Is Saving Faith A Gift?

[SavedByGrace]

Is Saving Faith A Gift?

There are some, especially from the “Reformed/Calvinist”, who say that Saving Faith is a Gift from God, which is given only to the “Elect”, so that they can believe, and be saved.

They use Ephesians 2:8-9, which says:

“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast”

Contextually, Paul is speaking of Salvation as the Gift here. He repeats what he has just said in verse 5, “by grace you have been saved”. Clearly Salvation is the main theme here.

However, supposing that we agree and say that Saving Faith, is a Gift from God, and this is only given to the “Elect”. If this were true, then God must be unjust!

Faith is “to Believe”. A sinner is saved by both REPENTING and BELIEVING, as Jesus clearly Teaches in Mark 1:15, and elsewhere.

In Mark 16:16, Jesus says:

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned”

John 3:18 and 36 says:

“He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God…One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Clearly says, that those who BELIEVE, will be saved; and those who do NOT BELIEVE, will be damned.

Now, if Saving Faith is a Gift from God, and only given to the “Elect”, how can God Justly condemn those who do NOT BELIEVE, as they were not given this Saving Faith, so that they could be saved? This makes God unjust! God with-holds Saving Faith from the “non-elect”, so that they cannot BELIEVE and be saved; and then damns them for something that they CANNOT do???

This teaching CANNOT be from the Holy Bible, and is an INVENTION from those who clearly OPPOSE the Bible’s Teaching, that, “EVERYONE, WHOEVER, SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD, WILL BE SAVED”.

The Bible says of Saving Faith

"So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17)

 

[Aaron]

Now, if Saving Faith is a Gift from God, and only given to the “Elect”, how can God Justly condemn those who do NOT BELIEVE, as they were not given this Saving Faith, so that they could be saved? This makes God unjust! God with-holds Saving Faith from the “non-elect”, so that they cannot BELIEVE and be saved; and then damns them for something that they CANNOT do???

Ever and anon the cry of the noncalvinist is, Why doth he yet find fault?

 

[SavedByGrace]

Ever and anon the cry of the noncalvinist is, Why doth he yet find fault?

typical non response to Bible TRUTH by the so called "reformed"!

 

[Aaron]

typical non response to Bible TRUTH by the so called "reformed"!

LOL. Paul's arguments bite, don't they?

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

Yes, nobody can place faith in God without God giving grace to them to allow them to do so. Thus any decision on a person's part pertaining faith is only possible via God's gift of grace to make such a decision.

Classical Arminians and Calvinists agree on Total Depravity. Man is incapable on his own of doing anything "good".

As per Jacob Arminius who is certainly not Reformed:
Arminius states "In this [fallen] state, the free will of man towards the true good is not only wounded, infirm, bent, and weakened; but it is also imprisoned, destroyed, and lost. And its powers are not only debilitated and useless unless they be assisted by grace, but it has no powers whatever except such as are excited by Divine grace.
Arminianism - Wikipedia

 

[Iconoclast]

"SavedByGrace
[Is Saving Faith A Gift?]

Yes it is

 

[Iconoclast]

SBG said;
[QUOTE]There are some, especially from the “Reformed/Calvinist”, who say that Saving Faith is a Gift from God, which is given only to the “Elect”, so that they can believe, and be saved.[/QUOTE]

Yes they say that as they believe the bible

They use Ephesians 2:8-9, which says:

“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast”

Contextually, Paul is speaking of Salvation as the Gift here. He repeats what he has just said in verse 5, “by grace you have been saved”. Clearly Salvation is the main theme here.

Yes, They enjoy the blessing of God's individual election unto salvation and godly service, as many of these calvinists also read verse10

 

[Iconoclast]

SBG, now attempts to blame God for mans sin and rebellion

and this is only given to the “Elect”. If this were true, then God must be unjust!

Another blame God post. Who says God has to save anyone?

You fail to trust that A Holy God is going to do what is right.
When He declares His purpose you hate what He declares.

 

[Iconoclast]

SBG, continues on in opposition to himself, here;

Now, if Saving Faith is a Gift from God, and only given to the “Elect”, how can God Justly condemn those who do NOT BELIEVE,

All men are responsible to believe, if they do not they stand condemned as you posted;
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Do you hate the light SBG.? Calvinists believe all of it.

[QUOTE]as they were not given this Saving Faith, so that they could be saved?[/QUOTE]

You blame God again, scripture says man is to blame;
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
I and other Calvinists just read these verses and understand them.

This makes God unjust!

You love to blame God

God with-holds Saving Faith from the “non-elect”, so that they cannot BELIEVE and be saved; and then damns them for something that they CANNOT do???

When God saves any sinner, it is MERCY, He does not have to.

This teaching CANNOT be from the Holy Bible,

And yet it is, seen and believed by a great multitude that no man can number

 

[DaveXR650]

Faith is “to Believe”.

And it is. But what exactly does this mean? If it just means to list out the facts of the gospel message and then say "Do you agree to these as being true?." If that is belief then you can certainly do that on your own. If you go further and say "Do you agree that these statements apply to you personally?" I still think you can do that on your own. But honestly, do you think the human heart is capable of relying on the finished work of Christ and renouncing any good we can bring to this and totally rely on Jesus to be our only claim to be right with God? I don't think we have it in us to do that. We cannot on our own realize how messed up we are and how we appear before God. We cannot by natural reason not think that there has got to be something we could do to improve our situation before God. We do not have the ability to even realize the danger we are in. So yes, it's a gift.

 

[SavedByGrace]

And it is. But what exactly does this mean? If it just means to list out the facts of the gospel message and then say "Do you agree to these as being true?." If that is belief then you can certainly do that on your own. If you go further and say "Do you agree that these statements apply to you personally?" I still think you can do that on your own. But honestly, do you think the human heart is capable of relying on the finished work of Christ and renouncing any good we can bring to this and totally rely on Jesus to be our only claim to be right with God? I don't think we have it in us to do that. We cannot on our own realize how messed up we are and how we appear before God. We cannot by natural reason not think that there has got to be something we could do to improve our situation before God. We do not have the ability to even realize the danger we are in. So yes, it's a gift.

so, when a person does not believe, because God has not given them this "Gift", then they justly CANNOT be condemned to eternal punishment! You don't seem to understand what the Bible says.

 

[SavedByGrace]

"SavedByGrace
[Is Saving Faith A Gift?]

Yes it is

you have FAILED to respond to the OP! IF, as you claim, saving faith is a "gift", which God only gives to the elect, then HOW can He punish those who do not have this "gift"??? It is not God Who is at fault, but your theology!

 

[SavedByGrace]

SBG, continues on in opposition to himself, here;


All men are responsible to believe, if they do not they stand condemned as you posted;
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Do you hate the light SBG.? Calvinists believe all of it.

[QUOTE]as they were not given this Saving Faith, so that they could be saved?[/QUOTE]

You blame God again, scripture says man is to blame;
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
I and other Calvinists just read these verses and understand them.


You love to blame God



When God saves any sinner, it is MERCY, He does not have to.




And yet it is, seen and believed by a great multitude that no man can number

I think that the minds of the reformed are DARKENED to Bible Truth!

 

[SavedByGrace]

SBG, now attempts to blame God for mans sin and rebellion




Another blame God post. Who says God has to save anyone?

You fail to trust that A Holy God is going to do what is right.
When He declares His purpose you hate what He declares.

YOUR "theology" is FAULTY, and EXPOSED by the Bible as so!

 

[SavedByGrace]

Yes, nobody can place faith in God without God giving grace to them to allow them to do so. Thus any decision on a person's part pertaining faith is only possible via God's gift of grace to make such a decision.

Classical Arminians and Calvinists agree on Total Depravity. Man is incapable on his own of doing anything "good".

As per Jacob Arminius who is certainly not Reformed:
Arminius states "In this [fallen] state, the free will of man towards the true good is not only wounded, infirm, bent, and weakened; but it is also imprisoned, destroyed, and lost. And its powers are not only debilitated and useless unless they be assisted by grace, but it has no powers whatever except such as are excited by Divine grace.
Arminianism - Wikipedia

IF this is true, then HOW, please explain here, can God punish anyone for not having this Saving Faith, which He did not give them in the first place? This is DOUBLE-TALK!

 

[SavedByGrace]

LOL. Paul's arguments bite, don't they?

your reasoining is RUBBISH, you have FAILED to answer the OP!!!

 

[Iconoclast]

You show you lack understanding of basic bible knowledge that would allow you to grasp what the bible says.
God did not sin.man did.Start there.

 

[Iconoclast]

your reasoining is RUBBISH, you have FAILED to answer the OP!!!

Aaron is spot on.The only rubbish are your posts.

 

[Iconoclast]

IF this is true, then HOW, please explain here, can God punish anyone for not having this Saving Faith, which He did not give them in the first place? This is DOUBLE-TALK!

God has commanded all men everywhere to repent.They do not want to.Acts17:30

 

[Iconoclast]

I think that the minds of the reformed are DARKENED to Bible Truth!

A blind man cannot see a rainbow.
You like the blind man fail to perceive these truths.Today is another opportunity to thank God for His loving mercy in electing a multitude.