The Gift of Saving Faith
I don't know how those who believe that saving faith is a gift from God view the faith that is given. Is it like a commodity that is transferred from God to the recipient? Or implanted in the recipient by God? Is it the opportunity to believe that is given? Or the ability to believe that is granted? I would appreciate someone who holds this view explaining to me how he understands the faith that is given.
In any event, there are a couple of primary passages of which I am aware that some use to support the assertion that saving faith is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God --
The Greek word for "faith" is feminine. The "it" (pronoun) is neuter. Some maintain that this is evidence that the "it" does not refer to "faith", but to the entire clause--"by grace hav[ing] been saved through faith". I understand it this way. God's gracious provision of salvation through faith is His gift, not the faith only.
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
One may infer from this text that God gave, or granted, "believing" to the Philippians. God also gave "suffering" to them. Presumably, God gave them "suffering" in the way, or sense, that "suffering" may be said to be "given" or "granted". And He gave them "believing" in the way, or sense that "believing" may be said to be "given" or "granted". To understand how "believing" (or faith) is given, consider the following:
Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with (or of) faith?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.
I conclude from such passages that faith comes from hearing, and hearing from preaching. So, Christ is preached, I hear the truth, and I believe. It is in this sense that God "gives" faith.
So, the Philippians heard Christ preached and believed. (This is how "believing" was "given" to them). In addition, they now are suffering for the sake of Christ.
A couple of other texts:
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
1 Corinthians 12:9 to another [is given] faith by the same Spirit,
I don't think these texts refer to saving faith. I understand "faith" in the first instance to refer to a conviction of truth concerning oneself which God grants. This is not a static measure. In the second, a special gracing or gifting of the Spirit for the common good, for building up the body of Christ in unity.
If saving faith isn't given by God, then how is one to account for it?
Faith is simply a conviction arising in response to the truth of the gospel, which is "filled up" by action.
Why do some believe the gospel and others don't?
I don't know. Sometimes hearing is not "mixed with faith" (cf. Hebrews 4:2). I assume some are unwilling to be convinced.
But if faith comes from the individual, then one has grounds for taking credit for his salvation.
No, boasting is excluded for the very reason that salvation is through faith (cf. Romans 3:27).
In any event, there are a couple of primary passages of which I am aware that some use to support the assertion that saving faith is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God --
The Greek word for "faith" is feminine. The "it" (pronoun) is neuter. Some maintain that this is evidence that the "it" does not refer to "faith", but to the entire clause--"by grace hav[ing] been saved through faith". I understand it this way. God's gracious provision of salvation through faith is His gift, not the faith only.
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
One may infer from this text that God gave, or granted, "believing" to the Philippians. God also gave "suffering" to them. Presumably, God gave them "suffering" in the way, or sense, that "suffering" may be said to be "given" or "granted". And He gave them "believing" in the way, or sense that "believing" may be said to be "given" or "granted". To understand how "believing" (or faith) is given, consider the following:
Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with (or of) faith?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.
I conclude from such passages that faith comes from hearing, and hearing from preaching. So, Christ is preached, I hear the truth, and I believe. It is in this sense that God "gives" faith.
So, the Philippians heard Christ preached and believed. (This is how "believing" was "given" to them). In addition, they now are suffering for the sake of Christ.
A couple of other texts:
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
1 Corinthians 12:9 to another [is given] faith by the same Spirit,
I don't think these texts refer to saving faith. I understand "faith" in the first instance to refer to a conviction of truth concerning oneself which God grants. This is not a static measure. In the second, a special gracing or gifting of the Spirit for the common good, for building up the body of Christ in unity.
If saving faith isn't given by God, then how is one to account for it?
Faith is simply a conviction arising in response to the truth of the gospel, which is "filled up" by action.
Why do some believe the gospel and others don't?
I don't know. Sometimes hearing is not "mixed with faith" (cf. Hebrews 4:2). I assume some are unwilling to be convinced.
But if faith comes from the individual, then one has grounds for taking credit for his salvation.
No, boasting is excluded for the very reason that salvation is through faith (cf. Romans 3:27).
posted by John Barry at 3:45 PM
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