Faith Is A Gift

Salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone and not by works. Because salvation by faith is not a work, then faith is a gift. Scripture says that it is a gift. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” He says, “It is given . . . . to believe on him.” That isn’t earned. It is given. Then in 2 Peter 1:1, Peter writes that those saved, whom he writes, “have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Again, these believers obtained that faith, not worked for it.

Faith is a gift. Even with that truth, how is it that someone receives the gift of faith? Scripture describes or explicates this. Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Someone cannot believe without the special revelation of God, which is the word of God. Revelation by nature is non-discoverable. Since the word of God is revelation, it is revealed by God.

Man does not receive faith from the Word of God because of something he’s done, but because God revealed it to him. This fits within the idea in 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” Man doesn’t love God and, therefore, God loves him. No, man loves God, because God loved him. God initiates the love. God initiates the faith too and it comes through His Word, which can produce saving faith.

Another question arises: “Why do some men receive the saving Word of God and others do not?” Even though the Bible gives quite a bit of explanation of an answer to this question, it is still a mystery. In the end, man is still responsible for believing, but He can’t do it except that God provide the gift of faith. It’s not a work.