Faith Is the Gift of God

    Beloved, where faith is found, it is the gift of God. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “We are saved by grace through faith and that faith is not of ourselves; it is the gift of God.” Where faith is found, it is the mark of divine election. Paul called it “the faith of God's elect” (Titus 1:1).

    Our Lord told the Pharisees that they did not believe because they were not of his sheep; “My sheep hear and follow.” Where faith is found, spiritual life is found. We are not born again because we believe; we believe on Christ because we are born of God, just as a newborn infant sees, hears, and cries because it has life! We hear his word, see the glory of God in Christ, and call upon him for mercy because he has come to us in awakening power. Where faith is found, loving obedience is evident. This is the very theme of the book of James. True faith is not in word only but produces works of faith, labors of love, and patience of hope. Godliness, obedience, and good works are not a condition of salvation but the evidence of true salvation. Faith without works is dead! Where faith is found, it will continue to be found when this life draws to a close. When the Apostle talked of our fathers in Hebrews 11, three things are clear. They believed God! Their faith produced sincere obedience! They were still believing God when they died! “They all died in faith” (Heb.11:13).