Faith # 5

purifying their hearts by faith !

Acts 15:9

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

If Faith in Salvation was the condition men in the flesh, unregenerate were to act to get saved, then it can be said that men in the flesh, without the Spirit, purified their own hearts by their own faith generated out of their own sinful nature, which makes them as these Prov 20:9

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Brightfame52 said:

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

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Jeremiah Chapter 13

Thou standest by Faith !

Rom 11:20

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Probably no other scripture in the bible gives the explicit indication that Faith is not of ourselves, save maybe for Eph 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Faith springs from Grace, which is God's Gift ! Faith is by the Gracious enablement of God [The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace which worketh in us who are believing Zech 12:10]

Faith is not of man, but the fruit and enablement of the Spirit Gal 5:22, and in fact, that's why in Rom 11:20 the now Gentile believers had no reason to boast or be highminded, for the only reason why they were not in unbelief as the majority of the unbelieving jews were which because of it were broken off, because God made the difference in them giving them Faith to stand. Notice the explicit declaration to them Rom 11:20

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

You see, to stand by Faith equates to standing by the Divine Ability, not ones own ability ! This we know by Rom 14:4

4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Standing and not falling is solely by the Power and Ability of God causing it.

The word falleth here in Rom 14:4 is the greek word piptō and is the same word the Spirit uses here in Rom 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

If God wanted to, if it was His Will and pleasure, He could have caused them that fell in Rom 11:22 to stand by Faith, He was able to MAKE them stand, so says the word of Truth, because Faith to stand was in His Power to give them !

Now this confirms Peters 1 Pet 1:5

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This means that their standing through Faith is by the Power of God ! The word Power here and able in Rom 14:4 are both from the root word dynamai:

I.
to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom

II.
to be able to do something

III.
to be capable, strong and powerful

They are being able to stand by Faith, by God's Ability and Resources causing it, in other words, God's Power causes us to stand by or through Faith.

If the Gentiles standing by Faith in Rom 11:20 was of their own ability, they would have reason or cause to boast or be high minded, but the case is not so.

This is also a Judgment against those of us who believed that Faith was a condition man in the flesh had the ability to do to distinguish himself from others who remained in unbelief , such ones are condemned as being highminded or proud ! 7

Faith receives the Message of Justification!

Rom 10:17

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Listen, all for whom Christ died shall hear about it, they shall be prepared by the Spirit, they shall be killed by the Spirit with the Law, for Paul refers to that here Rom 7:9-11

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

The Law in the hand of the Spirit will cause and show every elect sinner the experience of being captive to sin in the flesh, and its helplessness, its imprisonment, and its at this time the spiritual prisoner, while smarting under the law by the hand of the Spirit, is made meet to receive the Message and Messenger of God, telling of its Justification and Righteousness before God, this is part of the Good News or Glad Tidings that the Gospel brings to Justified sinners, and then Faith is the evidence that these things are true, they are done and made real to our soul; And it does not matter if we believe not because his or her unbelief cannot make their Justification before God not true, not a fact, because the Truth of it does not depend on the act of the captive, for its a true fact even while the captive is in unbelief and before he believes it, though at last unbelief will be overcome by the Spirit of God, for it is written: " THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH", and all for whom Christ died has been made Just Rom 5:19b and the SHALL means God shall make sure of it, and because of the superlative preparatory work of the Spirit upon the Heart and Mind of the Elect sinner with the Law of God, giving the sinner to know and experience its captivity, it sets the foundation for these words to come to pass Isa 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

They have made that way by the Spirit!

Lk 4:18

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

That word deliverance is the greek word aphesis and means:

a sending away, a letting go, a release, pardon, complete forgiveness.

forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed (see at length Trench, § xxxiii.)), remission of their penalty:

This spells Justification from sin ! That's why its good news to them, for the Spirit makes them prepared by convicting them of their sinfulness before God and Helplessness by the Law working in their members sin and death!

The Righteousness of Faith

Rom 10:6

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above )

Rom 9:30

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

The Righteousness which is of Faith , is that because of Righteousness Imputed , which is only revealed to the Spiritual Grace of Faith Rom 1:17

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Understand, that Faith is a Grace of the Spirit Gal 5:22 ! Naturally we are ignorant to it [Imputed Righteousness] and therefore as the natural jews did, we by nature go about to establish our own Righteousness Rom 10:3

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Now even though Paul was speaking of the jews here, what is stated is nevertheless befitting for all men by nature.

By nature we all trust in some kind of work, action or performance that we do as the key factor in becoming Justified before God.

Paul's point indeed when speaking of the natural jews, Abraham's natural descendants Rom 10:3-6; 9:30-32 ! Also here in Rom 9:32

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

The main reason for that was because they were not born of the Spirit and did not have the Fruit of Faith that only He gives Gal 5:22, and God witheld the Gift of Faith from them on purpose, so that they would stumble at the Word of Faith 1 Pet 2:8

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But the Righteousness of Faith is that Righteousness we have as a Free Gift of Imputation because of Christ, and its revealed or made known to God given Faith ! Rom 1:17 ! 7

The faith of God's elect !

Now understand something, Faith is a fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22, so therefore all who had Faith in the OT, had the Spirit of fruit of Faith from the Spirit, and without the Faith of the Spirit of Christ, man by nature has no true Faith in God in regards to Salvation; and this Faith out of the Spirit is limited to God's Elect Titus 1:1

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Note: Whenever talking about Salvation by Grace through Faith Eph 2:8 it only pertains to God's Elect !

And this goes for both testaments, for speaking of this faith, Paul quotes an OT Saint 2 Cor 4:13

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Ps 116:10

10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

It could very well read" the same faith from the same Spirit "

For the word of Truth, the Gospel of Salvation is how faith cometh, also known as the word of Faith Rom 10:8

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;


Note: Thats why when it comes to Salvation, the Gospel is Preached to the already Saved thus hearing the Gospel of their Salvation cometh Faith, everyone that is saved, God sends them the Good News of their Salvation so they can hear about it and Live by Faith, for the Just shall live by Faith Rom 1:16-17 !

This Word of Faith of the Gospel reveals the Righteousness of God to Faith, for it comes with power and the Spirit to the Chosen Elect, even though it may be proclaimed to all who is in the physical hearing of it 1 Thess 1:4-5

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

When the Elect are sent the Gospel of their Salvation, it comes to them, not in word only, but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, making them believers, to live by Faith ! Thats proof of their Election, and hence the Faith of God's Elect is made manifest Titus 1:1

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

The Apostles mainly were sent to get the Word to God's Elect 2 Tim 2:10


10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Folks, Salvation which is in Christ Jesus is only for them, the Elect !7

Faith and Perseverance go together !


Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Its given to believe on Him and to suffer, One of the accompanying virtues of God given Faith to believe on the Name of Christ for Salvation, is perseverance or the ability to stay a course of action, a purpose, or a state , n spite of difficulties and suffering ! In this case its for the words sake, be it the Living Word,Christ or the Written Word, His Truth. Now if a man or women who claims to have Faith in Christ, but yet because of the fire of persecution or suffering 1 Pet 1:7, they begin to fall away, that person was not given Faith or the ability to believe by God, because if so, an accompanying virtue would be to endure suffering for the words sake. Lets read something here Lk 8:13

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

That word temptation peirasmos means:

iv.adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness

Mk 4:5-6

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Matt 13:20-21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

The word offended, the greek word skandalizō and does mean:

I.to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend

i.to cause to fall away

But those who Truly have been given Faith by God to believe, they shall successfully suffer persecution 2 Tim 3:12

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Because the Just shall live by Faith in the word and shall because of it suffer persecution, and they do not fall away in persecution, but indeed persevere in patience as here Lk 8:15

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Understand, those who may have received the Truth initially like here in Matt 13:20

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

But later they draw back like here Heb 10:38

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

That means they were not nothing but stony heart hearers in the first place, who had no root, and consequently showing that they had not been given by God to believe and suffer for Christ's sake as Per Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Very good post.

who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to save him from death -- with strong crying and tears -- having offered up, and having been heard in respect to that which he feared, through being Son, did learn by the things which he suffered -- the obedience, Heb 5:7,8 YLT

What obedience did Son learn through sufferings?

Phil 2:8 YLT and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross,

Son learned, obedience of faith. IMHO

Gal 3:23-25 YLT And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed, so that the law became our child-conductor -- to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous, and the faith having come, no more under a child-conductor are we,

What [definite] faith came by which we can be made the righteousness of God?

2 Cor 5:21 YLT for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.
Rom 8:3,4 YLT for what the law was not able to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, His own Son having sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, did condemn the sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

This should also give a better understanding of 2 Thes 2:13 Scripture4all.org - We yet are owing to be thanking to the God always about you
brothers. Having been loved by Lord that preferred you the God from beginning into salvation in unto holying of Spirit and unto belief [faith] of truth.

Faith and Perseverance go together !2

So in essence Phil 1:29 is an declaration that it has been given to be Faithful to the Faith of Christ, that we continue in the Faith in spite of severe persecution for the words sake, such perseverance is an token that our Faith in Christ has been given by God, because it gives us to both believe and suffer, which equates to Perseverance and Faithfulness, which things accompany salvation Heb 6:9

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. or

Heb 10:38-39

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Notice there are a group called Of them who don't draw back. That means they do not do as those who from timidity hesitate to avow what they believe"

They do not depart from the Faith of what they believe, or apostatize, but remain faithful !

Of those which Jesus says Rev 2:10

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer [Phil 1:29]: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Its said about an certain individual Rev 2:13

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

All chosen in Christ before the foundation are called the Faithful Eph 1:1,4

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Understand, being faith is the result of this Phil 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Both believe and suffer are in the present tense active. The present tense denotes a continual kind of action, so they are given to be continually believing and to be continually suffering !

The word faithful in Eph 1:1 pistos actually means :

properly, faithful (loyalty to faith; literally, fullness of faith); typically, of believing the faith God imparts.

In other words, the believing that God gives causes faithfulness, loyalty to the cause of Christ !

For it is only suitable that a God given Faith or believing would cause one to be faithful to the end 1 Pet 1:7-9

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 7

Believing on Christ is not of the will of man!

Jn 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

One must be born of God to believe on His Name, such it has been given to them to do that as Per Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Its a right or privilege given to some to believe on His Name!

Believing on Christ is not of the will of man but of God, this is confirmed also here 2 Cor 3:5

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Paul in things Spiritual, even denies having the sufficiency or ability to even think anything of themselves, meaning things related to God and the Gospel and Ministry! The sufficiency came from God !

That word sufficient is the greek word hikanos:

(a) considerable, sufficient, of number, quantity, time, (b) of persons: sufficiently strong (good, etc.), worthy, suitable, with various constructions, (c) many, much.

It means not to be adequate in ourselves, lacking the ability !

The word think is logizomai and means:

I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.

to suppose, deem, judge:

This has to do with the mind, to understand in the mind, to put together !

Now who can deny that believing the Gospel takes reason, judgment, for believing is the result of having the mind persuaded which means:

to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding; convince

Thinking comes before the act of believing, for no one believes anything before thinking reasonable about it, in order to believe it !

And Paul as well as other True believers deny that they has ability, sufficiency of themselves to think in these sacred matters and duties!

The Sufficiency, adequacy, comes from God, the Holy Spirit !

Faith or Believing is a Good Work!

Eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Believing on Christ, is one of the Good Works that we as New Creations hath of God been Created that we should walk in !

The word works is the greek word ergon and means:

/érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).


1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
1. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work

We were Created to walk in the steps of Faithful Abraham as his Children Rom 4:12

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Remember when Jesus said this Matt 3:9

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Thats what God did, in order to keep His Promise to Abraham to give him a believing seed. That word raise , as in raise up in Matt 3:9, it is the greek word egeirō and means:

I.to arouse, cause to rise
A.
to arouse from sleep, to awake

B.
to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life

C.
to cause to rise from a seat or bed etc.

D.
to raise up, produce, cause to appear
i.
to cause to appear, bring before the public

ii.
to raise up, stir up, against one

iii.
to raise up i.e. cause to be born

iv.
of buildings, to raise up, construct, erect

Interesting enough to produce also means as a verb :

to create, bring forth, or yield offspring, products,

And so believers are God given Offspring to Abraham, given according to His Promise Gen 17:2-5

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And so, believers are Abraham's Seed according to Promise Gal 3:29

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Remember Jesus said to some jews who boasted of being Abraham's seed according to the flesh ? Jn 8:39

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Meaning they would do this Rom 4:12

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Thats because, they would have been also like Abraham was Eph 2:10

10 For we are his workmanship, created or produced in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So Faith or Believing is Good Work that identifies us as a Child of Abraham!7