How are we to reckon ourselves as being dead to sin?

[Johann]

Ezekiel 18:30-32
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Notice what comes first

1- Repent , turn away from sin
2- the after you repent you get a new heart/spirit ( calvinism- regeneration, new life)
3- repent then you live, have life- ie new heart, spirit.

John has the same order in in his opening of the gospel and in his purpose statement for writing his gospel.

John 1:12-13
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Same order as above receive, believe, call on Him then the new birth follows.

John 20:31
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Once again the order is consistent with the OT- belief/repentance precedes life.


Romans 10:8-13
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Again above we see its hearing the gospel, believing the message , confessing then calling upon the Lord results in salvation.

Acts tells us the same order in 11:18- "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” Repent precedes life.

Paul confirms the order in Ephesians below as well. Hearing and believing precedes the Holy Spirit that we were sealed with not before belief.

Ephesians 1:13
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit

James and Peter have the same exact order in James 1:18 , 1 Peter 1:23.

See how scripture is consistent when you do not read your doctrine into it but read it objectively, without bias ?

conclusion: as we read in these SALVIFIC passages there is a consistent order.

1- hearing the word, the gospel
2- believing the gospel
3- receiving the gospel
4- calling upon the Lord
5- confessing Jesus is Lord
6- resulting in the new birth, born of God, salvation, eternal life


hope this helps !!!

If a person's faith is not from God, neither is their salvation from God--as it stands written-

Act 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Act 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

To them that have obtained (tois lachousin). Dative plural articular participle second aorist active of lagchanō, old verb, to obtain by lot (Luk_1:9), here with the accusative (pistin) as in Act_1:17.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe/pisteuein, on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

pisteuō
Thayer Definition:
1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
1a) of the thing believed
1a1) to credit, have confidence
1b) in a moral or religious reference
1b1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
1b2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
2) to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
2a) to be intrusted with a thing
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4102



Not only to believe on him; that they did not only believe Christ, but believe on him, was not from any power of their own, Joh_6:37,44, but of God’s free gift, Eph_2:8, as they had an instance amongst them in Lydia, Act_16:14; unto her and others was this victorious grace of faith freely given by the hearing of the word, which was not unto many others that heard, Mat_13:11 2Th_3:2 Tit_1:1; and as the grace itself was given, so was the exercise of it.

2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Faith IS a gift of God's grace to His chosen ones-that no man may boast.

Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness-

Correct? And yes I am familiar with salvation in both Greek and Hebrew. Doesn't make me a scholar.

 

[ChristisGod]

You can have faith in your Doctor to heal--is that eternally saving faith?
In the gospel accounts many followed Jesus for His miracles, for the loaves and the fish --did they have eternally saving faith?

Faith. . We are saved by grace, not by faith, which is the channel through (dia) which flows to us the Divine stream of saving grace. Both alike God's gifts.

For by grace, the free favour of God, as Eph_2:5, are ye, even ye Ephesians, Gentiles, who had not such promises made to you as the Jews had, Eph_2:12,
saved, from first to last, from your calling, Eph_2:5, to your glorification, Eph_2:6.

Objection. How are believers said to be saved, when they are not yet glorified?

Answer.
1. Because Christ their Head is glorified.
2. Because their salvation, begun in their effectual calling, shall be as certainly accomplished in them as it is begun in them, and perfected in their Head, Christ.
Through faith; by which ye lay hold on the grace offered you in the gospel. Faith is not considered here as a work done by us, but as an instrument or means applying the grace and salvation tendered to us.

And that not of yourselves; not for your own worth, nor by your own strength.
It is the gift of God; that ye are saved is the gift of God, and therefore free and purely by grace.
God is opposed to self: gift relates not merely to faith immediately preceding, but to the whole sentence.

Just looking for truth, nothing more, nothing less-not being argumentative, but this makes sense to me, it is ALL of God, the Divine Initiator-causing a dead Lazarus to come forth--no room for boasting.

I don't know if @Lizbeth will agree, but at the end of the day, I need to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, I am going to stand before the bar of Christ, alone, to give an account of myself.

I see many allo doctrines here, no fruit, in the interactions between members, just mud slinging, most of the time.

Like I've said, looking for truth, with an UN-biased mindset.
Shalom
J.

Paul would not contradict himself regarding faith and grace in other places.

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness”

“For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all”

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4

Compare Romans and Ephesians (The gift is “by grace you have been saved”)
Romans: “[we] are justified by his grace as a gift… to be received by faith”
Ephesians “for you have been saved by grace [as a gift] through faith”

hope this helps !!!

 

[Johann]

Paul would not contradict himself regarding faith and grace in other places.

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness”

“For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all”

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4

Compare Romans and Ephesians (The gift is “by grace you have been saved”)
Romans: “[we] are justified by his grace as a gift… to be received by faith”
Ephesians “for you have been saved by grace [as a gift] through faith”

hope this helps !!!

Tired--2:54 AM-Morning.

 

[ChristisGod]

If a person's faith is not from God, neither is salvation from God--as it stands written-

Act 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Act 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

To them that have obtained (tois lachousin). Dative plural articular participle second aorist active of lagchanō, old verb, to obtain by lot (Luk_1:9), here with the accusative (pistin) as in Act_1:17.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe/pisteuein, on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

pisteuō
Thayer Definition:
1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
1a) of the thing believed
1a1) to credit, have confidence
1b) in a moral or religious reference
1b1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
1b2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
2) to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
2a) to be intrusted with a thing
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4102



Not only to believe on him; that they did not only believe Christ, but believe on him, was not from any power of their own, Joh_6:37,44, but of God’s free gift, Eph_2:8, as they had an instance amongst them in Lydia, Act_16:14; unto her and others was this victorious grace of faith freely given by the hearing of the word, which was not unto many others that heard, Mat_13:11 2Th_3:2 Tit_1:1; and as the grace itself was given, so was the exercise of it.

2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Faith IS a gift of God's grace to His chosen ones-that no man may boast.

Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness-

Correct? And yes I am familiar with salvation in both Greek and Hebrew. Doesn't make me a scholar.

In your opening statement thats an assumption. Faith is nowhere said to be a gift given to be saved anywhere. Jesus always challended men and women to believe in Him, to place THEIR faith in Him and not once did He ever say faith was given, granted to anyone. Faith is something we do and God doesn't believe for us nor give it to us otherwise it would be all over the pages of the bible and its not. Jesus taught is was the persons responsibility to believe.

 

[ChristisGod]

Tired--2:54 AM-Morning.

No worries have a good nights rest. BTW I believed that for 40 plus years as a calvinist. :)

 

[Johann]

No worries have a good nights rest. BTW I believed that for 40 plus years as a calvinist.

I'm not saying I am a Calvinist brother-but I hear what you say.
J.

 

[ChristisGod]

I'm not saying I am a Calvinist brother-but I hear what you say.
J.

I know that I was pointing out I use to believe saving faith was a gift as a Calvinist

 

[Johann]

I know that I was pointing out I use to believe saving faith was a gift as a Calvinist

I'll leave you with this--now I am tired.

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

Romans 9:13
As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

Romans 9:15-16
For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Romans 9:11
(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Acts 13:48
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Romans 8:29-30
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Ephesians 2:1
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

James 1:17-18
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Romans 2:4
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 9:22-23
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

John 6:39-40
This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:65
And He said, 'Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.'

Romans 5:1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 12:9
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 1:5
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

2 Thessalonians 3:2
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

By the way, we haven't touched on the doctrine of election-you believe it is not in Scriptures?

Shalom and good night
J.

 

[Johann]

I know that I was pointing out I use to believe saving faith was a gift as a Calvinist

I think you will find it interesting-

--and maybe this.

 

[Waiting on him]

If a person's faith is not from God, neither is salvation from God--as it stands written-

Faith is an among the fruit of the Spirit. It comes from God.

Galatians 5:22-24 KJV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

[Enoch111]

Faith is nowhere said to be a gift given to be saved anywhere.

Correct. Saving faith is NOT a gift for the simple reason that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (the Gospel). If saving faith were a gift it would be given to absolutely everyone, since God desires that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.

But there is also (a) the spiritual gift of faith (given to some believers) and (b) faith as a fruit of the Spirit, which means that everyone who has the Holy Spirit may also exercise this "measure" of faith.

 

[ChristisGod]

Correct. Saving faith is NOT a gift for the simple reason that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (the Gospel). If saving faith were a gift it would be given to absolutely everyone, since God desires that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.

But there is also (a) the spiritual gift of faith (given to some believers) and (b) faith as a fruit of the Spirit, which means that everyone who has the Holy Spirit may also exercise this "measure" of faith.

Exactly you nailed it !

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Faith is an among the fruit of the Spirit. It comes from God.

Galatians 5:22-24 KJV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

1 Corinthians 13:2 Lexicon: If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

 

[Ritajanice]

Highlight a portion of my post-or the whole-press enter on your computer, tablet, and "reply" -should work just fine.
Johann.

Like this, yeah! your posts make a lot of sense to me, we are always learning,Praise God, going back to, Faith is a gift from God,...is that the same as being “ Birthed in the Spirit “?....

Which is most definitely a supernatural act that only God can do.....who brings us to believe in Jesus?...personally I believe God brings us to that place, He is the one who does the drawing, does he not?....He knew us in our mothers womb, how amazing is that, look at this scripture,Johann, ..Spirit gives birth to spirit, only God / Holy Spirit can birth our spirit and make us Born Again/ regenerated....your thoughts please..

John 3:6-8

New International Version

​

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[a] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[b] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

 

[Ritajanice]

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV​

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

[Ritajanice]

Found this article online...

Spiritually dead, we were helpless until God intervened to quicken us: “Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5). Faith is an integral part of the gift His grace bestowed on us.

Scripture consistently teaches that faith is not conjured up by the human will but is a sovereignly granted gift of God. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). And “No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). Acts 3:16 speaks of “the faith which comes through Him.” Philippians 1:29 says, “To you it has been granted for Christ’s sake . . . to believe in Him.” And Peter wrote to fellow believers as “those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours” (2 Peter 1:1).

How do we know that faith is God’s gift? Left to ourselves, no one would ever believe: “There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:11). “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). God draws the sinner to Christ and gives the ability to believe. Without that divinely generated faith, one cannot understand and approach the Savior. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14). That is precisely why when Peter affirmed his faith in Christ as the Son of God, Jesus told him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Faith is graciously given to believers by God himself.

As a divine gift, faith is neither transient nor impotent. It has an abiding quality that guarantees that it will endure to the end. The familiar words of Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous will live by his faith” (cf. Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38), speak not of a momentary act of believing, but of a living, enduring trust in God. Hebrews 3:14 emphasizes the permanence of genuine faith. Its very durability is proof of its reality: “We have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” The faith God gives can never evaporate. And the work of salvation cannot ultimately be thwarted (cf. John 10:27–29). In Philippians 1:6 Paul wrote, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:8; Colossians 1:22–23).

For those reasons, saving faith is nothing like the fickleness of wavering human belief. It is as enduring and unchanging as the God who grants it.

 

[Johann]

Faith is an among the fruit of the Spirit. It comes from God.

Galatians 5:22-24 KJV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Thank you @Waiting on him-that solidifies that then-faith is a dorean from God.
Well done.
Johann

 

[CadyandZoe]

If one is born again they have eternal life when they believed , in the present even though we may doubt it from time to Tim and it’s also a future promise to be fulfilled in the Resurrection of the saints

I think we are on the same page. I wasn't sure at first because I am aware of a doctrine (with which I disagree) teaching that we have abundant life now. In my view, the abundant life is also realized in the future.

 

[CadyandZoe]

So you are placing the new birth prior to belief in the gospel ?

I lean toward the idea that belief and sealing in the Holy Spirit take place at the same time. But if there is any delay, being born again takes place prior to belief.

I am reacting to a common misconception among believers that salvation is a quid-pro-quo exchange between God and the believer. For instance, if I confess my sins, God is faithful to forgive our sins; if I believe in Jesus Christ, I will be granted eternal life; if I practice spiritual formation, my life will go well, and etc. In that doctrine, I act and God responds.

What I said above isn't false but it needs to be seen in light of a larger picture, wherein God's grace is prevenient. God opens eyes and ears to the gospel; God removes a heart of stone, replacing it with a heart of flesh. In other words, God's graces is proactive, not reactive. He always takes the first step. If I have a spirit of contrition and a humble heart, he put it there. If I am willing and ready to hear the gospel, he caused that condition in me.

 

[Johann]

In your opening statement thats an assumption. Faith is nowhere said to be a gift given to be saved anywhere. Jesus always challended men and women to believe in Him, to place THEIR faith in Him and not once did He ever say faith was given, granted to anyone. Faith is something we do and God doesn't believe for us nor give it to us otherwise it would be all over the pages of the bible and its not. Jesus taught is was the persons responsibility to believe.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
faith; for though fidelity, both in words and actions, which is very ornamental to the Gospel, and a profession of religion may be meant; yet faith in Christ is not to be excluded, as it is generally by interpreters; for this is not of a man's self, nor have all men it: it is a gift of God, the operation of his power, and the work of his Spirit, whence he is styled the spirit of faith; and which therefore must have a place among his fruits; and which lies and shows itself in believing in Christ for salvation, in embracing the doctrines of the Gospel, and making a profession of them, which is called the profession of faith; all which, when right, comes from the Spirit of God.

Anyway, I'll see what @Lizbeth is saying-Faith a gift
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν, θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον. This clause is best taken as parenthetical. Even the faith which is the one element which we contribute to the total result is not self-originated. It is a gift of God. Cf. Donum est Dei diligere Deum. Ipse ut diligeretur dedit, qui non dilectus diligit (Council of Orange). He inspires us with love by loving us, and with faith by believing in us and showing Himself absolutely worthy of confidence.
That in the ages to come — As if he had said, His great design in doing all this for us is, that in all succeeding ages, under the dispensation of the gospel, he might show — Might demonstrate and display, (as the word ενδειξηται implies,) for the instruction and encouragement of others; the exceeding riches of his grace — Manifested both to Jews and Gentiles; in his kindness — His benignity and bounty; toward us — In pardoning, adopting, regenerating, and finally saving us; through Christ Jesus — For we have received the whole blessing by him, and are partakers of it as connected with him, whom God hath appointed our head and Saviour, and taught us to regard as our great representative. For (to repeat the important truth before asserted) by grace are ye saved through faith — Grace, as signifying the free mercy, or unmerited goodness of God, without any respect to human worthiness, confers the glorious gift of salvation; and grace, in the other sense of the expression, namely, the influence of the Spirit, prepares us for the reception of the blessed gift, and conveys it to us; and faith in the Lord Jesus as our Redeemer and Saviour, our Governor and Judge, and in the truths and promises of his holy gospel, with an empty hand, and without any pretence to personal desert; faith, productive of unfeigned love and obedience, receives the heavenly blessing. And that not of yourselves — This refers to the whole preceding clause, and means, 1st, Your salvation is not of yourselves, is not of your own power, nor of your own merit; strictly speaking, you can neither save yourselves, nor deserve that God should save you; your salvation, in all its branches, present and eternal, is from God, to whom alone it belongs to enlighten, justify, sanctify, and glorify you, and it is from him as a free, undeserved gift. Just Song of Solomon , 2 d,

Your faith, whereby you receive salvation, is not of yourselves, not of your own power, nor of your own merit; you can neither believe of yourselves, without supernatural light from the word and Spirit of truth, wisdom, and revelation; and divine grace inclining and enabling you to apply to and rely on Christ for salvation, and on the truths and promises of God through him; nor can you, by works done while you are yourselves in unbelief and unrenewed, deserve that God should give you faith. But your faith, as well as your salvation, is the gift of God; is of his operation, Col_2:12; from his light shining into your hearts, 2Co_4:6; and is from him as a free gift, asked indeed of him, and obtained from him, in and by prayer, but utterly unmerited on your part. “God, by the gracious influence of his Spirit, fixes our attention to the great objects of faith, subdues our prejudices against it, awakens holy affections in our souls, and, on the whole, enables us to believe, and to persevere in believing, till we receive the great end of our faith in the complete salvation of our souls.” — Doddridge. Not of works — Neither this faith, nor this salvation, is merited by, or is owing to, any works you ever performed, will or can perform, whether in obedience to the law of Moses, ceremonial or moral, or any other law whatever; much less is it merited by, or owing to, any works done previous to your conversion. Lest any man should boast — As if he had, by his own works of righteousness, procured salvation, and so should ascribe the glory of it to himself, rather than to God.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.