted unto him for righteousness (justification).” [FONT='Times New Roman','serif']“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.” [/FONT][FONT='Times New Roman','serif']“[/FONT][FONT='Times New Roman','serif']And the Father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith[/FONT][FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] (The just shall live by faith)…For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed…but through the righteousness of faith…Therefore it is of faith (First), that it might be by grace (Second); to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed. Therefore Being justified by faith…By whom also we have access by fath (first) into this grace (second) wherein we stand…And by him all that believe (first) are justified (grace second); Believe (1st) on the Lord Jesus Christ…that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance…Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance…that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me…For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation…Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ…Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham…foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Grace?) through faith. “…that the promise (Grace) by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe (It is impossible to please God, UNLESS! We have faith) that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him; “much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace…but the free gift is of many offences unto justification…the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it (grace) is the gift of God…according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me…But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto [he called you by our gospel]” “…he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and hears of the kingdom which he hath promisd to them that love him?” Why does James ask, “…though a man say he hath faith, and have not works, can faith save him? Dead faith can’t save you, but true faith can save you, because it is faith that is accounted; by our faith that we are [/FONT][FONT='Times New Roman','serif']rewarded[/FONT][FONT='Times New Roman','serif']?; and faith that we attain to the election of grace; and because of faith, God’s grace is imputed unto us. [/FONT]

JM said:

Can you give us a quote where Johnny Mac states that?

I have Mounce's Basic Greek on my shelf. It's widely used and accepted as faithful and scholarly. He states that faith is a gift.

jm

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I'll have to dig it up when I get home.

Here is a discussion about Eph 2:8-9 if you want to see the complexities involved:
Ephesians 2:8-9

Hentenza said:

I never forget the context.

BTW- No sign is needed for me. God's work has already happened in me.

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John Reece, who can read Greek, was asked about this verse being used this way and his response was:
Greek meaning of John 6:29

Arc said:

John Reece, who can read Greek, was asked about this verse being used this way and his response was:
Greek meaning of John 6:29

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The grammar does not agree with John Reese. τοῦτό (this) is a demonstrative pronoun functioning as the subject of the dependent clause. The only word that modifies τοῦτό is the conjunction ἵνα (that) making it a conjunction to pronoun relationship. Basically the sentence goes grammatically as the work of God is this, that you believe.......

Hentenza said:

The grammar does not agree with John Reese. τοῦτό (this) is a demonstrative pronoun functioning as the subject of the dependent clause. The only word that modifies τοῦτό is the conjunction ἵνα (that) making it a conjunction to pronoun relationship. Basically the sentence goes grammatically as the work of God is this, that you believe.......

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This was an answer to the question: What must we do to do the work of God. The work of God is that you must believe. And this is exactly how they understood Jesus, and I think they probably knew Greek too. Otherwise Jesus would have been asking them to do something that they in fact don't do, but God does.

So if the work of believing is God doing the believing then God is in fact believing in Himself. Which is nonsense.

Here is a simple way to put this to the test:

Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

How is it that some can believe for awhile, when believing is "the work of God" or "a gift of God". How then can it fail? Be careful with your answer since:

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

and

John 10:26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

So how is it then that some believe the word of God for awhile?