One of the most puzzling things for me as a believer has been this matter of how faith figures in the scheme of salvation. My question would be - where does this faith come from? From me, the individual, or from some other place? Or from some one? Where is this source from where this faith is coming from? This question and matter is crucial because in Eph 2:8, the apostle Paul says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (KJV:e-sword). Grace is received through faith. This makes faith then absolutely crucial in the scheme of salvation.
The usual experience of most believers has been the attempt to 'work up' faith, to 'muster up' sufficient faith to believe God. This phenomenon is continuously experienced post-conversion. I now wonder if this 'defect' in faith, or of faith, should actually be traced to the moment of conversion, or the conversion experience of believers?
Do I 'muster-up' faith to believe in Christ Jesus as Savior and Justifier? Or, as the afore-mentioned verse seem to imply, that even the faith to believe in Christ Jesus as Savior and Justifier of sinners is a 'gift' from God? And if it is indeed a 'gift', then, even faith is pure grace from the heart of God? Which lends powerful credence that indeed, salvation belongs to our God, totally and completely!
Our part would be to receive from His mercies as the Holy Spirit, using the word of the Gospel preached, cuts our heart with the sword of the Spirit, and by His Spirit, through His mercies, as we hear the word of the Gospel preached, acquire, purely by His grace, the faith to 'call upon the name of the Lord', that we might be saved?
I see that this appears to be the only credible response, the Scriptural response, to my earlier question. And if so, then, the accurate preaching of the Gospel becomes so vital for hearers to hear the true word of God of Christ's salvation. It is this hearing which God has ordained which will produce faith in the hearers to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation. And this pattern is then repeated throughout a believer's walk with the Lord. The abundant life is a life continually hearing ( Psa 1 ) the word, meditating and internalizing the word through the power of His Spirit of grace, and by the power of that same Spirit, not by our strength, or by our own power, whether it be the powers of physical prowess or intellect or soul, but by continuous leaning upon His grace for the strength of His Spirit to live out the plans, purposes and commands of the Lord. And in so doing, we truly become, by His Spirit, 'salt and light', an ever-present witness for the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives.
And from here, we can see why the apostle Paul said, wherein is there boasting? And let him who boast, boast in the Lord, of all the Lord has done for His people.
Amen, and amen, and amen!
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