God's Gift of Faith

[KenH]

GOD'S GIFT OF FAITH

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

A while back I took notice of a back and forth on social media concerning faith. What caught my attention was a fellow of my former religious denomination arguing that faith is not a gift. He was adamant in his assertion, without giving an inch.

That got me to thinking and it became obvious that he couldn't hold any other position and remain consistent in his errant theology. That is, when the Jesus of retail religion is set forth, he is presented as having died for every soul that ever lived and will save them IF they will meet certain conditions. A primary condition, according to this thinking, is faith. This faith has the power that the blood of Jesus apparently did not, in and of itself, to save. Jacob, as well as Esau, Hitler, as well as the Apostle Paul have the same ability to believe and be saved according to this Jesus-died-for-everybody-but-that-wasn't-enough theology.

This is the deadly and damnable doctrine that is held by the vast majority of "christian" religion. It is more than a simple misunderstanding, or a side point of doctrine. This concerns the glory of God and places the focus squarely on the actions of the sinner. The sinner is glorified for his decision, while giving lip service to an idol god of man's imagination that "WANTS" everyone to be saved.

God will not be worshipped through error, or half truths. He is a jealous God who will not share his glory with another. He certainly doesn't want, but has decreed EVERYTHING from eternity for his glory.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The truth is, faith is not, nor has it ever been an inherent, generic ability in every person who ever lived. The scripture is clear, "It is the gift of God:" Every soul represented by Christ in his obedience unto the death of the cross receives this glorious gift, whereby they know him, as they are known of him. This gracious gift of faith is exclusive to those chosen by God, in Christ, in eternity. The totality of their salvation is found, not in any action or merit of their own, but in Christ's finished, satisfactory work on the cross. Their knowledge of this is through the God given gift of faith, whereby they ascribe all glory to God, in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

- written by Kenny Dyess, via his Facebook page.

 

[37818]

New GOD'S GIFT OF FAITH

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Faith is NOT the gift in Ephesians 2:8, saved is that gift.

 

[atpollard]

Faith is NOT the gift in Ephesians 2:8, saved is that gift.

Sort of … I thought the neuter tense precluded any one word being the gift. Was not the whole phrase the gift? (Not just saved, how one is saved according to Ephesians 2:8).

 

[atpollard]

[1Co 12:1-11 NASB95]

1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, [you were] led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.​

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.] 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.​

“Faith” is the same G4102 (“pistis”) as Ephesians 2:8, only here it is clear that it is a gift. I leave it to you to decide if it is a different “faith”.

 

[JD731]

GOD'S GIFT OF FAITH

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

A while back I took notice of a back and forth on social media concerning faith. What caught my attention was a fellow of my former religious denomination arguing that faith is not a gift. He was adamant in his assertion, without giving an inch.

That got me to thinking and it became obvious that he couldn't hold any other position and remain consistent in his errant theology. That is, when the Jesus of retail religion is set forth, he is presented as having died for every soul that ever lived and will save them IF they will meet certain conditions. A primary condition, according to this thinking, is faith. This faith has the power that the blood of Jesus apparently did not, in and of itself, to save. Jacob, as well as Esau, Hitler, as well as the Apostle Paul have the same ability to believe and be saved according to this Jesus-died-for-everybody-but-that-wasn't-enough theology.

This is the deadly and damnable doctrine that is held by the vast majority of "christian" religion. It is more than a simple misunderstanding, or a side point of doctrine. This concerns the glory of God and places the focus squarely on the actions of the sinner. The sinner is glorified for his decision, while giving lip service to an idol god of man's imagination that "WANTS" everyone to be saved.

God will not be worshipped through error, or half truths. He is a jealous God who will not share his glory with another. He certainly doesn't want, but has decreed EVERYTHING from eternity for his glory.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The truth is, faith is not, nor has it ever been an inherent, generic ability in every person who ever lived. The scripture is clear, "It is the gift of God:" Every soul represented by Christ in his obedience unto the death of the cross receives this glorious gift, whereby they know him, as they are known of him. This gracious gift of faith is exclusive to those chosen by God, in Christ, in eternity. The totality of their salvation is found, not in any action or merit of their own, but in Christ's finished, satisfactory work on the cross. Their knowledge of this is through the God given gift of faith, whereby they ascribe all glory to God, in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

- written by Kenny Dyess, via his Facebook page.

Hitler? There is no salvation without repentance. A Nichol is one coin with two sides. So is salvation. No one can be saved who has not heard about God's willingness to forgive the sinner and that he has made a way to do it. Where does God draw the line on how many sins he will forgive in a man? You seem to know this. Could the gospel not have saved Hitler because he had too many sins to forgive? If you were standing in the presence of Hitler would you have said, sir, you have no hope because you are too wicked and God cannot save you? You have sinned too much.

Faith is nowhere said to be the gift of God the Father in the KJV. I do not know about any others. Faith is A gift of the Spirit of God to members of the church, but not to all members. Read about it is 1 Cor 12, Rom 12 where the giving of faith is in the context of the body of Christ.

I do not know where you are getting your information but I am sure it is not from God.

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reformed teachers have not repented, IMO, or they would not be Reformed teachers.
.

 

[37818]

Sort of … I thought the neuter tense precluded any one word being the gift. Was not the whole phrase the gift? (Not just saved, how one is saved according to Ephesians 2:8).

The subject words in Ephesians 2:8 are "saved," "that," and "the gift."
. . . For by grace are ye saved . . .
. . . that not of yourselves: . . .
. . . it is the gift of God: . . .

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

 

[KenH]

The subject words in Ephesians 2:8 are "saved," "that," and "the gift."
. . . For by grace are ye saved . . .
. . . that not of yourselves: . . .
. . . it is the gift of God: . . .

By using the word "grace" at the start of the sentence, that would mean that salvation has already been attributed to the grace of God as a gift in that sentence; therefore, the word "gift" would have to have been used redundantly to refer to what had already been described as a gift; thus, the "gift" is the faith granted by God, just as repentance from dead works is a gift from God to those He chose before the world began and gave to Christ to be their Surety.

 

[37818]

By using the word "grace" at the start of the sentence, that would mean that salvation has already been attributed to the grace of God as a gift in that sentence; therefore, the word "gift" would have to have been used redundantly to refer to what had already been described as a gift; thus, the "gift" is the faith granted by God, just as repentance from dead works is a gift from God to those He chose before the world began and gave to Christ to be their Surety.

Faith is not the gift in Ephesians 2:8. Repeating the mistake does not change the Greek grammar.

 

[KenH]

If you were standing in the presence of Hitler would you have said, sir, you have no hope because you are too wicked and God cannot save you?

I will not presume to speak for the author of the article. Speaking for myself, I would begin by telling the same thing to any person who asked me about the gospel of Christ; I would tell them from the Scriptures about the gospel of Christ - about Christ fulfilling the law as the representative of His people as the LORD their Righteousness, about Christ having died for the sins of His people as their propitiation, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, about faith toward God and repentance from dead works, about Christ's return when He will destroy this present heavens and earth and replace it with the new heavens and earth, wherein dwells righteousness, where all of His people will dwell forever and ever and ever with Him, without even the least taint of sin.

 

[Silverhair]

Sort of … I thought the neuter tense precluded any one word being the gift. Was not the whole phrase the gift? (Not just saved, how one is saved according to Ephesians 2:8).

HOW A PERSON IS SAVED

Eph_2:8-9 answers this key question.

Salvation is by grace.

Salvation is through faith.

Salvation is not of yourselves.

Salvation is the GIFT OF GOD.

Salvation is not of works.


SALVATION is his main subject. Faith is mentioned because you cannot answer the question "HOW IS A PERSON SAVED?" without mentioning faith. A person is saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts of the Apostles 16:31).

 

[Silverhair]

GOD'S GIFT OF FAITH

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

A while back I took notice of a back and forth on social media concerning faith. What caught my attention was a fellow of my former religious denomination arguing that faith is not a gift. He was adamant in his assertion, without giving an inch.

That got me to thinking and it became obvious that he couldn't hold any other position and remain consistent in his errant theology. That is, when the Jesus of retail religion is set forth, he is presented as having died for every soul that ever lived and will save them IF they will meet certain conditions. A primary condition, according to this thinking, is faith. This faith has the power that the blood of Jesus apparently did not, in and of itself, to save. Jacob, as well as Esau, Hitler, as well as the Apostle Paul have the same ability to believe and be saved according to this Jesus-died-for-everybody-but-that-wasn't-enough theology.

This is the deadly and damnable doctrine that is held by the vast majority of "christian" religion. It is more than a simple misunderstanding, or a side point of doctrine. This concerns the glory of God and places the focus squarely on the actions of the sinner. The sinner is glorified for his decision, while giving lip service to an idol god of man's imagination that "WANTS" everyone to be saved.

God will not be worshipped through error, or half truths. He is a jealous God who will not share his glory with another. He certainly doesn't want, but has decreed EVERYTHING from eternity for his glory.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The truth is, faith is not, nor has it ever been an inherent, generic ability in every person who ever lived. The scripture is clear, "It is the gift of God:" Every soul represented by Christ in his obedience unto the death of the cross receives this glorious gift, whereby they know him, as they are known of him. This gracious gift of faith is exclusive to those chosen by God, in Christ, in eternity. The totality of their salvation is found, not in any action or merit of their own, but in Christ's finished, satisfactory work on the cross. Their knowledge of this is through the God given gift of faith, whereby they ascribe all glory to God, in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

- written by Kenny Dyess, via his Facebook page.

It is clear from Kenny Dyess comments that it is not the bible that he is trusting in but rather a systematic philosophy that he has been taught.

 

[JD731]

I will not presume to speak for the author of the article. Speaking for myself, I would begin by telling the same thing to any person who asked me about the gospel of Christ; I would tell them from the Scriptures about the gospel of Christ - about Christ fulfilling the law as the representative of His people as the LORD their Righteousness, about Christ having died for the sins of His people as their propitiation, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, about faith toward God and repentance from dead works, about Christ's return when He will destroy this present heavens and earth and replace it with the new heavens and earth, wherein dwells righteousness, where all of His people will dwell forever and ever and ever with Him, without even the least taint of sin.

I don't see an answer in that rhetoric.

 

[KenH]

I don't see an answer

Perhaps I did not understand your question. I understood you to be asking what would I tell a person who asked how they can be saved from their sins.

 

[Silverhair]

[1Co 12:1-11 NASB95]

1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, [you were] led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.​

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.] 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.​

“Faith” is the same G4102 (“pistis”) as Ephesians 2:8, only here it is clear that it is a gift. I leave it to you to decide if it is a different “faith”.

If you look at the context of those verses you will see that these are, {the manifestation of the Spirit given to each one for the profit of all}, given to those that are already saved. There are nine gifts listed, but only one is called a gift, healing. 1 Corinthians 12:9

So this can not be the faith necessary for one's salvation but rather the faith being strengthened of those that are already saved.

 

[tyndale1946]

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.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Faith OF Christ is the gift... We were given to Christ and the Father trusted in his Son to carry out his will... Brother Glen

Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

I've heard some brethren on here say the first to trust Christ were the Jews?... That's not what scripture says, the one who first trusted in his Son, was his Father.

 

[tyndale1946]

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

This is discipleship faith and has nothing to do with the eternal saving work of Jesus Christ... Brother Glen

 

[37818]

 

[tyndale1946]

Faith is NOT an offer... Its an offering and the only one, the Faith OF the Son Of God Jesus Christ, offered to his Father for our sins... Because of his sacrifice, we are compelled to present ours... Brother Glen

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

[37818]

Faith is a requirement.
Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God, for it is necessary for the one approaching God to believe that He is, and that He becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

[tyndale1946]

Faith is a requirement.
Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God, for it is necessary for the one approaching God to believe that He is, and that He becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

One is eternal saved in Gods Mercy not our faith... And God the Father showed us his Mercy by putting the will of God in the hands of his Son Jesus Christ... Until one is born again (quickened), it is impossible to seek God... How many times to I have to post this?... Brother Glen

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

This has nothing to do with the final resurrection because these dead are different then those in the grave in verse 28... Brother Glen