Is Faith God-Given - or a Choice in reliance with - trusting God?

[MatthewG]

Faith is not the possession of all persons, as it is a fruit of God’s spirit. (2 Thessalonians 3:2; Galatians 5:22) And a Christian’s faith is not static, but it grows. (2Thessalonians 1:3) Hence, the request of Jesus’ disciples, “Give us more faith,” was very appropriate, and he did provide them with the foundation for increased faith. He supplied them with greater evidence and understanding on which to base their faith. Luke 17:5.

“Faith follows the thing heard,” says the Bible. (Romans 10:17) So the first step toward building faith in God is to ‘hear’ what the Bible really teaches about him. (2 Timothy 3:16) Studying the Bible will help you to find solid answers to important questions, including Who is God? What evidence is there of his existence? Does God really care about me? What is God’s purpose for the future?

Your faith must be based on evidence that you observe as you weigh the truthfulness of what you read in the Bible. In that way, you will follow the example of first-century students who “accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11.

Thank you for sharing. We couldn't have very much faith in something we did not know, but with the evidence from the bible we see there are lessons taught with-in it by the Lord Jesus Christ that deals with be it the fleshly ways of ourselves, and the spiritual ways of God.

If we did not learn about these things we would probably be of little faith of something bigger than us, that being God himself. However as stated, the bible is there to give us indications and even more hope in our faith in learning about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for sharing.

It is both. We all have a measure of faith as human beings. But to move mountains we need the faith OF Christ.

I see it as a heaving line cast from a ship in distress to a towing ship (tugboat). The line we cast is our own faith. From there our faith is attached to the big towing line that is able to move us (by the faith of Christ) from the place of our incapacity so that we are towed into deeper waters where we are free to sail.

Thank you for sharing. Do remember a verse that says that "God gives measures of faith" is that really in relation to those who are of the faith in Jesus Christ, death burial and resurrection.

Or is this 'God measured faith' just given, and some people choose to reject having faith and some choose to have faith in your opinion?

 

[Behold]

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[Behold]

[/USER].
Are you out to harass and get people for something they could or may not be in?

I talk to people here, based on what they write, that they believe.
I dont invent what they say, Matthew.
Remember that..

so...
Look carefully..

You are not reading very carefully what He wrote.
You should.

He wrote this.....>His Quote.....""""The scriptures also teach us that faith is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit. """"

See that? That is Calvinism.. Its the teaching that God causes you to have faith, vs, you having it as free will.
Listen, if you are not born again, you have no Holy Spirit in you to produce any faith.
Understand?
He doesn't.
LISTEN>.....>"faith come by HEARING"......not by God forcing you to have it.
So, yes, he says we have faith, but its conditioned on "God causes you to have it".....= that is not free will.
That is Calvinism "god caused it".....

So, read more carefully.
I do.

 

[MatthewG]

I talk to people here, based on what they write, that they believe.
I dont invent what they say, Matthew.
Remember that..

so...
Look carefully..

You are not reading very carefully what He wrote.
You should.

He wrote this.....>His Quote.....""""The scriptures also teach us that faith is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit. """"


See that? That is Calvinism.. Its the teaching that God causes you to have faith, vs, you having it as free will.
So, yes, he says we have faith, but its conditioned on "God causes you to have it".....= that is not free will.
That is Calvinism "god caused it".....

So, read more carefully.
I do.

Just remember you are not the judge, and God is.

Love you brother.

 

[MatthewG]

Judge not and you shall not be judged.

Harass people and that is similar to judgement.

Never forget that. Just because people do not agree with others doctrinally is no need to harass them, and try to win something over them. It is okay to share and talk about how people have views and perspective, but to be harsh to them in that judgement is just not good.

 

[Behold]

Just remember you are not the judge, and God is.

Love you brother.

Love you more....

Here is the thing.

I never accused Barney Bright of being a Calvinist.
I only responded to the Calvinism that he posted.
Then, in 2-3 posts to me, that i responded to, i asked Him, 3 times, ..."are you a Calvinist".

He never replied. never answered the Question.
He instead just reposted a slightly different version of the original post, 2-3 times.
But he never has answered the question i asked him, 3 times.
"are you a Calvinist".

You would answer it.
I would.
He wont.
So, you figure that out, as i already have.,...and that is not Judgement, that is simple discernment.

 

[MatthewG]

Does everyone have to obey and answer your questions? @Behold?

Do you often question people when you think they might be part of some 'system'?

It is none of my business if someone is a Calvinist or not.

So for me, I like people who share their thoughts and opinions, and scripture pertaining to why they believe something, but I am not here to judge them anymore that is all I know. I like the idea of peace (lead by the spirit to have peace with all people and show respect to all people, to tell the truth to others), and having love for God and love for the neighbor as yourself.

Anyway, you do you brother @Behold, I just figured I would address you as you have continued to address Barney. (I do not care if he answers your question or not personally).

Take care!

 

[FHII]

I don't think faith is God-given. I think it's something we have to work at.

Jude 1:3 KJV
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

You are correct and incorrect according to this verse. It was delivered (given) to us. But yes.. We have to earnestly (sincerely) contend (fight) for it.

 

[Bob Estey]

Jude 1:3 KJV
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

You are correct and incorrect according to this verse. It was delivered (given) to us. But yes.. We have to earnestly (sincerely) contend (fight) for it.

I think we are talking about two different kinds of faith. One is a word given for the things we believe. One means "trusting the Lord."

 

[BARNEY BRIGHT]

Obviously this is your 3rd post to me, and you have not answered my question yet.
Are you concerned that you will be exposed, as a hyper Calvinist, if you answer it?

I asked you if you believe that human beings have "free will", and you have danced around the question 3 times.
Listen, BARNEY.......its a yes or no question.
Even YOU should be able to achieve that answer..
Still waiting.

I told you, I know that God created mankind with the ability to make free moral choices. If you don't understand what I said when I said that, that's your problem. Also if you don't understand me when I said God created mankind with the ability to make free moral choices that doesn't mean I'm dancing around anything. Like I said, it's your problem if you don't understand me when I said that.

 

[lforrest]

Is Faith God-Given - or a Choice in reliance with - trusting God?

Short story:

A man was lost for years and years, and started hearing that Jesus heals the soul, and gives rest to the soul (heart/mind/will/emotion), the man becomes restored in the soul by reading and seeking out information about God, and Jesus Christ.

Was the faith given to the person? Or was the person given a choice; trust God, trust Jesus through all the rough ends of life, seek and learning about them?

Can one abide in Christ always? Or is it a choice to abide in Christ?

Faith was given, spoken to his soul at the hearing of the words about Jesus Christ. And the greatest sinners receive the most faith.

Now if someone is living a life of sin might they resist the call? How many have violently opposed the word because they were running from God for their own pleasures? A lot, so they had a choice. And then some of these go on to eventually join the faith.

 

[MatthewG]

So it is like - hearing the promises of God, and thinking about accepting them or not, by faith.

As we hold on to believing that resurrection is coming though we have never witnessed it personally.
As we hold on to believing that God does in fact send the holy spirit too dwell in our hearts by faith.
As we hold on to believing that when we pray and talk to God in faith, he does hear us when we are praying for friends, family, even telling our problems.

Faith comes from hearing the Word - but that is an effort in itself to read the word, and then allowing the word to change you and you start to believe in the things you can not see.

So Faith, is what pleases God nothing else pleases him other than faith. Faith has to be our choice - to believe in the promises presented by the Lord Jesus Christ, about the things of God, and things of the spiritual right?

 

[EloyCraft]

Is Faith God-Given - or a Choice in reliance with - trusting God?

Short story:

A man was lost for years and years, and started hearing that Jesus heals the soul, and gives rest to the soul (heart/mind/will/emotion), the man becomes restored in the soul by reading and seeking out information about God, and Jesus Christ.

Was the faith given to the person? Or was the person given a choice; trust God, trust Jesus through all the rough ends of life, seek and learning about them?

Can one abide in Christ always? Or is it a choice to abide in Christ?

Faith is a miracle that comes by hearing the Word of God. The first time it happened is recorded in Scripture.

Luke 1

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

 

[ChristisGod]

That's not what the Scriptures say. That's a works based salvation. The Bible says God has to grant you the ability to come to Christ. It literally says he drags you to it.

Sadly you are being ignored in the thread .

 

[reformed1689]

Sadly you are being ignored in the thread .

Of course I am.

 

[ChristisGod]

Of course I am.

Even though we might disagree on some things now I'm sorry to hear that is happening. Some do not like to have their beliefs challenged nor enjoy defending them. But as you know we are told to do otherwise.

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, niv

1 Peter 3:15
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;nasb