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Author
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Topic: Faith as a "gift of God"
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Carol Swenson
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posted
quote:
The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Our Lord did not say if the good soil is 10% of the world's population, or 25%, or 50%, or whatever. So I don't think that I should either.
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Eden
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Carol Swenson wrote quote:
But in this parable I think our Lord made it clear that only one fourth bore fruit in the parable.
And in reply to my answer she wrote quote:
Where did I say "one-fourth of the people who ever lived"?
True, you just said "one-fourth", so would you explain then what you meant, "one-fourth", of what?
"one-fourth" of the generation that is alive in the last days? Or,
"one-fourth" of the generations that have been alive since Jesus died?
What "one-fourth" did you mean, Carol Swenson?
love, Eden
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becauseHElives
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I will stick with Yahshua....
He said few would be saved...
the word says Grace is given to the humble...
the word says the proud are rejected...
which man received forgiveness Praying at the Temple of Yahweh Luke 18:9-14
remember not to long ago we had a discussion on how important was doctrine... if you remember I said "the heart of every issue is the issue of the heart"....
Once saved always saved is just like the man standing there hand lifted up to heaven saying look at me .... I said the prayer ... I'm saved... nothing can keep me from heaven....spiritual pride...what arrogance to stand before the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Juge of all Heaven and earth and say I got mine no matter what I do I can't lose it....
Yahweh help you all to find true humility in standing before Yahweh...
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward Yahweh and likewise his wife and children and brothers and sisters--yes and even his own life also--he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after follow Me cannot be My disciple.....
33 So then, any of you who does not forsake renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to all that he has cannot be My disciple.
The "once saved always saved" crowd have totally done away with the teachings of Yahshua ...even though it was His blood that purchases Salvation for whosoever will follow.....
Yahshua is the author and finisher of those that receive the "gift of Faith" where with we believe unto Salvation....
remember the Apostle Paul's words until Christ be formed in you.... don't sound instant to me... Salvation is seed time and harvest like everything else Yahweh created.... some, many even have had the seed planted but they are not saved, Yahshua is not yet formed in them...
my prayer is Yahweh open some of your spiritual eyes, that Yahshua may be seen more fully in the earth....
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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Carol Swenson
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quote:
Originally posted by Eden:
Carol Swenson wrote to Eden quote:
But in this parable I think our Lord made it clear that only one fourth bore fruit in the parable.
No. The Lord only made it clear that one of the four kinds of people on earth would bear fruit, not "one-fourth of the people who ever lived" would bear fruit.
If there are four kinds, and three kinds don't make it, the fourth kind can be only 10% of all the people who ever lived and still be the "fourth kind that made it".
love, Eden
Where did I say "one-fourth of the people who ever lived"?
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Eden
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oneinchrist wrote quote:
I still will not back down on my conviction that we must remain committed to following Jesus (despite the troubles that may come along).
For me, this statement was a bit of a "duh".
Of course we want to remain committed to following Jesus, both in belief in what Jesus did for us, and helping to promote the coming kingdom of God, the world-to-come. Every Christian is commanded to do this.
So you wrote quote:
I still will not back down on my conviction that we must remain committed to following Jesus (despite the troubles that may come along).
well...yah...
Eden
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Eden
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Carol Swenson wrote to Eden quote:
But in this parable I think our Lord made it clear that only one fourth bore fruit in the parable.
No. The Lord only made it clear that one of the four kinds of people on earth would bear fruit, not "one-fourth of the people who ever lived" would bear fruit.
If there are four kinds, and three kinds don't make it, the fourth kind can be only 10% of all the people who ever lived and still be the "fourth kind that made it".
love, Eden
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Carol Swenson
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quote:
I still will not back down on my conviction that we must remain committed to following Jesus (despite the troubles that may come along)
I agree oneinChrist. I don't mean to suggest that we should be irresponsible.
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Carol Swenson
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Hi Eden
In the world we can't know the "percentages" of how many bear fruit, or how much fruit they bear if any.
But in this parable I think our Lord made it clear that only one fourth bore fruit in the parable.
Matthew 13:18 - 23 (NLT)
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
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oneinchrist
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Hi Carol,
I also believe that there is opportunity for restoration when things go in a direction that they shouldnt. I hope to see that in my life and in the lives of people around me.
I think it a sad thing that is happening in the world that there are christians who deny even the possibility that a christian can fall away from the faith. Not only is there little emphasis put on scriptural warnings, but there is also little attention given to the one's who are falling away because others assume that sooner or later God will reverse the process if they are really saved. Well, the problem is if all others make this assumption, then no one may say anything to encourage them in the right direction......sad, real sad I might have to say.
I still will not back down on my conviction that we must remain committed to following Jesus (despite the troubles that may come along)
With love in Christ, Daniel
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Eden
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Carol Swenson wrote quote:
It is shocking to realize that three fourths of the seed did not bear fruit.
RE the bolded part, this is not necessarily correct, as stated.
We DO know that there are FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE when it comes to receiving lasting faith.
BUT, although we readers usually assume that EACH KIND is made up of 25% (so that 4 x 25% = 100%) we do NOT actually know OF WHAT PERCENTAGE each kind is made of.
To clarify, the first kind of the four kinds may be made up of 10%, the next kind of 15%, the next kind of 20%, for a total of 45%, while the last kind then is made up of 55%, which then is NOT THREE FOURTHS but rather ALMOST HALF.
(Of course I don't know what the actual percentages are for each kind, I just used some to illlustrate the point.)
love, Eden
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Carol Swenson
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Hi oneinChrist,
quote:
I understand that sin will happen along the way, but the loyalty and the commitment to Christ must remain. That is the point I am trying to stress. Scripture shows many examples of individuals who allowed things to come between them and Jesus.
You remember the story of the Prodigal Son?
You remember that Peter denied Jesus three times?
They repented, and were forgiven.
In his Pilgrim’s Progress , John Bunyan pictured Demas as the keeper of a silver mine at the "Hill Lucre". Perhaps it was the love of money that enticed Demas back into the world. It must have broken Paul’s heart to see Demas fail so shamefully. Did he later repent? We are not told, but we know that if he did repent...
1 John 1:8 - 10 (NLT)
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
And...
Hebrews 12:5 - 8 (NLT)
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,“My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. ” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
But concerning Matthew 13:21...
Why compare God’s Word to seed? Because the Word is “living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). Unlike the words of men, the Word of God has life in it; and that life can be imparted to those who will believe. The truth of God must take root in the heart, be cultivated, and permitted to bear fruit. It is shocking to realize that three fourths of the seed did not bear fruit. Jesus did not describe an age of great harvest, but one in which the Word would be rejected. He was not impressed with the “great multitudes” that followed Him, for He knew that most of the people would not receive His Word within and bear fruit.
Fruit is the test of true salvation (Matt. 7:16). This would include holiness (Rom. 6:22), Christian character (Gal. 5:22-23), good works (Col. 1:10), winning others to Christ (Rom. 1:13), sharing what we have (Rom. 15:25-28), and praising God (Heb. 13:15). If a plant is to bear fruit, it must be rooted in soil and exposed to sunshine.
In the parable, the sun represents persecution that comes because of the Word. Persecution helps believers grow. But the sunshine will kill a plant with no roots. This explains why some “believers” do not last: Their faith was weak, their understanding was meager, and their decision was not sincere. It is possible to “believe” and yet not be saved (John 2:23-25). Unless there is fruit in the life, there is not saving faith in the heart.
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oneinchrist
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Hi Eden,
I believe that it is both....the written word of God and the Holy Spirit that communicates faith to men. If we believe the accounts written in scripture we see that God has communicated to men in so many ways.....miracles, signs, wonders, angels, dreams, messengers, etc.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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Eden
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hello, oneinchrist, a good topic. becauseHElives wrote quote:
In Romans 12:3 we are told that God has given to every man “the” measure of faith, not just “a” measure of faith.
A related question is, "how does God gives this faith"?
For it also says in the Bible:
John 14
6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me
John 6:44
No man can come to Me, except the Father who has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
So if God gives to each person the measure of faith, how does God give this faith, when at the same time God draws the person to Him?
Is this giving and drawing not done by the written Word of God?
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
And then there is this:
Luke 13
8 And he answering said to him, Lord, leave it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well: but if not, then after that you shall cut it down.
Is all this done by the written Word of God, or does the Holy Spirit also talk to men at various times in their life to draw them to the Father?
Genesis 6:3
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man ...
So how is this faith "given as a gift"?
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
love, Eden
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oneinchrist
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Hi Carol,
I was not really looking at the "responsiblity of man" in the sense of maintaining upright moral character......though I do believe we are expected to do such, but more in the sense of being and remaining committed followers of Jesus.
I understand that sin will happen along the way, but the loyalty and the commitment to Christ must remain. That is the point I am trying to stress. Scripture shows many examples of individuals who allowed things to come between them and Jesus. If some do not feel its even possible to happen to a believer then consider the man Demas who Paul spoke of in 2 Timothy 4:10......
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
and consider Matthew 13:21 which shows that professed believers may fall away because of persecution.......
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth(only endures) for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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Carol Swenson
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THE MEASURE OF FAITH
The wording of Romans 12:3 is very interesting. The KJV and DRB, (DOUAY-RHEIMS FIRST PUBLISHED BY THE ENGLISH COLLEGE AT RHEIMS A.D. 1582), suggest that everyone is given the same measure of faith, but other translations suggest we are given different measures of faith.
YLT:
For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal a measure of faith,
NRSV:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
NKJV:
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
NCV:
Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you.
KJV:
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
ISVNT:
For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment,on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you.
ESV:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
DRB:
For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.
DNT:
For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith.
ASV:
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
RSV:
For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
MSNT:
For through the authority graciously given to me I warn every individual among you not to value himself unduly, but to cultivate sobriety of judgement in accordance with the amount of faith which God has allotted to each one.
NASB:
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
ICB:
God has given me a special gift. That is why I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think that you are better than you are. You must see yourself as you really are. Decide what you are by the amount of faith God has given you.
NLT:
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
CEV:
I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you.
HCSB:
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
TEV:
And because of God’s gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you.
GWT:
Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.
Since 1 Corinthians 12 tells of great faith as a gift given to some, but not all, I believe Romans 12:3 should be read the same way.
1 Corinthians 12:7 - 11 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another , and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
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Carol Swenson
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THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN
Christian ethics treats every man as accountable for his thoughts and actions, and therefore capable of choosing the good as revealed in Christ.
While not denying the sovereignty of God or minimizing the mystery of evil and clearly recognizing the universality of sin, Christianity firmly maintains the doctrine of human freedom and accountability . An ethic would be impossible if, on the one side, grace were absolutely irresistible, and if, on the other, sin were necessitated, if at any single point wrongdoing were inevitable.
Whatever be our doctrine on these subjects, ethics demands that freedom of the will be safeguarded.
At this point an interesting question emerges as to the possibility, apart from a knowledge of Christ, of choosing the good. Difficult as this question is, and though it was answered by Augustine and many of the early Fathers in the negative, the modern, and probably the more just, view is that we cannot hold mankind responsible unless we accord to all men the larger freedom. If non-Christians are fated to do evil, then no guilt can be imputed.
Paul plainly assumes some knowledge and performance on the part of the heathen, and though he denounces their immorality in unsparing terms he does not affirm that pagan society was so utterly corrupt that it had lost all knowledge of moral good. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
When sin enters the believer’s life, especially a serious sin, then doubt sometimes accompanies such an experience. Security does not grant a license to sin, but to have assurance we need to realize that Christians will sin, and that sin does not cause us to lose our salvation . The normal Christian experience never includes sinlessness, for “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). This never excuses sin, for the Christian will also grow in holiness. But the experience of sin does not forfeit salvation. (Basic Theology)
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Carol Swenson
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Romans 8:35 - 37 (NLT)
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
John 16:31 - 33 (NLT)
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Acts 20:19 (NLT)
I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.
Romans 5:3 - 5 (NLT)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials , for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
1 Peter 1:6 - 7 (NLT)
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials , it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 4:12 - 13 (NLT)
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through , as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering , so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
2 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials , even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
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becauseHElives
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Amen Daniel,
Hbr 12:27 And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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oneinchrist
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Hi again BecauseHelives,
You have just pointed out something else that I have thought of in the past. Does the fact that Paul calls faith "a gift of God" mean that we are not tested in the genuineness of our faith/committment towards Christ??........I highly doubt it......or does the fact that Paul teaches that "Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ" mean that we are not tested in the genuineness of our faith/committment towards Christ???...... I also doubt that.
Especially considering Jesus' words.....
"He that endures to the end shall be saved" and
"If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed"
With love in Christ, Daniel
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becauseHElives
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oneinchrist, I totally agree with you, the point of my post may have been unclear...
if one has experienced the new birth, they have mustard seed faith....
but every person must exercise that faith, personal responsibility.... when a test comes do we display the testimony of life in Yahshua...
the athlete exercises according to the sport he is seeking the excel in...
the soldier exercises according to the field of expertise most needful to his field air, infantry, navy....
in every area of life this principle is true, exercise of the mind, body and will....it take personally responsibility ...
yet in the Church, it is considered legalism to teach personal responsibility... exercising faith
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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oneinchrist
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Hi BecauseHelives,
My main concern is that some read into Pauls verse about faith as a gift and somehow come to the conclusion that man has no responsibity and therefore his response to the gospel has absolutely no bearing on God's deciding whom He will or wont save. I certainly agree with you that God is no respecter of persons. We are commanded to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. I do also agree that the faith is common amongst all true believers, but I would add that there is still uniqueness (in functions) as described by Paul.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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becauseHElives
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The Measure of Faith
In Romans 12:3 we are told that God has given to every man “the” measure of faith, not just “a” measure of faith.
God is no respecter of persons; he gives the same portion of faith to each person.
Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
The measure that has been given is the “God kind of faith.”
The reason we do not see all men operating in the God kind of faith is because not all have developed their initial portion of faith.
Faith must be made to grow, it cannot be allowed to sit idle.
The Principle
Compare Mark 11:22-24 with Romans 10:9, 10.
* Believe in your heart.
* Confess with your mouth.
* It comes to pass.
The measure of faith given, grows only as we exercise the faith given!
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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Carol Swenson
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Matthew 17:20 (NLT)
20“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed , you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
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oneinchrist
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Hi Carol,
Your post did remind me of a thought that came to my mind one time and then a verse that came to mind with it..........
"Its not about how much faith we may think we have or dont have, its more about where our faith is directed"
Bible verse: Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith THAT IS IN ME.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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Carol Swenson
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Everyone has faith in something. Faith the sun will rise, faith that the chair they sit on will hold them. So, it isn't just faith, but faith in Jesus Christ that matters. We can say also, that everything we have is a gift from God, so yes, faith is a gift.
THE SOURCE OF FAITH
There are two sides to the subject—a divine and a human side.
It Is the Work of the Triune God
God the Father: Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 12. This is true of faith both in its beginning (Phil. 1:29) and its development (1 Cor. 12). Faith, then, is a gift of His grace.
God the Son: Heb. 12:2—“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Illustration, Matt. 14:30, 31—Peter taking his eyes off Christ.) 1 Cor. 12; Luke 17:5.
God the Spirit: Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 12:9. The Holy Spirit is the executive of the Godhead.
Why then, if faith is the work of the Godhead, are we responsible for not having it? God wills to work faith in all His creatures, and will do so if they do not resist His Holy Spirit . We are responsible, therefore, not so much for the lack of faith, but for resisting the Spirit who will create faith in our hearts if we will permit Him to do so.
There Is Also a Human Side to Faith
Rom. 10:17—“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (cf. the context, vv. 9-21.)
Acts 4:4—“Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed.” In this instance the spoken word, the Gospel, is referred to; in other cases the written Word, the Scriptures, is referred to as being instrumental in producing faith. See also Gal. 3:2-5. It was a looking unto the promises of God that brought such faith into the heart of Abraham (Rom. 4:19).
Prayer also is an instrument in the development of faith. Luke is called the human Gospel because it makes so much of prayer, especially in connection with faith: 22:32—”But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” 17:5—”And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” See also Mark 9:24; Matt. 17:19-21.
Our faith grows by the use of the faith we already have . Luke 17:5, 6; Matt. 25:29.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Is it possible that Paul referred to faith as a "gift of God" because he (Paul), by nature of his testimony, saw little or no distinction between the "Spirit of God" and "faith". It would seem to make sense then that Paul would go on to teach that our "measure of faith" is dispensed in the form of "spiritual gifts".
This type of assessment would make more sense to me considering that Paul preached about faith as a gift , but yet preached repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus.
What do you think?
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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