Faith: A Human Act or a Gift from God?

[Grace]

I just read this in a reply by Roman on another thread:

Originally Posted by Roman

Even faith is a human act, a work as much as writing is. Faith is man's free response, moved by Grace,to God's offering of salvation. If it is truly free it must engage us as human beings with freedom, volition and knowledge.

Now my question isn't just for Roman....I think his belief is clear enough...but I do wonder if that is what most of you believe, too?

I believe that faith is a gift of God, not of my own work.

Originally Posted by Grace

I just read this in a reply by Roman on another thread:


Now my question isn't just for Roman....I think his belief is clear enough...but I do wonder if that is what most of you believe, too?

I believe that faith is a gift of God, not of my own work.

Weeelllll - that's a tricky one. I think God the Holy Spirit works in our lives and hearts to prepare them for the message of salvation but I also think we have a choice as to whether or not we accept that gift with faith (mustard seed sized).

After that - I think it's a gift. Why else would the disciples have said, "Please, increase our faith"?

V

[SeekerSA]

Here are some faith scriptures pertaining to the gift and others

1Co 12:8 For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

2Co 4:13 For we, having the same spirit of faith (according as it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken"); we also believed and therefore speak,

Gal 3:22 But the Scripture shut up all under sin, so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,

Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through His faith.

Eph 6:16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Php 3:9 and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith,

1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet.

2Ti 2:22 But flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1Pe 5:8 Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;
1Pe 5:9 whom firmly resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions in the world are being completed in your brotherhood.

1Jn 5:4 For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.

i am probably a simpleton, but to me the answer is clear cut: it is a gift of God according to Eph. 2: 8

once a person has been given that gift and believes, this faith can grow through feeding on the Word, through prayer, through exercising it.

at least that´s how i see it.

Originally Posted by Christa

i am probably a simpleton, but to me the answer is clear cut: it is a gift of God according to Eph. 2: 8

once a person has been given that gift and believes, this faith can grow through feeding on the Word, through prayer, through exercising it.

at least that´s how i see it.

I am in full agreement with Christa. It IS just that simple!

[Grace]

Originally Posted by Jeff Mills

I am in full agreement with Christa. It IS just that simple!

Me, too.

I wonder why some have been taught that it's more complicated?
The more I study, the more I lean toward thinking that all the "complications" are man-made. It seems like there have been men throughout the centuries who want to be in control....and have led millions off the way by creating "traditions."

I'm not saying that they aren't saved...but I think one reason God inspired the Holy Scriptures is so we'd have something to test those "traditions" against, and protect us from being led astray.

[Grace]

Originally Posted by Roman

You stated it: "once a person has been given that gift [God's grace] and believes"[man accepting the gift in freedom]. Thus there you have the two sides of the same coin.

Roman, are you saying that "grace" is the gift?

When I read Christa's post, and the verse in Ephesians, I think she and Paul are saying that "faith" is the gift we are given because of God's wonderful grace toward us.

[billinjackson]

Originally Posted by Grace

I just read this in a reply by Roman on another thread:


Now my question isn't just for Roman....I think his belief is clear enough...but I do wonder if that is what most of you believe, too?

I believe that faith is a gift of God, not of my own work.

Faith clearly is a gift from God, but we must cooperate with this gift by asserting our freedom. This freedom is a gift or Grace if you will. The council of Orange and Saint Augustine’s work against Pelagius really cuts into the many dimensions of this topic in my view.

In Christ

[billinjackson]

I think worthy reading for all on the ultimate necessity of Grace which applies to our freedom and faith. This coucil is influenced by Augustines battle with Pelagius.

I have deleted all the can-ons so it is more managable reading. If you want the entire Document you can easily look it up online at new advent.

Enjoy...

The conclusion to the Council of Orange
(529 AD)

CONCLUSION. And thus according to the passages of holy scripture quoted above or the interpretations of the ancient Fathers we must, under the blessing of God, preach and believe as follows. The sin of the first man has so impaired and weakened free will that no one thereafter can either love God as he ought or believe in God or do good for God's sake, unless the grace of divine mercy has preceded him. We therefore believe that the glorious faith which was given to Abel the righteous, and Noah, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and to all the saints of old, and which the Apostle Paul commends in extolling them (Heb. 11), was not given through natural goodness as it was before to Adam, but was bestowed by the grace of God. And we know and also believe that even after the coming of our Lord this grace is not to be found in the free will of all who desire to be baptized, but is bestowed by the kindness of Christ, as has already been frequently stated and as the Apostle Paul declares, "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" (Phil. 1:29). And again, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). And again, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and it is not your own doing, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). And as the Apostle says of himself, "I have obtained mercy to be faithful" (1 Cor. 7:25, cf. 1 Tim. 1:13). He did not say, "because I was faithful," but "to be faithful." And again, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7). And again, "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (Jas. 1:17). And again, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). There are innumerable passages of holy scripture which can be quoted to prove the case for grace, but they have been omitted for the sake of brevity, because further examples will not really be of use where few are deemed sufficient.

According to the catholic faith we also believe that after grace has been received through baptism, all baptized persons have the ability and responsibility, if they desire to labor faithfully, to perform with the aid and cooperation of Christ what is of essential importance in regard to the salvation of their soul. We not only do not believe that any are foreordained to evil by the power of God, but even state with utter abhorrence that if there are those who want to believe so evil a thing, they are anathema. We also believe and confess to our benefit that in every good work it is not we who take the initiative and are then assisted through the mercy of God, but God himself first inspires in us both faith in him and love for him without any previous good works of our own that deserve reward, so that we may both faithfully seek the sacrament of baptism, and after baptism be able by his help to do what is pleasing to him. We must therefore most evidently believe that the praiseworthy faith of the thief whom the Lord called to his home in paradise, and of Cornelius the centurion, to whom the angel of the Lord was sent, and of Zacchaeus, who was worthy to receive the Lord himself, was not a natural endowment but a gift of God's kindness.

[Enterprise]

Originally Posted by billinjackson

I think worthy reading for all on the ultimate necessity of Grace which applies to our freedom and faith. This coucil is influenced by Augustines battle with Pelagius.

I have deleted all the can-ons so it is more managable reading. If you want the entire Document you can easily look it up online at new advent.

Enjoy...

The conclusion to the Council of Orange
(529 AD)

CONCLUSION. And thus according to the passages of holy scripture quoted above or the interpretations of the ancient Fathers we must, under the blessing of God, preach and believe as follows. The sin of the first man has so impaired and weakened free will that no one thereafter can either love God as he ought or believe in God or do good for God's sake, unless the grace of divine mercy has preceded him. We therefore believe that the glorious faith which was given to Abel the righteous, and Noah, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and to all the saints of old, and which the Apostle Paul commends in extolling them (Heb. 11), was not given through natural goodness as it was before to Adam, but was bestowed by the grace of God. And we know and also believe that even after the coming of our Lord this grace is not to be found in the free will of all who desire to be baptized, but is bestowed by the kindness of Christ, as has already been frequently stated and as the Apostle Paul declares, "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" (Phil. 1:29). And again, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). And again, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and it is not your own doing, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). And as the Apostle says of himself, "I have obtained mercy to be faithful" (1 Cor. 7:25, cf. 1 Tim. 1:13). He did not say, "because I was faithful," but "to be faithful." And again, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7). And again, "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (Jas. 1:17). And again, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). There are innumerable passages of holy scripture which can be quoted to prove the case for grace, but they have been omitted for the sake of brevity, because further examples will not really be of use where few are deemed sufficient.

According to the catholic faith we also believe that after grace has been received through baptism, all baptized persons have the ability and responsibility, if they desire to labor faithfully, to perform with the aid and cooperation of Christ what is of essential importance in regard to the salvation of their soul. We not only do not believe that any are foreordained to evil by the power of God, but even state with utter abhorrence that if there are those who want to believe so evil a thing, they are anathema. We also believe and confess to our benefit that in every good work it is not we who take the initiative and are then assisted through the mercy of God, but God himself first inspires in us both faith in him and love for him without any previous good works of our own that deserve reward, so that we may both faithfully seek the sacrament of baptism, and after baptism be able by his help to do what is pleasing to him. We must therefore most evidently believe that the praiseworthy faith of the thief whom the Lord called to his home in paradise, and of Cornelius the centurion, to whom the angel of the Lord was sent, and of Zacchaeus, who was worthy to receive the Lord himself, was not a natural endowment but a gift of God's kindness.

Thanks for this insight Bill.