Its of Faith so to be of Grace

[beloved57]

Rom 4:16

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; 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,

Many will say that Faith/Believing isn't a work because they are contrasted with one another, e.g. Rom 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

So this seems to support the ideal that believing, a act that man does, isnt a work, but does it ? The fact is, there is a real contrast between believing and working, but its not because Faith/Believing isnt a work. The contrast is valid when we understand that believing, though an act/work man does, its not mans work, but Gods Work in us. Remember when Jesus said this Jn 6:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

You see that ? Jesus answer to their question wasn't to their sentiments, however the reply He gave reveals a great truth, that the believing on the name of the Son of God, is Gods Work in us . Yes believing on the Son is Gods Work, not ours. Its only when we understand that the act of Believing it takes to believe on Christ for all Salvation, isnt our own work out of the flesh, our own human faith by nature, but that its an act we do because its totally empowered by the Grace of God, the Spirit of God, Acts 18:27

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:

Then the contrast is valid !

 

[beloved57]

Its when we understand that to believe on Christ is not of ourselves, but given to us by Grace Phil 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;

See that ? If its given unto you to believe, then its not of yourself, therefore its not your work, but Gods Jn 6:29

The word given charizomai means:

to give graciously, give freely, bestow

Also its made up from of the word charis which is translated grace 130 x in the NT

So thats why Paul wrote believers believed through or because of Grace Acts 18:27 and why he wrote in Rom 4:16

Therefore it is of faith[believing], that it might be by grace;

But if we say that our believing/faith is of ourselves, you default to a work salvation, and forfeit the contrast of believing and works !

 

[beloved57]

So when we see scripture about believing e.g Rom 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Then we know that the believing here is the Work of God Jn 6:29, that its the Grace of God Acts 18:27, that it is given by Grace Phil 1:29 and that the believing is not of themselves, but the Gift of God Eph 2:8 !

 

[beloved57]

Another scripture that shows that ones Faith/Believing is Gods Work Jn 6:29 is found in Eph 1:19-20

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Now the punctuation isnt inspired, so if we move out the comma in Vs 19 it would read :

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power,

Its easy to see that the usward believe according to Gods exceeding great power, and the working of His mighty power !

So then Faith/Believing is not of ourselves, then believing in that respect, is contrasted to or works !

 

[Nanja]

Another scripture that shows that ones Faith/Believing is Gods Work Jn 6:29 is found in Eph 1:19-20

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Now the punctuation isnt inspired, so if we move out the comma in Vs 19 it would read :

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power,

Its easy to see that the usward believe according to Gods exceeding great power, and the working of His mighty power !

So then Faith/Believing is not of ourselves, then believing in that respect, is contrasted to or works !

Amen Brother to all 4 parts !

As you have clearly shown, Paul attributes Believing according to the Working of God's Power Eph. 1:19-20,
which Honor's and gives Glory to God !

However, man's religion dishonors God by attributing their believing to the will of man:
Elevating man over God, which is nothing but a work of the flesh and mind Rom. 8:7-8:
Absolute blasphemy !

 

[beloved57]

Amen Brother to all 4 parts !

As you have clearly shown, Paul attributes Believing according to the Working of God's Power Eph. 1:19-20,
which Honor's and gives Glory to God !

However, man's religion dishonors God by attributing their believing to the will of man:
Elevating man over God, which is nothing but a work of the flesh and mind Rom. 8:7-8:
Absolute blasphemy !

Exactly !

 

[beloved57]

Its Grace that saves, nothing of our works or conditions, even the Faith that we believe by, is given by God on account of the Grace that saves. See when Salvation is by Grace, the one being saved has not met any conditions.

 

[Nanja]

Its Grace that saves, nothing of our works or conditions, even the Faith that we believe by, is given by God on account of the Grace that saves. See when Salvation is by Grace, the one being saved has not met any conditions.

Amen Brother, absolutely True !

 

[beloved57]

It is of Faith so that it it will be of Grace ! Also Eph 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Faith is given by Grace, and it sees that none of Salvation by Grace was conditioned on man, on what a man does. This Faith given only to Gods Elect, the Election of Grace believes in only what God did to save them

 

[Nanja]

It is of Faith so that it it will be of Grace ! Also Eph 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Faith is given by Grace, and it sees that none of Salvation by Grace was conditioned on man, on what a man does. This Faith given only to Gods Elect, the Election of Grace believes in only what God did to save them

Exactly Brother, the only Faith that pleases God is a fruit of the Spirit, and belongs exclusively to God's Election of Grace Titus 1:1 given them in New Birth Gal. 5:22.

 

[JudgeRightly]

It is of Faith so that it it will be of Grace ! Also Eph 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Faith is given by Grace,

You've got it backwards.

Grace is given when someone has faith, "by grace through faith," not "faith via grace," not because their faith demands it, but because God, in the interest of maintaining His righteous character, when He said He would give grace to those who have faith, will keep His word.

and it sees that none of Salvation by Grace was conditioned on man, on what a man does.

God saving a man is conditioned on a man having faith, believing.

He does not save those who do not believe.

On the other hand, the faith of that person is not what invokes God's grace. It is God honoring His promise that He will save those who believe.

This Faith given only to Gods Elect,

Including Christ?

the Election of Grace believes in only what God did to save them

Whatever that means...

 

[JudgeRightly]

the only Faith that pleases God is a fruit of the Spirit,

I believe I've told you this before, but in case I didn't:

Faith is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit.

The fruit is "faithfulness."

Faithfulness (pistis) Nominative
Faith (pisteos) Genitive

 

[JudgeRightly]

It is of Faith so that it it will be of Grace ! Also Eph 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Faith is given by Grace, and it sees that none of Salvation by Grace was conditioned on man, on what a man does. This Faith given only to Gods Elect, the Election of Grace believes in only what God did to save them

 

[beloved57]

You've got it backwards.

Grace is given when someone has faith, "by grace through faith," not "faith via grace," not because their faith demands it, but because God, in the interest of maintaining His righteous character, when He said He would give grace to those who have faith, will keep His word.



God saving a man is conditioned on a man having faith, believing.

He does not save those who do not believe.

On the other hand, the faith of that person is not what invokes God's grace. It is God honoring His promise that He will save those who believe.



Including Christ?



Whatever that means...

You have it backwards, believers believe because of Grace Acts 18:27

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:

 

[beloved57]

I believe I've told you this before, but in case I didn't:

Faith is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit.

The fruit is "faithfulness."

Faithfulness (pistis) Nominative
Faith (pisteos) Genitive

Actually its both, for its the same word.

 

[Nanja]

I believe I've told you this before, but in case I didn't:

Faith is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit.

The fruit is "faithfulness."

Faithfulness (pistis) Nominative
Faith (pisteos) Genitive

faithfulness / faith. Same word

 

[beloved57]

faithfulness / faith. Same word

People think that by saying Faith in Gal 5:22 means Faithfulness changes things, but it doesnt, neither cancels out one another, both are the fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness is merely God preserving us in Faith, its our perseverance.

 

[Nanja]

People think that by saying Faith in Gal 5:22 means Faithfulness changes things, but it doesnt, neither cancels out one another, both are the fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness is merely God preserving us in Faith, its our perseverance.

Exactly !

 

[Gary K]

Those of you believe in determinism and that God decided who the elect are long before they were born have completely eliminated righteous by faith. You have replaced it with righteousness by determinism. No one can exercise faith before they are born. Therefore they are saved outside of and apart from faith.

 

[beloved57]

We are saved by Grace through Faith, that is Grace is accompanied with the Gift of Faith or Believing, and the converted person will understand and believe they have been saved by Gods Grace alone !