Faith # 6

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Be careful with Faiths role in Salvation !

Eph 2:8-9

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.


Yes Faith has a prominent role in Salvation, but just not as an condition, but as an evidential blessing that accompanies Salvation, The writer of Hebrews writes of things that accompany Salvation Heb 6:9

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany[adjoining/attached, parts of] salvation, though we thus speak.

Faith is Part of the totality of the Salvation God saves us with, so it comes also as the Gift of God.

Now that is why Faith in the realm of Salvation is said to be " not of ourselves" it is the Gift of God, NOT of WORKS lest any man should boast, since no part of Salvation is of ourselves, then Faith, which comes with it, is not of ourselves. Now if we believe and teach that Faith is of ourselves, having it by nature, then we must by default to Salvation by works, something we did do of ourselves, which Eph 2:8-9 denies ! So Faith in the role of Salvation is either of ourselves making it a work, or its not of ourselves making it a Gift, worked in us by the power of the holy Spirit at our New Birth/Regeneration, when He saves us in Christ's Name and Salvation Titus 3:5

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

So you see, If Faith/belief in the role of Salvation is of ourselves as many teach, then like it or not, that makes it Salvation by ones works and gives the occasion to boast, which boasting is evil James 4:16

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17

 

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The Faith of Gods Elect !

All men dont have Faith, but its restricted to Gods Elect. 2 Thess 3:2

2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

This is not speaking of the natural mans faith in natural things that pertain naturally to this life, that faith has absolutely nothing to do with God and or the Things of God, the Truth/Truths of God, or Spiritual Things. The Faith that all men dont have is that Faith which is a fruit and gift of Gods Spirit Gal 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

given in New Birth or when one is born of the Spirit opposed to being born only of the flesh Jn 3:6-8

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.


When we have Spirit produced Faith, its the Faith of Gods 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;

This Faith acknowledges the Truth of God in Gospel Obedience. One has to be of Gods Elect in order to receive Faith, or Election leads to Faith, for instance, Peter writes to Gods Elect this 1 Pet 1:2

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Obedience here is synonymous to Faith, because Faith in Spiritual matters involves Obedience, its a trait of the Seed of Abraham, the Father of this Faith Heb 11:8

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Believing the Gospel is also called obedience of Faith Rom 1:5

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Rom 16:26

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

This Obedience / Faith is the result of the Sanctifying Work of the Spirit from New Birth.

Again, that Election results in Faith is seen in 2 Thess 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Belief of the Truth here, which is Faith, is the same as obedience in 1 Pet 1:2

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit,unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Now all men dont have this Faith/obedience, its given to Gods Elect in order for them to obey the Truth.