Do We Receive Faith?

[Martin Marprelate]

Philippians 1:29. 'For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.'
The Greek word translated 'granted' is charizomai, from which we get the word 'charismatic.' It has the meaning of 'bestowed' or 'freely given.' Faith is therefore a gift of God. Upon whom is it bestowed? Upon those described in Phil. 1:1: 'To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi' and by extension to all saints everywhere.
Paul asks the Corinthians, 'What do you have that you did not receive?' (1 Cor. 4:7). The context is not directly to faith, but it's worth asking ourselves the question.

Suffering is not the spiritual gift that most people hope for, but suffering nobly borne can, in the will of God, have a profound effect upon unbelievers, as the suffering of Naomi did upon Ruth.

 

[Kai]

Philippians 1:29. 'For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.'

What is "it" that has been granted?

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel

Paul asks the Corinthians, 'What do you have that you did not receive?' (1 Cor. 4:7). The context is not directly to faith, but it's worth asking ourselves the question.

If faith has been received and is a settled matter, then why does Paul instruct the Corinthians to be "found faithful" in the sight of God?

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV)
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

 

[LaGrange]

Philippians 1:29. 'For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.'
The Greek word translated 'granted' is charizomai, from which we get the word 'charismatic.' It has the meaning of 'bestowed' or 'freely given.' Faith is therefore a gift of God

I agree. We call it a charismatic gift as seen in 1 Cor 12:9 “To another, faith in the same spirit: to another, the grace of healing in one Spirit:” (DRV) It’s a gift but also a gift for the whole church. This particular kind of faith is an extraordinary confidence in obtaining anything or in working miracles. It is not the common faith of all believers. An example would be Matt 15:28.

Upon whom is it bestowed? Upon those described in Phil. 1:1: 'To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi' and by extension to all saints everywhere.

I think this particular kind of Faith is not the same faith that all Christians have. It’s built on top of that same general faith all christians have but it’s given to only a few of those same christians. It’s like the gift of teaching: 1 Cor 12:28 “And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. (DRV) Not everyone is given the ability to teach. Of course, not everyone performs miracles, heals or prophecies either.

Paul asks the Corinthians, 'What do you have that you did not receive?' (1 Cor. 4:7). The context is not directly to faith, but it's worth asking ourselves the question.

I agree. It’s all received.

 

[Van]

I’m not anti-Calvinist or anti-Arminian either, but I do think that this is actually one of the verses where the Calvinist interpretation gets caught in a bit of an inconsistency.

Many will suggest that when someone comes to faith, that is the result of God’s predestination of everything that happens in time. So in that sense, we receive our faith because it was determined to happen ahead of time.

The Arminian might push back and say that means God forces people into faith without their consent. They will respond and say no—what God really predestines is a change of nature in some people. Only then they can respond positively to the Gospel by their own volition.

Well, which is it? Does God force people into belief, or does he force a change in nature? The answers will vary.

No, the answer from scripture does not vary.

Those born anew were chosen through faith in the truth. This means we had some sort of understanding of God as Savior and Lord before we were chosen for salvation. Therefore the Calvinist claim is obviously false. Full Stop.

What does God predestine? Again, scripture provides the answer and it does not vary. God declares the end from the beginning. He prophecies. He says this or that will happen, and then He makes that thing happen. He says we were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Who is the we, foreseen individuals chosen before time? Nope. We existed as NOT a chosen people, so our election for salvation must occur during our physical lifetime. 1 Peter 2:9-10. The scriptural answer is "once chosen for salvation" then, and only then, are we predestined as a chosen individual to be conformed to the image of Christ. Ditto for being predestined for adoption at Christ's second coming. Ditto to receive our inheritance being kept in heaven.

The premise God compels people to believe is also false because scripture says otherwise. Why, as Ambassadors of Christ do we "beg" people to be reconciled? Because they are NOT compelled. Why did God test Abraham to see if he actually believed in God's promises. Because Abraham's believe was not compelled. When Abraham raised his knife, then God said stop, now I know....

 

[Van]

THIS ANSWERS BOTH OF YOUR POSTS

Hi Van,
I first want to thank you for your comments and to remind you that I’m catholic. I’ve been studying Arminianism and Calvinism and have questions and, of course, I will make comments too.

Anyway, interesting thoughts you have! Accreditation would probably be right. Or imputation. I think the idea with both Arminianism and Calvinism is that grace is in Christ and Inheres in Him. It doesn’t Inhere in man. Then, at the moment you are born again, that grace is transferrred to you and passes through you to save you but it doesn’t stay in you. Faith is there as an attendant or something like that. That’s my understanding. For us, the grace stays in us. We are not filled with grace. We receive a down payment. A pledge or earnest (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:14).

I would agree that “chosen” occurs when you are regenerated. We believe that happens at baptism. Not to confuse you but we are also chosen (as a preparation before full regeneration) when we receive prevenient grace before baptism (like the arminians). I think it happens initially in Arminianism when you receive prevenient grace. It happens in Calvinism when you receive the effectual call (full regeneration).

I think the only viable alternative to receiving God's accreditation, is the idea the gospel is the work product of God so when we embrace it, we accept and receive as truth the gospel. But I think accreditation is more likely.

Let's back up and look at this statement: "Then, at the moment you are born again, that grace is transferred to you and passes through you to save you....," I believe this statement does not reflect the sequence given in scripture.

1) When are we born anew? When we undergo the washing of regeneration.
2) When are we regenerated? When we are made alive together with Christ.
3) When are we "together with Christ?" When God has taken us our of the realm of darkness and transferred us in the kingdom of His Son.
4) When are we transferred into Christ's spiritual body? When we were "called" into His marvelous light. When we were baptized into Christ. When we believed into Him. Any verse that refers to us being "in Him" refers to us after we have been transferred. The transfer is our redemption, our salvation.
5) Prevenient grace has no basis in scripture, it is a fiction necessitated by the false belief the lost are unable to believe the gospel. The idea God would condemn us for unbelief, when unable to believe is irrational. The lost are unable to understand the spiritual solid food (meat) things of the Spirit, but are able to understand and believe the spiritual milk things, such as the fundamentals of the gospel, of the Spirit of God.

 

[Dave G]

What is "it" that has been granted?

" For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me." ( Philippians 1:29-30 )

1) To believe on Christ.
2) To suffer for His sake.

 

[Van]

Philippians 1:29
For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf,

Once again I see where a vague term "granted" above, is assumed to refer to "the gift of faith." Fiddlesticks.

How does Christ benefit from those He redeems? We serve in His ministry of reconciliation. And in that service we suffer on His behalf. We have been allowed to believe, God did not harden our hearts, such as in Romans 11.

And for the umpteenth time, we are chosen for salvation through faith, which requires we had some sort of faith BEFORE we were chosen. Full Stop

Therefore "allowed"is the only interpretation possible given the constraints of scripture.

 

[Van]

1 Corinthians 4:7 NASB
For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Here the idea is that we started out in life pretty much with nothing. Yes, we had our nature, our physical design which may enable us with the characteristics common to human beings. But without receiving benefit from others, we would have died within days if not hours. We had no experience or education, just the knowledge and ability to squall for help.

We all suffer from pride, but it is commonly found in those unaware of just how little they know, and how much they need God.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

I agree. We call it a charismatic gift as seen in 1 Cor 12:9 “To another, faith in the same spirit: to another, the grace of healing in one Spirit:” (DRV) It’s a gift but also a gift for the whole church. This particular kind of faith is an extraordinary confidence in obtaining anything or in working miracles. It is not the common faith of all believers. An example would be Matt 15:28.

I think this particular kind of Faith is not the same faith that all Christians have. It’s built on top of that same general faith all christians have but it’s given to only a few of those same christians. It’s like the gift of teaching: 1 Cor 12:28 “And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. (DRV) Not everyone is given the ability to teach. Of course, not everyone performs miracles, heals or prophecies either.

The faith spoken of in Phil. 1:29 is the faith of all believers, as I explained in my post. "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). This is not to be taken quite literally, but things that seem impossible become possible through faith (c.f. Zech. 4:6-10).

I agree. It’s all received.

 

[Kai]

" For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me." ( Philippians 1:29-30 )

1) To believe on Christ.
2) To suffer for His sake.

I still think "it" requires clearer definition here.

Certain monergists might argue this amounts to saying, "The ability is granted to believe in Him." If that's the case, then both sides are in agreement. However, no one can possess this ability without encountering the Gospel message, so I still think all of it points back to verse 27.