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Faith # 7
- Thread starter Brightfame52
- Start date
Brightfame52
Well-Known Member
It's ensured that God's Elect will be given Faith to believe.
Paul writing to the believers in Thessalonica writes 2 Thessalonians 2:13:
As a result of having been Chosen from the beginning, there's an effectual work of the Spirit unto them unto belief of the Truth, which is also Faith—for Paul even uses the same Greek noun for Faith (pistis) but here translated belief of the truth! 36
Paul writing to the believers in Thessalonica writes 2 Thessalonians 2:13:
As a result of having been Chosen from the beginning, there's an effectual work of the Spirit unto them unto belief of the Truth, which is also Faith—for Paul even uses the same Greek noun for Faith (pistis) but here translated belief of the truth! 36
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Brightfame52 said:
It's ensured that God's Elect will be given Faith to believe.
Paul writing to the believers in Thessalonica writes 2 Thessalonians 2:13:
As a result of having been Chosen from the beginning, there's an effectual work of the Spirit unto them unto belief of the Truth, which is also Faith—for Paul even uses the same Greek noun for Faith (pistis) but here translated belief of the truth! 36
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But that verse does not say that God put that “belief of the truth” into us, bypassing our will.
The Spirit sanctifies us because we choose to believe the truth of the gospel.
It's ensured that God's Elect will be given Faith to believe.
Paul writing to the believers in Thessalonica writes 2 Thessalonians 2:13:
As a result of having been Chosen from the beginning, there's an effectual work of the Spirit unto them unto belief of the Truth, which is also Faith—for Paul even uses the same Greek noun for Faith (pistis) but here translated belief of the truth! 36
——————————————-
But that verse does not say that God put that “belief of the truth” into us, bypassing our will.
The Spirit sanctifies us because we choose to believe the truth of the gospel.
Brightfame52
Well-Known Member
Everyone who has been chosen of God in Christ before the foundation[Eph 1:4] will be in due time recipient of the Spirits sanctifying work so that He sets them apart unto belief of the Truth 2 Thess 2:13. Thats why Paul calls it also the Faith of Gods Elect that acknowledges the Truth 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;
Acknowledging the Truth and Belief of the Truth are the same, so all of Gods Elect will in Gods time acknowledge the truth. 36
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;
Acknowledging the Truth and Belief of the Truth are the same, so all of Gods Elect will in Gods time acknowledge the truth. 36
Brightfame52
Well-Known Member
The Chosen of God before the world began and before the elect had being, they had been by the preordination appointed to believe Acts 13:48
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Brightfame52
Well-Known Member
Peter writing to believers wrote 1 Pet 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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.
Peter calls them Elect unto obedience, or Faith. Again being elect ensures Faith or Obedience. 36
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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.
Peter calls them Elect unto obedience, or Faith. Again being elect ensures Faith or Obedience. 36
Brightfame52
Well-Known Member
Christ's own words demonstrate that those given to Him by the Father, His elect sheep, shall certainly come to Him in faith.
John 6:37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Notice the order and certainty of Christ's words.
“All that the Father giveth me” denotes the Father's elect, those whom He has given to His Son. They belong to Christ by the Father's sovereign purpose.
“Shall come to me” denotes the certainty of their coming to Christ in faith. Christ does not say they might come, or that their coming depends upon an independent exercise of freewill. He declares that they shall come.
The Father's giving is the cause; their coming is the certain result. Their faith does not make them the Father's gift to Christ. Rather, because the Father has given them to Christ, they shall come to Him.
Christ further explains this in John 6:44:
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
And again in John 6:65:
“No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”
So where does saving faith originate? Not in the independent ability of the unregenerate sinner, but in the gracious work of God. Philippians 1:29 declares:
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
This is the distinction between God's sovereign work and man's response. The Father gives His sheep to Christ, the Spirit gives them life and grants faith, and they consequently come to Christ willingly.
They do not become Christ's sheep by believing; they believe because they are His sheep.
John 6:37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Notice the order and certainty of Christ's words.
“All that the Father giveth me” denotes the Father's elect, those whom He has given to His Son. They belong to Christ by the Father's sovereign purpose.
“Shall come to me” denotes the certainty of their coming to Christ in faith. Christ does not say they might come, or that their coming depends upon an independent exercise of freewill. He declares that they shall come.
The Father's giving is the cause; their coming is the certain result. Their faith does not make them the Father's gift to Christ. Rather, because the Father has given them to Christ, they shall come to Him.
Christ further explains this in John 6:44:
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
And again in John 6:65:
“No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”
So where does saving faith originate? Not in the independent ability of the unregenerate sinner, but in the gracious work of God. Philippians 1:29 declares:
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
This is the distinction between God's sovereign work and man's response. The Father gives His sheep to Christ, the Spirit gives them life and grants faith, and they consequently come to Christ willingly.
They do not become Christ's sheep by believing; they believe because they are His sheep.