Faith is part of the "gift of God" (Eph. 2:9). Spurgeon taught that saving faith, although exercised by man, is a gift. Man does not possess the faith to believe apart from God granting it (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14). If we possess saving faith on our own then we have something to brag about. As it is, we don't possess it unless granted from God, so even if we exercise saving faith it is God who gets the glory.
Faith is not something you can give to another. Faith must come from within the person exercising it.
An analogy might demonstrate. Suppose a total stranger approaches you and asks to borrow your car. Would you loan them your car? I think most people would say no. Why? Because you know nothing about this person. You do not know if they can be trusted to return your car to you. Faith is a judgment based on knowledge.
Now suppose a family member or a good friend asks to borrow your car. Would you loan them your car? Most people would say yes. Why? Because you know these persons and know they love you. You know they would not steal your car but return it. Again, your faith is a judgment.
Can the stranger give you faith? Can your family member give you faith? Of course not, your faith comes from within yourself, based on your knowledge and experience with another person. You know you can trust a family member or friend, but you are not sure you can trust a total stranger.
Why do we have faith in Jesus? It is because of knowledge that the scriptures impart to us. We read of Jesus and his great love and compassion for the lost. We read of his miracles. We hear his words, which no other man could speak. The words of Jesus speak directly to our heart and conscience. A man recognizes they are truth.
As a person comes to know Jesus through the scriptures, he comes to realize that Jesus can be completely trusted, just as our knowledge and experience with a family member or a close friend teaches us they can be trusted. But faith is a judgment that comes from within us.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age,
because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Unbelief is also a judgment. A person who does not believe God has judged him as a liar.
1 Jhn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:
he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
You cannot force or cause another person to trust you. You can be good to another person and show them love that persuades them you can be trusted, but you can never force them to trust you. Only the person exercising faith can determine who they trust and who they do not trust and why.
Faith is not something you can give to another. You can only persuade a person to trust you.
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully
persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed,
if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Abraham had faith in God because he was persuaded, not forced.
But note also that being imputed righteous follows believing. This is why no person can be regenerated until they first believe on Jesus. Until you believe, you are condemned as a sinner, you are dead in sins. But the moment we believe in Jesus, as that point we are imputed righteous and now have spiritual life. Faith precedes regeneration.
