Related to the idea that faith is not a work is the twin teaching that faith is not a gift from God (And no… I am not referring to the spiritual gift of faith… that is different).
3 Reasons that Some Believe Faith is a Gift from God
Some teach that faith is unilaterally given by God to certain people as a gift. There are several reasons this idea is taught, none of which hold merit.
First, some believe that since unregenerate people are “dead in sin,” they cannot even exercise faith.
However, we have already seen in numerous ways that although unbelievers truly are “dead in sin,” this does not mean they cannot believe. When we study the Bible, we not only see God everywhere calling people to believe Him, and faith is everywhere ascribed to man, not to God (Matt 9:2, 22, 28-29; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; 8:50; 17:19; 18:42; etc.) (cf. Olson, Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism, 225).
The second reason some people teach that faith is a gift is because they think that faith is a meritorious work.
If faith is a good work, and people are the ones who believe, then it logically follows that people contribute some sort of good work to the reception of eternal life. But again, as we have seen in numerous ways in previous posts, this problem is easily solved by recognizing that faith is not a work, but is instead the opposite of works.
And since faith is not a work, faith is also not meritorious. Therefore, those who are dead in sin can believe, and since faith is not work, all of the arguments for the idea that faith is a gift become logically unnecessary.
Nevertheless, in a vain attempt to defend a doctrine which is required by faulty theology, various Scriptures are referenced as evidence that faith is a work (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 13:48; 16:14; 18:23; Eph 2:8-9; Php 1:29; 2 Tim 2:25; Rom 12:3; 1 Cor 12:8-9; 2 Pet 1:1). However, a careful analysis of these texts reveals that each one has been pulled out of context and does not teach that faith is the gift of God (Lopez, “Is Faith a Gift From God?” 266-274).
But aside from not being logical or Scriptural, the idea that faith is a gift of God creates numerous practical problems for the thinking theologian.
For example, how could demonic activity restrict the faith of some (Luke 8:12; 2 Cor 4:4)? Why is it harder for some people to believe than others (cf. Titus 1:12-13)? What would be the point of the drawing work of the Holy Spirit (John 6:44; 12:32), or of evangelism and missions? Why was Jesus sometimes amazed at people’s lack of faith (Matt 8:26; 14:31; 16:8)? Why are there so many Christian in Europe and America, and so few in North Africa and the Middle East? On this last question, missiologist C. Gordon Olson writes that if the Calvinists are right about faith being a gift of God, then “one if forced to the conclusion that God is partial and loves Americans more than others” (cf. Olson, Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism, 227).
4 Reasons Faith is Not a Gift from God
In his excellent article, “Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?” René Lopez lists several other theological problems with the idea that faith is a gift from God (See Lopez, “Is Faith a Gift From God?” 274-276).
First, Lopez writes that the idea of faith being a gift from God resembles the sacramentalism of the Roman Catholic Church, in that faith is transmitted from God to men.
Lopez correctly points out that this confuses the gift of eternal life from God with the instrumentality of faith, whereby that gift is received.
Second, Lopez says that “if God divinely imparts faith, then human responsibility is nullified” (Lopez, “Is Faith a Gift From God?” 275).
There would be no reason to hold people responsible for believing or failing to believe in Jesus if the unregenerate person cannot actually believe. If God is the one who imparts faith to the unbeliever, then the responsibility to believe lies not with man but with God, and therefore, God can have no basis on which to judge people for failing to believe.
Third, although the Bible calls people to believe in Jesus for eternal life, Lopez points out that if faith is a gift that comes as a result of regeneration, then people should not be called to believe in Jesus (for they cannot), but should instead be called to hope and pray to God that He might regenerate them.
Yet although there are numerous calls throughout Scripture for people to believe in Jesus for eternal life (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:47; etc.), there is not one place in Scripture where people are invited to hope and pray to God for regeneration.
The final reason faith is not a gift from God is related to sanctification.
If faith is the automatic gift of God to those whom He sovereignly regenerates, then it only makes sense that God also automatically and sovereignly would make sure that they are sanctified in holiness and obedience. And in fact, this is what Calvinists teach in their doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints. But as we will see in the discussion of this point, such a belief cannot be defended from Scripture, reason, or experience.
If faith is a gift, then many commands in Scripture that exhort, command, prompt, and warn believers to live obediently become superfluous because the ultimate end of infused faith guarantees the sanctification of believers without their involvement (Lopez, “Is Faith a Gift From God?” 275).
So for biblical, theological, and practical reasons, we conclude that faith is not automatic, nor is faith a gift from God.
Faith comes through hearing the Word of God, through the convicting and drawing work of the Holy Spirit, and through responding to the revelation that one has already received from God.
If you want to read more about Calvinism, check out other posts in this blog series: Words of Calvinism and the Word of God.
Hearing ” by the Spirit” is a gift from God … So thus I see faith is a gift through His work in and through us too. <3
I agree. When Jesus asked Simon who He was, and He said, the Son…. Jesus told him he only knew this because the Father revealed this….
So many Scriptures…
Ezekiel 36 says “I will cause you to know….” and “I will cause you to do…”
I agree with you for the most part but I think you are looking through anti-Calvin glasses so much and trying to make stuff fit. I am not cal but I still believe faith is a gift to all. Jesus wishing that none would perish. Some will not accept. SIMPLE you hear about Jesus through Gods word the bible who is the word ofGod love as a gift. Open or not it is a gift. Ever left a gift unopened somewhere? Not pre but choice
Not sure what you are saying here…
Jeremy, I think another point could be faith is exerecised by everyone, everyday. I’ve often said, putting that key in the car is an exercise of faith. Our faith, that is saving faith, is grown through the Word, for our unregenerate hearts are damaged.
Good point! Yes, everyone believes various things every day.
That first “faith” you speak of is not Biblical faith, it’s a simple believing it to be true, that is not what faith is. True saving faith is a supernatural gift of God. It from the Holy Spirit at the moment of regeneration and repentance also both gifts of God.
Eph. 2:8-9 says it is a gift of God if belief and faith comes from man then it is not of God but man you cant have it both ways either God gave it or man produced it if that is true then it is not a gift. We are saved by faith not by works but we work because we are saved Eph. 2:10. What makes faith a gift is salvation and Jesus is the greatest gift that makes salvation including faith (all in one) a wonderful gift
Ricky, I’m convinced that many do not use the vocabulary of God’s Kingdom in much of their consideration and communication. Thus we end up with folks speaking of belief and faith as the same things. I’m convinced your position is correct regarding either faith is the gift of God or the product of fallen Humanity. But the faith I am referring to, and I believe you’d agree, is Faith in God the Father through the person of Jesus Christ and the work by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
That definition of saving faith is completely divorced from having faith in the strength of the chair you choose to sit in, or faith your favorite team will win the championship, or such. Indeed, I would say it is incongruous for Christians to use the current and peculiarly Western worldly definition of faith as belief.
If we wish to speak properly in terms of Christian philosophy, that of God’s revelation to us, then we must come from the context of warranted belief should we still choose to equate belief and faith. But if that is what we do, how to we justify Biblical Faith as knowing God? We must then, obviously separate belief about someone and knowing someone, and then we are in my opinion back at separating Biblical Faith from the Western worldly mindset use of the term “belief”.
I can believe things that are not true and still having saving faith in God, in my conviction as a disciple of Jesus. The first century church had plenty of wrong beliefs and yet still possessed Biblical faith. I have seen no clear argument based on facts and Scripture to prove otherwise. I’ve read, considered, and debated with plenty of opinions and philosophically-bound arguments from those who felt otherwise.
I’m convinced that God tells us through the author of Hebrews that the practical expression of Biblical faith is twofold: the belief that God exists and rewards those who seek Him. Thus saving faith in God is traced from Eden through Today, as long as it is called Today. (sorry, I just had to add that_ga-) The fact is, practically, that saving faith being defined only by the condition of hoping in things not seen, etc., as the only extant option handcuffs believers with witches, positivists, name-it-and-claim-iters, Dale Carnegie and Ayan Rule devotees, and the like. As far as I can tell that is. Perhaps someone will explain to me how that is not the case.
Thank you for your comment. You made me have to reevaluate my position, as well as my initial reaction to reading the blog post. And I am always glad to come to this blog where disciples come to rub elbows and grease their mental gears.
Peace and God’s good will for all with whom God is well-pleased.
_ga-
Oops. I meant to refer to Ayn Rand in my reply here. Sorry. It is Ayn Rand’s cult of selfishness that plagues many of our current Government leaders actually. That’s a shame.
It is obviously important to the writer to have a part in his own salvation and to lessen God’s redeeming grace and SOVEREIGN WORK through Christ and the Holy Spirit to save to the uttermost a helpless sinner. (none good, deceitful, desperately wicked, Job 42:5-6 speak to man’s ability. “Responsibility of man” is with him and his inept, non-existent ability to chose rightly. That does not preclude, but rather requires God’s imparting of faith and making a DEAD HEART into a heart of flesh (Ezekial 36).
Eph 2:8-9 does not say faith is the gift from God. In the Greek, the word for faith, pistis, is a feminine noun. The word for “this” is touto, and it’s a neuter demonstrative pronoun. “This” can not be referring to faith; you can’t have a neuter pronoun referring to a feminine noun. “This” refers to the entire phrase “for by grace you have been saved through faith.” The gift that “this” refers to is salvation, not faith in this verse.
“Third, although the Bible calls people to believe in Jesus for eternal life, Lopez points out that if faith is a gift that comes as a result of regeneration, then people should not be called to believe in Jesus (for they cannot), but should instead be called to hope and pray to God that He might regenerate them.”
Interesting. I was under the (perhaps mistaken?) impression that Calvinism taught that unregenerate people cannot even ‘seek after God’. If that is really true then is there much point in a Calvinist even telling people to ‘hope and pray to God’? How can someone who is incapable of of even seeking after God, hope and pray to Him?
Thoughts?
Good question. Yes, you are right about what Calvinists believe. And you are also right about how strange it is that Calvinists call people to pray and hope after God if an unregenerate person cannot seek God.
You have put your finger on one of the inconsistencies of Calvinism.
It is not an inconsistency at all. Of course we hope and pray to God, because He is sovereign. Everything comes from Him, we are utterly dependent on Him for everything. BTW it is not Calvinists who believe that no one seeks God, it is Christians who believe it (Rom 3:11), God revealed that truth to us, about ourselves.
So am I not seeking God then? Of course I am, but that is because He resurrected me in Christ, He healed my blind eyes, He gave me a new heart that can seek after Him, and that believes in Him.
If God is not sovereign, in other words if you are not dependent on Him for everything and if faith, through which people are saved comes from themselves, what is the point then of praying to Him? I guess, seeing that you believe that the faith through which a person is saved comes from himself, there is no point for you to pray that people may be saved, because it is not in God’s hand, it is in their own hands. Unless you pray to people and not God.
Christians pray to God for the salvation of people since we know that it is completely in the hands of God from A-Z. It is God who gives mercy to whom He will give mercy and hardens whom He will harden.
Jacques, perhaps you have forgotten that in Calvinism everything man thinks, says or does is determined by God. So to pray is a useless exercise. You cannot change one yota or tittle of what has already been determined. Eveyone’s destiny was determined before creation and that is fixed.
Capacity for mysteries?What is your capacity for mystery?
First of all we need to define faith biblically to determine if it is a gift from God or not. The bible presents faith as a law according to Matt.23:23. In the bible a law is God’s standard that He sets for mankind to live up to. Therefore faith cometh through hearing the word of God, Rom.10: 17, it is not awakened in man as if it has always been there. Notice that in the old covenant it was weightier, meaning above the law of Moses and thus difficult to live up to. Similarly, in Rom.3:27 Paul contrasts the law of works and the law of faith. Consequently, God being the law giver, and faith being his law(standard), it so follows that faith does not originate from man but from God. This is in line with Heb.12:2 and Gal.3:23-24. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit only prompts one to use his power of choice through one’s own will either to resist and reject God and his law(faith) or to welcome Him and His law. The Holy Spirit does not determine what decision one will make, but He helps a good decision to flourish. In Rom.9:16 Paul portrays salvation as an act of the mercy of God by saying that it is not of him who wills or runs, but it is of God who shows mercy. Contrasting the law of sin and the law of the Spirit, Paul declares that believers have been set free from the law of sin by the law of the Spirit which is definitely faith, Rom. 8:2.
Once faith has been given it obviously becomes our faith, 1John 5:4.
I write a bit about faith (what it is and what it is not) in various places on this site. Here is one place: Small Faith vs. Great Faith.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He gives to each, a measure of faith to believe. Man is truly dead in sin because he has a sinful nature which is hostile to God. According to Gen: The thoughts of the heart are only evil (or selfish) all of the time.
Man is not credited with any gift and cannot believe without the measure of faith given to him. To credit man is to deny the cross. Jesus spoke to specific incidences and mostly law to those who were undere it. He said, be perfect therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect. He told the young rich ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor, then he would be saved.
The only way to understand scripture, is to interpret it from scripture. Grace always wins over the written code. And God always gives, and never receives anything from us.
It is God who works in you according to His good purpose.
No one can be brought to Jesus unless the Father enables him.
There is a host of proof within the scriptures that declare that only God can initiate anythign worth saving.
Faith is simply taking what God has said in His Word and doing it without questioning it. We have been given many examples of the kind of Faith that God requires even in the Old Testament and The New. Noah, Abraham and others as well. Abraham did exactly what God told him to do, even Isaac asked him “Father where is the sacrifice?” Abraham never doubted what God had said and told Isaac “God will provide” Yes and to “be a hearer” of Gods Word means more than just hearing it with your ears because if this where true then I could simply play it really loud for everyone to hear where ever I go and they would come to believe. Hearing means you believe what God has said and do it without doubting, worrying, wondering or whatever. Simply doing God’s Word is Faith in Action. You get Saved through Faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. John 3:16 believing takes Faith but it must produce a result in what it believes. We cannot please God without Faith – Hebrews 11:6 so God has given all a measure or the capacity to have Faith – Romans 12:3. The amount of result is dependant on our obedience to what God has said.
Great article! Confusing typo in the section regarding Lopez’s Third point.
“Yet although there are numerous calls throughout Scripture for people to believe in Jesus for eternal life (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:47; etc.), there is not only place in Scripture where people are invited to hope and pray to God for regeneration.”
I think it meant to say “there is not one place in Scripture..”
Sorry if this was already pointed out.
So far as the responsibility to believe goes… it is true that the Original Rebellion of Adam corrupted all of mankind… yet this did not remove man’s ability or responsibility to hear God and repent. Calvinists maintain that with their doctrine of “total inability” man is unable to believe apart from Gods sovereign work, however what they miss here is that Hod already sovereignty gave man the ability as well as responsibility to hear His voice and believe. This was not removed by the Rebellion.
Why do we want to explain the Bible by our own thoughts and not the word of God. Do you think you can believe God by creating your own faith
Where does the Bible says work out your faith. Does we work to take a gift from a friend. The same applies to Jesus. As Jesus told the people, does this make you want to give up… For what give life is God’s spirit. Is better if we would allow God to speak to us than draw conclusions. Stop putting things that destroy peoples faith in God but rather put things that build them up. Which one of you can create his or her own faith? Let’s trust in God. Than in ourselves
How can You explain about Pharoah
There is no Matt. 10:52 as mentioned in the first point of 3 Reasons that Some Believe Faith is a Gift from God.
Thanks. Corrected now. It should have been Mark 10:52
I agree that saving faith is not a gift. But what about Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the Author and perfecter of our faith?” If Jesus is the author of our faith doesn’t that mean it comes from Him?
I am searching for Rene Lopez and wonder if you have any contact info for him because I had the same article saved but the link no longer works at DTS says they no longer have the article. Hope you see this and can help. I’m hoping that Rene still has it.
The writer made this truth claim which is in direct conflict with scripture.
“Therefore, those who are dead in sin can believe, and since faith is not work, all of the arguments for the idea that faith is a gift become logically unnecessary.”
The bible actually says: 1 Cor 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Unregenerate men do not have the ability to believe the Gospel. In regeneration all the conditions for eternal life(faith and repentance) is given to the sinner who God chooses as a free gift. This is pure Grace.
To say that unregenerate men can believe by the power of their own free-will apart from God is nothing more then a primer for the heresy of Pelagianism.
John 1:11-13
11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Salvation is a monergistic act of God alone. Amen.
“Because the carnal mind is in enmity against God:for it’s not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” So than, the natural man does not submit to the law of God and certainly is incapable of doing so. Does not have the power -does not have the capacity to do so. Saying that saving faith is inherent or that the unregenerate is able to come to God, in submission, is clearly in opposition to the teaching of Scriptures. May God’s grace be up on us!
In his excellent article, “Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?”
It’s not a question of is it a gift of God or a human exercise because it is both. God gives faith and then we work out our faith because of the wonderful undeserving gifts we’ve received, not to earn anything but because we are beyond grateful, humbled and loved.
The word “faith” is used 246 times in the New Testament. Only one verse among these 246 verses speaks of “faith” as being given. Some might use Eph 2:8 but the gift of God here is salvation. God’s grace, the Holy Spirit, righteousness, justification, eternal life, spiritual gifts and of course – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are all mentioned as the gift of God. But not faith.
There is one thing we bring to the table. Of our own free will – we believe, we choose, we receive, we accept the Savior and the salvation He provides.
We also know that the message of the preaching of the gospel has power to reach the heart and conscience. The Good Shepherd seeks the lost. He initiates, He reaches out, He is the Prime Mover. He draws.
But, we make the decision. God has sovereignly given us free will. He will not violate it. We do the believing.