So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
fully supports what I stated
and faith is not the gift of Eph 2:8 salvation is
The clear biblical teaching is that faith is a gift from God, not something that originates from within us naturally. Here are the key Scripture references that support this:
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Philippians 1:29 - "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."
Acts 3:16 - "And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus is the reason he has been given this perfect health in the presence of you all."
2 Peter 1:1 - "Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 12:2 - "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
This should be clear that faith is not something we possess naturally or generate on our own, but is a gift that comes from God. It is granted to us by God's grace and through the work of Jesus Christ. The Bible consistently presents faith as a divine enablement, not a human achievement.
Eph 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
by
*Eph 2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ro 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
2Th 1:9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
through
*Ro 3:22-26 [22] even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, [23] for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; [24] being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; [26] to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
*Ro 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
Mk 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
Lk 7:50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Jn 3:14-18 [14] As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [17] For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. [18] He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
Jn 3:36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Jn 5:24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Jn 6:27-29 [27] Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.” [28] They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?” [29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Jn 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Jn 6:40 This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Ac 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Ac 15:7-9 [7] When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. [8] God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. [9] He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Ac 16:31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Ro 4:5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Ro 10:9-10 [9] that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
Ga 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Ga 3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
1Jn 5:10-12 [10] He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. [11] The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.
that
*Jas 1:16-18 [16] Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. [18] Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Eph 1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
Mt 16:17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Jn 1:12-13 [12] But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: [13] who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jn 6:37 All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.
Jn 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.
Jn 6:65 He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”
Ac 14:27 When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.
Ac 16:14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
Ro 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
Ro 10:17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Php 1:29 Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,
Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Reciprocal
Job 40:14 Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
Ps 6:4 Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
Ps 25:7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
Ps 27:13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.
Ps 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
Ps 105:45 that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise Yah!
Ps 111:2 Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them.
Is 41:20 that they may see, know, consider, and understand together, that Yahweh’s hand has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Is 55:1 “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Ho 14:2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good; so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips.
Ho 14:4 “I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.
Zec 4:7 Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’”
Mt 20:9 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
Mt 21:29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
Mk 2:5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Mk 4:11 He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
Mk 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
Lk 8:15 Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.
Lk 15:32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
Lk 18:27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Jn 1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
Jn 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
Jn 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Ac 13:43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Ac 13:48 As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Ac 15:11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
Ac 18:27 When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him; and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
Ac 20:24 But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
Ac 26:18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Ro 3:12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
Ro 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Ro 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Ro 4:6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
Ro 5:15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
Ro 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
Ro 6:17 But thanks be to God that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
Ro 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Ro 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
1Co 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
1Co 15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Php 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Col 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,
2Ti 1:9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
Tt 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
Tt 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
Tt 3:4-5 [4] But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, [5] not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Jas 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Re 7:10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only.
James is addressing the relationship between faith and works in the life of a believer. He is arguing against the notion that a person can have genuine faith without it being accompanied by good works.
The key points in the context are:
James asserts that faith without works is dead and useless (v.17). True faith will naturally result in good deeds.
James challenges the idea that someone can claim to have faith while not demonstrating it through their actions (v.18). He argues that true faith can be seen through one's works.
James points out that even demons "believe" in God, but this intellectual assent alone does not constitute saving faith (v.19).
James uses the example of Abraham being "justified by works" when he offered Isaac as a demonstration that true faith leads to obedience and good works (vv.21-23).
The key verse, James 2:24, states that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. This does not contradict the doctrine of salvation by faith alone, but rather emphasizes that genuine faith will always result in good works.
The overall context is James addressing a misunderstanding about the relationship between faith and works, arguing that true faith will be evidenced by a life of obedience and good deeds. He is not rejecting salvation by faith, but rather defining what true, living faith looks like.
Faith alone does NOT save anyone.
