praise_yeshua
Active Member
This is one of those statements that yes it is but no it's not depending on what one is meaning. Is Faith a gift from God? Well it would have to be that is in a certain sense but let's make sure we keep it categorized in context correctly. There is THIS about what's called a spiritual gift of faith,
1 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit......... (and down to verse 8,9) 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 1 Cor 12: 4,9
So there we see FAITH we can say of a certain type is given as a gift but what is that saying and what isn't it saying? This is faith of certain type which is imparted for ministry at a certain place at a certain time. This is really talking about a supernatural boldness of knowing something with confidence will happen when you do a certain thing.
This is not FAITH of a different type, the larger type which has to do with our own personal lives.....that is FAITH for things relative to us like salvation or other everyday faith needed to walk in our own lives before God, THIS RATHER is a supernatural boldness of knowing something and as I say it's basically only connected to the ministry of others outside of yourself.
So again needs to be defined. We can say David in the Psalms would indeed muster up faith and confidence in God by reminding himself of God's word and ways. So when WE yes I said WE meditate upon the words of Jesus and the promises of God we are solidifying and strengthening our faith. The Bible says let the words of Christ dwell in us richly. Why?
Because we're putting ourselves in the place of having faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God but in a sense we are mustering it up by taking the actions of what we do with our time.....dwelling upon and thinking upon God's word. But no it's not a willpower thing. It's merely a thing of enlightenment where when we know God is good and keeps his word and when we see then what he says......you're in the place of faith.
There are several issues with the Calvinist view of faith that are overlooked by them.
1. The claim that faith is a gift.
All good things come from above. ALL good things. faith is certainly a gift. So is rain. So is God goodness upon all of humanity.
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Claiming faith is a gift doesn't establish the argument made by the Calvinist that faith is unique to the "elect". Salvation requires more than just faith. Faith is common among mankind. It is not a unique quality of just the elect.
2. Disobedience does not disqualify faith.
Even the Calvinist believe that faith is not a work. Nor is faith in God an absolute deterrent to sin. Faith is belief regardless of sinfulness and weaknesses.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
3. Faith grows. There is a measure to faith. Some have MORE than others.
All God requires for redemption is a very small faith.
Example.... Notice that Jesus accepts a very small degree of faith from a "faithless generation"......
Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Notice this desperate "father" among them.
Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Notice this father's almost unperceivable faith and Jesus's appeal to him.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
In desperation with nothing left to offer, he recognizes that he has nothing more than the begins of faith.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
However, it was enough.
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
The Calvinist insists you either have it or you don't. Which is an extreme oversimplication. This is known as the "oversimplication cause" fallacy. Which is very common in the teaching of Calvinism.