Can You Create Faith?

Rescued One

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Very sorry I was trying to answer the question you asked me. My contention if you recall was that Faith is both gift/grace and decision. You asked if I had any thing to support that. I have tried and failed - again it appears.

I think our hearts are changed by God so that we make the decision to follow Christ the very second the Father in mercy gives us to Him. I don't think faith is man's decision because if your heart as been changed, you want to follow Jesus and you will follow Jesus.

Romans 9
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
 
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Norbert L

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If you have no faith in Christ, can you somehow work up faith in Him?
I'm going to view your question from the perspective about how some Christians may feel about what they are contributing to their faith in Christ. Many could probably identify with what was said in Mark 9:24, “I believe; help my unbelief!”.

When you look at faith as a spiritual commodity, yes Revelation 3:18. You have the possibility of working up a storm. It could be said, if you're finding yourself as a skilled unemployed worker you can work at this job and produce more faith. The issue is in its' execution, how should a person carry out and put into effect a viable plan?

Considering the wide array of Christians with the different circumstances they may find themselves in, a general piece of instruction should be considered. It comes from the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV. "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,".

In my view, it's the internal arguments we have with ourselves that can be more deadly in emptying the faith we already have to zero. A Christian will need a plan that will work for them.
 
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bbbbbbb

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I think our hearts are changed by God so that we make the decision to follow Christ the very second the Father in mercy gives us to Him. I don't think faith is man's decision because if your heart as been changed, you want to follow Jesus and you will follow Jesus.

Romans 9
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

I agree. That was certainly my experience.
 
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Hammster

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Hammster

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ChristianFromKazakhstan

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It's the same thing. To believe, you must have faith. To have faith, you must believe. Etc.

Not same thing. Like eating and feeling full. You feel full if you've eaten. A state and action. Believing is action. Faith is the state of mind coming as the result of the act of beleiving.
 
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Hammster

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Not same thing. Like eating and feeling full. You feel full if you've eaten. A state and action. Believing is action. Faith is the state of mind coming as the result of the act of beleiving.
Okay. Let's say you're right for sake of argument. Where does desire come into play?
 
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TheSeabass

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Those in Acts 2 had no faith in Christ, they crucified Christ (Acts 2:36) yet after hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17) they formed faith within their hearts (Acts 2:37)

Exodus 4:1-9 God gave signs, thru Moses, for the people to see so they "may believe" (v5). If one can have belief only if God gives it to him then why didn't God just "zap" these people with belief instead of giving them signs where they may or may not choose to believe?

John 2:11 the purpose of Christ performing miracles was to induce a belief in men. "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did." John 2:23. The verse says many believed in His name, when God 'zapped' them with belief? No, they believed in His name when they saw the miracles. Belief being something men choose to have while others choose not to develop belief within their hearts.

ADDENDUM: Where does unbelief come from? Can man create unbelief? Is man unable to not believe therefore must first be enabled to not believe?
 
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ChristianFromKazakhstan

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Okay. Let's say you're right for sake of argument. Where does desire come into play?

What kind of desire? Desire to beleive? I don't know. I think one can believe if they're convinced beyond doubt something is true. Some people can believe just blindly, others require irrefutable proof. Like a child's and adult's faith.
 
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What kind of desire? Desire to beleive? I don't know. I think one can believe if they're convinced beyond doubt something is true. Some people can believe just blindly, others require irrefutable proof. Like a child's and adult's faith.
If you're convinced, then there's no need for faith.

But what would make someone even want to believe the gospel?
 
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