This verse is not addressing ability, it is addressing privilege. All persons who believe on Christ were given this by God. Without God giving us knowledge through the scriptures of Christ, no one could believe on him.
Paul says this in Romans 10.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Here Paul asks how a person can possibly believe on Jesus if they have never heard of him. There is no such thing as faith without an object of faith. It is through the scriptures that we are provided knowledge of Christ and therefore have an object of faith.
And Paul makes this clear just a few verses later.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Here is the most direct statement in all of scripture that explains how faith is obtained. Paul says faith comes through hearing the word of God. He completely fails to mention that a person must first be regenerated by the Spirit to have this ability if your doctrine is true. Not only does he not mention it here, he does not mention it anywhere in scripture, which would be astounding if indeed a person must be regenerated to have faith.
Anybody can pull one verse out of context (the context of Phil 1:29 is persecution and suffering, not faith) and make the scriptures say anything they want.
No one is denying that one does not obtain the knowledge of the Gospel through hearing the Word of God. No one is denying that this is not necessary, hence the command to preach the Gospel.
You are still simply trying to dance around all the Scriptures that show that God
effectually uses His Word to save His elect.
Phi 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phi 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which [the gospel] is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, AND THAT OF GOD.
Phi 1:29 FOR unto YOU[not your adversaries] it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only TO BELIEVE ON HIM, but also to suffer for his sake;
What Paul is clearly saying here is that the Gospel itself is to the adversaries of these Christians "a token of perdition." However, the same Gospel is to them salvation
from God.
He then
explains this by saying that God actually gave them the faith in Him. Because He
gave them the faith in Him, they
believe on Christ. Period.
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 BUT unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. [see v.30]
1Co 1:30 But OF HIM are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [see v.24]
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
You constantly say that one is not elected by God until one is "in Christ." This verse clearly says that it is the Father's work wherein one is actually in Christ. To those who are in Christ, He is wisdom and power. These were those "who are
CALLED." Therefore, Christ is not "power, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" to those "which are NOT 'called.'" This call is clearly an
effectual call as those who are "in Christ Jesus" are SYNONYMOUS with those "which are
called."
Why are they in Christ Jesus? Because the Father did it. The reason that anyone is actually "in Christ" is that the Father elected them, drew them, taught them, and gave them to the Son. Those who are given to the Son will come--all of them. None will be lost. Why do they come? Because Christ is to them wisdom, power, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He is all this to everyone who is "CALLED." All those who are "CALLED" are the same ones who become "in Christ Jesus."
Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jam 1:18 OF HIS OWN WILL begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Yes, we need the Word of God to be saved. Yes, we need to preach the Gospel to every creature.
Those who are saved--born again--are so because God Himself begot them through His Word. He did this "of His own will." The word there is
bouletheis, which is a present participle meaning "counseling." The
boule of God is His
decretive will. "My
counsel shall stand." He
decrees that His people will be saved. He counsels/decrees to beget us (the new birth) through His Word.
1. "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on Him."
2. "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus."
3. "Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth."
GOD saves! He doesn't "try" to save. He doesn't make a "plan" for salvation. He
SAVES! Glory to God He
SAVED me! I get
NONE of the credit whereby I am saved in any respect.
He gave the faith. It is
His work that I am in Christ.
He begat me with His word. He counseled/decreed this to happen.