FAITH IS NOT A GIFT

[Hiddenthings]

@Doug

Thanks, Doug, for an interesting thread.

I can see the tension in all the responses which speak to Salvation having two aspects: the divine, which is grace, and the human, which is obedient faith.

Asking which single characteristic saves a person is an abstraction.

Maybe an illustration can help?

A man falls into a river and cries out for help. Someone on the bank grabs a rope and throws it to him. The man catches the rope and is pulled to safety. What saved him?

Was it his cry for help?
The rope?
The person on the bank?
Did he save himself?

Or was it the combined effect of all these factors working together?

Which of these was a gift?

If the cry (knowledge acted upon) represents faith, then it is indeed a gift, but only when accompanied by obedience. Otherwise, we would make God a debtor, and man would not remain accountable to Him.

 

[Doug]

@Doug

Thanks, Doug, for an interesting thread.

I can see the tension in all the responses which speak to Salvation having two aspects: the divine, which is grace, and the human, which is obedient faith.

Asking which single characteristic saves a person is an abstraction.

Maybe an illustration can help?

A man falls into a river and cries out for help. Someone on the bank grabs a rope and throws it to him. The man catches the rope and is pulled to safety. What saved him?

Was it his cry for help?
The rope?
The person on the bank?
Did he save himself?

Or was it the combined effect of all these factors working together?

Which of these was a gift?

If the cry (knowledge acted upon) represents faith, then it is indeed a gift, but only when accompanied by obedience. Otherwise, we would make God a debtor, and man would not remain accountable to Him.

Thanks
Very good post
We have a choice as to whether we believe and where to place our faith. If we place our faith in Christ and his redemption we have eternal life

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Just read the verse and it says By grace ye are saved its not by faith its thru faith

Grace is unmerited favor which is from God, His expression of love which we receive as a gift. But faith cannot possibly come unless He removes our blindness. That is impossible for us to do bybourselves, it is supernatural. He removes blindness, we see, then become enlightened and grow in faith.
Jesus is the Author of our faith. It is not of ourselves. To say it is, is like saying you are writing your own story of salvation in and of your own free will and works. In your scenario, you would be the authirnif yiur faith! Wrong! Jesus claims Authorship.
You do not nor can you orchestrate all the future events and people that are instrumental in leading you to faith, truth, spiritual growth, including the lessons learned in life.

 

[Doug]

Grace is unmerited favor which is from God, His expression of love which we receive as a gift. But faith cannot possibly come unless He removes our blindness. That is impossible for us to do bybourselves, it is supernatural. He removes blindness, we see, then become enlightened and grow in faith.
Jesus is the Author of our faith. It is not of ourselves. To say it is, is like saying you are writing your own story of salvation in and of your own free will and works. In your scenario, you would be the authirnif yiur faith! Wrong! Jesus claims Authorship.
You do not nor can you orchestrate all the future events and people that are instrumental in leading you to faith, truth, spiritual growth, including the lessons learned in life.

Good to hear from you again Bro
Yes faith comes by hearing of the living Word of God

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Good to hear from you again Bro
Yes faith comes by hearing of the living Word of God

If that is true, then why are you trying to dismiss me by clinging to one truth that does not support your OP? Or are you trying to make others think that I am in agreement with you? Those tricks don't work. Come on, we have a history of disagreeing with each other, I doubt if you miss me, Bro. Lol

You don't think faith is a gift, but it looks like most everyone else is disagreeing with you too! 1 agreed, 9 didn't. That one person is a non-trinitarian, so his perception of Christ being the Author of faith or anything is skewed.