Faith and grace

Tellyontellyon said:

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace: [snipped] Why is faith withheld from so many?

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“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NKJV

Tellyontellyon said:

I have heard that salvation is by faith, and I've also heard that it is by grace.

Question:
Is faith itself something we choose or is it also given by grace?

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace:
I lack faith in Christianity, though I am trying to understand. If I lack faith, is there no way to get it unless God decides to give me this faith?
Why is faith withheld from so many?

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You have, like everyone else, have been given (by God) the ability to exercise faith. Now what you use your faith to trust in, is what you come to conclusion is true (by listing to and studying the evidence presented).

For an example do you believe men went to the moon, if you do you have exercised faith in the testimony of nasa, government and a few men.

But since you did not actually participate in going to the moon by getting in a rocket and flying there. You have to accept by faith that what they are saying is true. I personally do not believe people went to the moon, so see not everyone believes this.

So everyday faith that every person possesses, is what is used to receive Gods free gift of Eternal Life. This free gift God is offering of Eternal Life, is an example of Gods grace.

That there is nothing by any actions a person can do to bring about this free gift of Eternal Life. God just by His grace is ready to give this free gift of Eternal Life to anyone who believes.

Going to church for a life time or being the best person that is possible will not get a person this gift. It is only received when a person examines the evidence presented by and in the Bible. And comes to believe that the evidence presented in the Bible is true.

That Jesus was who He said He was, The promised Messiah from the prophecies of The Tanakh and that Eternal Life is by trusting in The Messiah for Gods free gift of Eternal Life (John 11: 25-27).




John 3:14,15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:39,40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John 11: 25,26,27 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.

Tellyontellyon said:

I have heard that salvation is by faith, and I've also heard that it is by grace.

Question:
Is faith itself something we choose or is it also given by grace?

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace:
I lack faith in Christianity, though I am trying to understand. If I lack faith, is there no way to get it unless God decides to give me this faith?
Why is faith withheld from so many?

Click to expand...

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. I do a bit of witnessing on the street and sometimes preaching a little. Most people have no interest. They do not want to listen. I remember the first few days after I was saved. I told anybody and everybody the wonderful thing that I'd experienced. No one was interested.

If you are serious and you really want to know God, He will meet you where you are at. A friend of mine was devastated after his marriage failed and he lost his business and most of his money. He was a hard nosed businessman but he was broken as well as broke. He was not even sure that God was real, but he asked God to help him. It "just so happened" that the landlady he rented from was a Christian. She took him to meet a man who was an evangelist. My friend accepted Christ there and then.

I was in the Australian Navy, not exactly where you would expect to find Christians. There was one on my ship. He was my boss. Another "just so happened". My life was in free fall at the time, depressed, sick, suicidal and I had a drinking problem. I said one day, "There has to be more to life than this!" I came close to dying from alcohol poisoning. The ship sailed which probably saved my life because alcohol was not available at the time. One evening, my boss shared the gospel with me. I accepted Christ, mostly out of fear of hell. No matter, my life was transformed!

God will always responds to those who seek Him. You are not on this forum by accident. Jesus died for you just as He gave His life for all mankind. "Just so happened" is in reality God arranging circumstances to give us an opportunity to hear and accept the gospel. It's your choice now. Accept or reject? I'd choose Jesus right now. You never know when you will get another opportunity.

Faith Videos

God’s Grace and Our Works (2 Corinthians 8-9)

God’s Grace and Our Works (2 Corinthians 8-9) – Grace Evangelical Society

God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will: Another Look

God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will: Another Look – Grace Evangelical Society

Ours is not a faith in a religion, "in Christianity." It is a faith in Christ. There is a big difference. Jesus, Himself, told us that He ALONE is The Way, The Truth, and The Life; that there was NO way to the Father but exclusively through Him. (John 14:6) Jesus did not tell us that it was a system or process or just plainly something we had to do or develop.

In and through Christ alone. Christ is Alive. Christ is waiting for a personal relationship (Revelation 3:20.) Christ rose from the dead for this and so much more. When we choose to put our faith in Christ we instantly become a New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) , Born Again (John 3:3), and it is not a hopeful event which we have to work and work and suffer and suffer to achieve.

Tellyontellyon said:

I have heard that salvation is by faith, and I've also heard that it is by grace.

Question:
Is faith itself something we choose or is it also given by grace?

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace:
I lack faith in Christianity, though I am trying to understand. If I lack faith, is there no way to get it unless God decides to give me this faith?
Why is faith withheld from so many?

Click to expand...

Nobody has saving faith, that is not the work of the Holy Spirit in that person. The person does not engender saving faith. Nor is it that one chooses faith, but rather that one chooses according to the faith he has been given. This does not mean one has to know he has faith before he can choose Christ. If anyone wants Christ, he can indeed come to Christ. If he indeed comes to Christ it is because he has been given faith.

Nobody deserves grace. By the mercy of God alone, saving faith is given to some --it is not as though withheld from others, who like those to whom it is given do not deserve it, as though it is some kind of commodity.

But read the parable of the Laborers in the Field (Matthew 20:1-16), in which some complain of unfairness, who had to work all day for an agreed upon amount, when some who only worked a very short time got the same amount; why should those who worked all day complain when the master is gracious with his money. Have they not received what they earned?

It is also true that Faith --saving faith-- is given according to God's purposes. There is no pool of possible believers that God chooses from, but he makes each of us for his particular use, 'elect' and un'elect' alike. Romans 9 explains with the idea of the Potter having every right over the clay to do as he wishes.

God is better than we are; so what we can do with ourselves is isolation from Him. In the United States, we have a culture of individual self-dictatorship and an idol of independence, versus a family caring and sharing culture. Jesus brings us to better than any culture which is human, though. Our sin has us in self-dependent, self-dictating living. And Jesus says >

"'He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.'" (John 12:25)

"'And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.'" (Mark 11:25)

Forgiving people, instead of expecting what they do not have the character to do > this can help us to God . . . putting our faith in Him, instead. And love and forgive people, in prayer, instead

Jesus is the only One who can change your character so you become new in God's way of loving and able to personally submit to how our Father rules us in His own peace >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

But many people depend on their human ability, instead . . . staying weak and suffering and confused and fearing and fighting, because of trusting in how they are able. We can share with God in His own peace . . . instead.

Tellyontellyon said:

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace:
I lack faith in Christianity, though I am trying to understand.

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At the risk of getting too complicated, you can check out the thread about evangelicalism >

Article: IT’S NOT EVANGELICALISM ANYMORE | Christian Forums

There has been evangelicalism which I would say is right, but people have moved on to wrong ways of it, I would say. And this is the main point of the writer's first post. So, this could be an example of how there can be something right, but then people change from it, into various counterfeit versions. Not only this, but the writer, though right about how others have gone the wrong way, could oneself also not be really on the right track, and maybe not all the writer's statements are facts. Ones pointing out others' errors might also be mistaken, somehow.

But my offering is, that even some right thing can be taken and used the wrong way. Even Jesus Himself has been misunderstood and misrepresented; but there is God's real Jesus, indeed, for us to discover and obey >

May be you already know what happened when disciples found out who Jesus was. They tried to see who was going to be the greatest, instead of honoring and obeying Jesus. Others tried to make Jesus their king . . . possibly so they could use Jesus to overthrow the political situation . . . so they could have the lives they wanted.

Is it possible, then, by the way, that a number of humans now are trying to use Jesus to bring the politics they demand, instead of first trusting how Jesus desires to personally relate with us?

In any case, even with the One so right who is Jesus, it took little time for ones with Him to try to use Him for what is wrong.

So, it is possible the Christianity you don't want to trust is a wrong form of it . . . a counterfeit of what is the real deal. After all, if ones could so readily morph their association with Jesus into a wrong thing, likewise now anything which is right can quickly be taken by humans in a wrong way.

So . . . even if you find what is the right faith and grace explanation, this is not the real challenge > still we have our own selves to deal with!!

My self is my biggest problem, I might say. Only God is able to make sure I get anything really right. To me, this has much to do with what Christianity is really about: getting real correction, miraculous, and God forbid however I might highjack prayer and God's word and meditation into how I could do my own sort of self-correction. Only God can change my character how we really need > Hebrews 12:4-14 < so that we discover His way of Christianity, versus some human rendition which brings conforming to copy-cat culture.

When a person has many beliefs speaking to them, then as the verses state below. You have to labor through (study and compare) your beliefs to come to the conclusion to what is the absolute truth.


These verses speak to you situation.

John 6:27, 28, 29
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

com7fy8 said:

So, it is possible the Christianity you don't want to trust is a wrong form of it . . . a counterfeit of what is the real deal. After all, if ones could so readily morph their association with Jesus into a wrong thing, likewise now anything which is right can quickly be taken by humans in a wrong way.

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You're right about that. In fact, I would say we always do. It seems unavoidable. And so we have the Spirit in us to put on the brakes and steer us toward the truth, all day long.

We won't know the whole truth till we see him as he is, and even then, I think, he will remain the wellspring of newness, always truth.

Tellyontellyon said:

I have heard that salvation is by faith, and I've also heard that it is by grace.

Question:
Is faith itself something we choose or is it also given by grace?

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace:
I lack faith in Christianity, though I am trying to understand. If I lack faith, is there no way to get it unless God decides to give me this faith?
Why is faith withheld from so many?

Click to expand...

From the beginning Christianity has taught that faith is a gift. In Ephesians 2:8 we read, "It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." This statement "this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" refers to God graciously saving us through faith--thus faith itself is a gift. That has always been Christian teaching.

For Lutherans this is absolutely essential; we go so far as to state very boldly that faith comes to us extra nos, Latin for "from outside ourselves". Faith is a gift, something God gives and creates in us.

It's not that God picks and chooses who receives faith, God doesn't withhold faith from anyone--God's grace is universal.

Also, it is important not to think of this faith as an intellectual exercise; it's not about having the right theological or religious formula and assenting to the right doctrinal propositions. As Christ Himself proclaims the faith of infants, saying, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mark 10:14-15).

One can shut their ears and minds and hearts to the Gospel, resisting and turning away and shutting out Christ's word. And to do this shuts one up and away from faith. Indeed, even those who have believed, if they shut their ears to the Gospel, are warned that they may be "making shipwreck of their faith" (1 Timothy 1:19).

It's not that God only picks some to receive faith, and passes over the rest; it's that God would have all be saved, but there are some who shut their ears, resist, reject, and flee away from God. And Christ tells us why this is,

"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." (John 3:19)

When our natural disposition is to run away from light and hide in the shadow, because of the terror of having ourselves exposed as the sinners we are and our innate rebellion against God; then this is the natural act of man: to flee from God, to run away from grace. But that doesn't mean that God gives up, Christ is the bloodhound of heaven, and He pursues each and every one of us with His love and kindness. Obstinately and stubbornly pouring out mercy upon mercy to all sinners.

You say you have no faith. But is that true? You are here, asking questions. You are here, exploring those questions. If you were truly outside of faith, you wouldn't even be curious. Your curiosity about the Christian religion, regardless of whether or not you convert or not, suggests (at least from this Lutheran's POV) the active work of God. And faith is His work.

-CryptoLutheran

Tellyontellyon said:

I have heard that salvation is by faith, and I've also heard that it is by grace.

Question:
Is faith itself something we choose or is it also given by grace?

If the answer is that faith is a gift of grace:
I lack faith in Christianity, though I am trying to understand. If I lack faith, is there no way to get it unless God decides to give me this faith?
Why is faith withheld from so many?

Click to expand...

Faith is possible because of reason, or rather, our ability to reason. We all exercise faith in a multitude of things every day: doctors, restaurant cooks, dentists, barbers, other drivers on the road, etc. It's not possible, really, to function without faith. We do so, though, usually because we have some reason upon which to base the faith we exercise in whatever. Sometimes, that faith is betrayed, or we discover our faith is misplaced, and sometimes we find our faith well-served.

This is the case with God. The apostle Paul wrote:

2 Timothy 1:12
12 ...for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Paul's faith in God rested in a knowledge of God about which Paul was firmly persuaded so that he was confident entrusting himself to God. In other words: knowledge>belief>conviction>action. Paul's religious faith was not blind, nor was it obtained as a special divine dispensation (what you are calling "grace"), but was the product of a rational process founded upon persuasive facts.

Tellyontellyon said:

I have heard that salvation is by faith, and I've also heard that it is by grace.

Question:
Is faith itself something we choose or is it also given by grace?

Click to expand...

It's both. Faith is an act of the will which we freely choose to do, and we are able to do it only by the grace of God.

Tellyontellyon said:

So do I have any choice about whether I believe or not? To what extent do I have a hand in this?

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Of course you have a choice whether to believe or not. But your choice is always a result of your will --your nature-- either at enmity with God, or regenerated. You may not feel enmity, but mere hesitation, not realizing that you are at enmity.

So one thing you can do: Talk to God about it. Ask. "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."