“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
In the fifth chapter of Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome, again and again he speaks of God giving, or the gifts of God. One of these gifts is the Holy Spirit in the heart, “which was given unto us.” (v.5) He goes on to say that the believer has “received the atonement” for all his sins. He qualifies this gift as being “free,” with no strings attached, given freely and without reserve from the Father’s heart. He also qualifies it by saying that this gift of being reconciled to God, no longer being under the wrath of God but having perfect peace with Him, has “abounded unto many.” (v.15) Paul then speaks of the “free gift” of justification, and the receiving of the “abundance of grace,” and of the “gift of righteousness” by Christ Jesus. Somewhat like the last crescendo at the end of an epic musical piece, the apostle declares: “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (6:23) So then, what must we grasp with respect to “The FAITH” of which Paul speaks?
The first thing that we need to see with regard to this “gift of faith,” is that it did not come from man. Man is born incapable of true faith, because he is born in sin, and is dead spiritually. The Apostle John begins his gospel by writing concerning the Lord Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn. 1:1) In the book of the Revelation, we find the glorified Christ declaring: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” (1:8) In other words, not only did the Lord Jesus exist before the beginning of the world, but He, with the Father by the Spirit, IS the Creator. This means that the whole of creation not only was brought about by Him, but that it depends absolutely upon Him. In other words, the whole of creation receives, not only the right and privilege to exist, but the very resources in order to do so. The whole of creation is a great RECEIVER of God’s grace, His bountiful mercies towards men. What then does this have to do with faith, true faith? Like the physical creation which must receive all to exist, so spiritually, man must receive all from God. Man cannot live eternally unless he receive. The fundamental problem with man, is that he cannot receive faith unless God gives him power to do so. Man, born spiritually dead, does not possess the slightest hope or capacity of turning to God to receive the gift of eternal Life, that Life of Jesus Christ, unless God moves.
Before the world began, God provided a way by which HE would save men from their sins, to give them eternal life. His “way,” and will, was to give to man the capacity to receive Life from Him. That capacity was, and is, FAITH, a whole-hearted, trust in and commitment of the heart to God, to believe Him above all else. Obedience to His commands and words would be the proof of true faith. But how is this to be? How can a dead person, without any sensibility or natural awareness to God, turn to Him, to receive such a life-giving gift?
True faith begins with God, and not man. There is a principle by which God works to bring men who are dead in their trespasses and sins to living faith in Christ, being saved from sin to know the saving Life of Christ. It is the principle of revelation, the revealing Himself to the heart and soul. He shines his light of Life into the darkened prison cell of the lost sinner, to awaken him to his lost condition. This awakening results in the hopeless, helpless cry to God, who alone gives faith. Scripture declares: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Dear Father, Open our hearts to receive all from Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.