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QUESTION 155
Is faith something that is a gift of God or is it something we can have or exercise?

ANSWER:
This is generally a question that comes from those who are commonly called Calvinists. Many of them believe that faith must be given by God before a person can really believe and be saved. They use the verse in Ephesians 2:8 to teach that the gift of God there is faith. The subject matter of that verse isn’t - faith or grace - but “salvation.”

It is very important to understand that faith is produced by the word of God. Romans 10:17, “So then, faith COMETH by hearing and hearing BY THE WORD OF GOD.” The word “faith” is used always as a “NOUN” in the Bible. A noun is not an action word. Faith is not something you do, but something you HAVE, It means a firm conviction based on something heard but have yet not seen. The word “believe” in the Bible is the verb form of the noun “faith,” so to use faith you must believe and to get faith you must believe. In Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not BELIEVED? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not HEARD? So then faith cometh by HEARING. Romans 10:15. You hear, you believe, and that is faith.

There are three parts of man in Rommans 10, that has to do with saving faith. The EAR in Romans 10:17 you hear the word of God and the message of salvation. The ear gate is to the understanding which has been darkened by sin Ephesians 4:18. That word moves from the ear and understanding to the HEART, so in Romans 10:10 we read, “For with the HEART man BELIEVETH.” This does not mean that you agree that Christ died for your sins, but it means that with your whole being you trust, rely on Him and what He has done in dying for your sins. Then we read on in Romans 10:10 with the MOUTH confession is made unto or about salvation. This is called the “WORD OF FAITH” in Romans 10:8, and is said to be in our MOUTH and in our HEART.

Have you heard and understood the message of salvation through the blood of the Lord Jesus? Have you believed in your heart? Have you really trusted your soul to Him for salvation? If so, then you have faith. If not, do it today. Have you received Him and His salvation yet? Why wait, tomorrow could be too late.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen