Grace is a gift from God, and faith is also given by Him; neither can be generated by human effort (Philippians 1:29).
The relationship between grace and faith is critical in sovereign grace theology. Philippians 1:29 states, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." This emphasizes that faith is a divine gift, bestowed upon the elect by God, and cannot be produced by our efforts. Moreover, faith is not merely intellectual agreement; it is a heartfelt response to God's revelation. True faith arises when God opens the heart and imparts the ability to understand and accept the truth of the gospel, illustrating that both grace and the faith to receive that grace are entirely acts of God's sovereignty.
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