Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves – it is the gift of God.
Part 3 ~ Grace & Faith
Faith is the inseparable companion of grace. The faith that comes from God stands ready to act upon our hearts. When we hear the Word of God, faith can be activated – being supplied by the Holy Spirit to everyone who will respond in obedience to those things God commands (Romans 10:17; Galatians 5:22). Some have said grace is God’s part, and faith is ours; but God has supplied them both! Our part is to simply be willing and obedient.
The Gospel is the word of faith imparting the faith of God into the hearts of everyone who will obey (Romans 10:8; James 2:17-26). Once the faith imparted by the Holy Spirit is mixed with the Word of God, then the promises God’s grace supplied will be evident in our lives (Hebrews 4:2). The faith grace supplies is only activated by obedience to the Word of God, not just a testimony of belief (Matthew 8:8, 14:28-29; Galatians 3:5; James 2:19-24). Faith is the active work of grace enabling us to receive what has already been done.
It must be emphasized how this faith has no human origin, but rather has come to us directly from God as a gift. There is only one faith, and it exists only in the realm of God and comes only by Jesus Christ (Acts 3:16; Galatians 2:16). God has given us His faith by the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. Faith takes a hold of grace, and in submission to the power of the Holy Spirit, all of the will of God is produced in our lives (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 3:19-20; Hebrews 13:21). This is not a “faith” that humanity obtains through religious beliefs, knowledge, discipline, or works. Rather, the grace that has appeared to all men provides this amazing gift of God to all who will obey – the faith of God (Mark 11:22; Galatians 2:20; Romans 12:3; Titus 2:11-14).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
