There are numerous problems with this approach to Ephesians 2:8, the greatest being that it reveals a complete disregard for the Greek text. They read Ephesians 2:8 this way: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and faith is not of yourselves, faith is the gift of God.” Some people see the phrase “and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” as referring back to the word “faith.” He writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” The third reason that some people think faith is a gift from God is because of what Paul seems to say in Ephesians 2:8. But Ephesians 2:8 says God gives the gift of Faith So biblical passages about the spiritual gift of faith cannot be used to support the idea that God gives faith to unregenerate people so they can believe. The spiritual gift of faith to some Christians for the edification and encouragement of others is not the same thing as God giving faith to all Christians so that they can believe in Jesus for eternal life. Those with the gift of faith are often called upon to encourage others to step out in faith and follow God to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. People with the spiritual gift of faith know what they believe and why they believe it, and are able to inspire action in others based on their beliefs. So what is the spiritual gift of faith? As I wrote in my book on the spiritual gifts, a person has the spiritual gift of faith when they firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction (1 Cor 12:8-10 cf. If everyone had to receive the “gift of faith” from God in order to receive eternal life (John 3:16 5:24 6:47), then this would mean that all Christians have the spiritual gift of faith, which Paul says we do not. The second reason that some people believe and teach that faith is a gift of God is because they confuse this idea with the biblical teaching about the “spiritual gift” of faith.Įven though Paul does write about the gift of faith in 1 Corinthians 12:9, this is the spiritual gift of faith, and is not the same thing as the so-called “gift of faith” which some teach God gives to people before they can believe in Jesus for eternal life.įurthermore, Paul is quite clear that we all have different spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6). So the faith to believe in Jesus is also not a gift from God. People are persuaded about all sorts of things, and no such persuasion is ever considered to be a good work or a meritorious action, or a gift from God. Therefore, faith does not need to be a gift from God. Faith does not earn, achieve, or gain good standing with God in any way. After all, if faith is a work, then we must say that faith is a gift from God, for we cannot teach that humans are able to work for eternal life.īut Scripture is clear about faith, that it is not a work it is not meritorious. In other words, the idea that faith is a gift derives from the false idea that faith is somehow meritorious. Note, however, that this entire line of thought stems from thinking that faith is a good work. (I also explain several of the other texts in my book, What is Faith?) Sadly, I cannot look at all of these texts in this post … but we will consider the primary text below, Ephesians 2:8-9. But in several of these, faith is not even mentioned (e.g., Acts 5:31 11:18 2 Tim 2:25), and the others can all be reasonably explained in the context. Various texts are often referenced in defense of this idea (cf. Those who hold to this view teach that if a person is going to believe in Jesus for eternal life (or even believe anything good and pleasing about God at all), they can only believe if God sovereignly bestowed up them the gift of faith. (Eph 4:18 2 Cor 3:14), they cannot do anything good, including believing in Jesus for eternal life. People are Dead and Trespasses and Sins, and so Cannot Believeįirst, some believe that since unregenerate people are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1), and have had their minds darkened or blinded (cf. There are three reasons that some people teach that faith is a gift of God. Those who hold to this view say that God gives faith to those whom He has chosen for eternal life. Another way of saying this is that faith is a gift from God to the heart of human beings. Some teach that faith is a work of God performed in the heart or mind of a person.
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