Faith: A Divine Gift And Our Response

The question of whether faith is a gift from God is a highly debated topic in Christian theology, with some arguing that it is a gift, while others claim it is a human exercise. René A. López, in his article Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?, published in the Bibliotheca Sacra journal, weighs in on this discussion. López asserts that faith is not a gift from God but a human response, much like a beggar holding out their hand for food. He critiques the notion that faith is a gift, arguing that it diminishes human responsibility and the urgency of obeying scriptural exhortations. López also highlights biblical passages that call for people to believe and exercise personal faith, such as John 1:12–13, 3:16, and Acts 16:31. However, López's perspective is not universally accepted, and some commentators disagree with his interpretation of specific biblical passages and the implications for divine sovereignty and human free will.

Faith as a gift from God

The idea that faith is a gift from God is a contentious issue in Christian theology. Some Christians, particularly Calvinists, believe that faith is a gift from God, while others, including Arminians, argue that it is a human exercise.

Arguments for Faith as a Gift from God

According to the Calvinist view, regeneration precedes faith. In other words, God gives sinners faith because they are ""dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) and are therefore unable to believe without God's help. This perspective holds that faith is not a meritorious work but a gift from God, given solely due to His grace and mercy. This understanding of faith as a gift is supported by various biblical passages, including Ephesians 2:8 ("For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God"), Romans 12:3, Acts 3:16, Philippians 1:29, and 2 Peter 1:1.

Arguments Against Faith as a Gift from God

Those who argue against the idea of faith as a gift from God, such as René A. López, present several counterarguments. Firstly, they contend that if faith is a gift from God, people should be asking God for regeneration before they can believe. However, the Scriptures never instruct people to pray for regeneration. Instead, numerous verses call for individuals to exercise personal faith (e.g., John 1:12–13, 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, Acts 16:31). Secondly, the notion of faith as a gift diminishes the urgency of obeying scriptural exhortations to pursue holiness. If faith and sanctification are guaranteed gifts from God, believers' efforts to live obediently become less essential. Thirdly, the idea that faith is a gift from God implies that God gives faith only to certain people, which leads to the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, where some are chosen for salvation while others are doomed even before birth. This notion contradicts the Arminian view that God enables everyone to believe but leaves room for human free will, allowing people to accept or reject His gift of faith. Finally, the assumption that people are spiritually unresponsive and incapable of exercising faith without divine intervention is not supported by Scripture.

Faith as a human exercise

In his article, "Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?", René Lopez argues that faith is not a gift from God but a human exercise. He presents several theological problems with the idea that faith is a gift from God.

Firstly, Lopez points out that if faith is a gift from God, it resembles the sacramentalism of the Roman Catholic Church, where faith is transmitted from God to humans. This confuses the gift of eternal life from God with the instrumentality of faith, through which the gift is received.

Secondly, Lopez argues that if God imparts faith, human responsibility is nullified. There would be no reason to hold people responsible for believing or failing to believe in Jesus if an unregenerate person is incapable of believing. If God is the one who gives faith to the unbeliever, then the responsibility to believe lies with God, not humans, and God cannot judge people for failing to believe.

Thirdly, Lopez highlights that the Bible calls people to believe in Jesus for eternal life. If faith is a gift that comes with regeneration, people should be called to hope and pray to God for regeneration rather than to believe in Jesus. However, there are numerous calls throughout Scripture for people to believe in Jesus for eternal life, but not one place where people are invited to hope and pray for regeneration.

Finally, Lopez discusses sanctification. If faith is an automatic gift from God, it follows that God would also automatically ensure that believers are sanctified in holiness and obedience. However, Scripture contains many commands that exhort, prompt, and warn believers to live obediently, which would be unnecessary if faith and sanctification were automatic gifts.

Lopez's view is that saving faith is not a gift but a human response, much like that of a beggar holding out their hand for food. Passages that supposedly teach the gift-of-faith view do not, upon careful examination, support that idea.

Lopez's position is not without criticism. Some argue that he has missed a major view: that faith is a gift in the sense that God enables us to believe, but like most gifts, it can be rejected and is not irresistible.

Faith as a prerequisite for salvation

The concept of faith as a prerequisite for salvation is a highly debated topic in Christian theology, with various denominations holding different interpretations. The doctrine of "sola fide", or "justification by faith alone", asserts that salvation is granted solely through faith in Jesus Christ and not by any good works or "works of the law". This view is commonly held by Lutheran and Reformed Protestant traditions, while the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Anabaptist churches disagree.

Proponents of sola fide argue that faith alone justifies sinners, and that good works are a result of this justification rather than a means to attain it. They base this belief on various biblical passages, such as Romans 3:28, which states, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." However, opponents of sola fide point out that the Bible also contains verses emphasizing the importance of good works, such as James 2:14-26, which asks, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?"

The debate surrounding faith as a prerequisite for salvation is further complicated by different interpretations of what constitutes "faith". Some argue that faith is a gift from God, given unilaterally to certain individuals. Others believe that faith is a human response to God's call, enabled by God's grace but ultimately a choice made by the individual. Still, others hold that faith is a process, involving both God's grace and human cooperation.

Ultimately, the question of whether faith is a prerequisite for salvation depends on one's theological perspective. For some, faith alone is sufficient for salvation, while for others, good works are also necessary. The Bible contains verses that can be interpreted to support both views, leaving room for ongoing discussion and reflection among Christians.

The origin of faith

The Case for Faith as a Gift from God

Proponents of the view that faith is a gift from God often cite Ephesians 2:8, which states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God". The argument is that God gives faith as a gift because of His grace and mercy, and receiving faith is not considered a work. This is supported by Romans 4, which describes Abraham's salvation as dependent on his faith in God rather than any work he performed. Additionally, Romans 10:17 emphasizes that "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ". This suggests that faith is given through the message about Jesus, not because of any human effort or merit.

The Case for Faith as a Human Exercise

On the other hand, those who argue that faith is a human exercise claim that faith is a human response or assent. They point out that Scripture calls people to believe and exercise personal faith, as seen in John 1:12-13, 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, and Acts 16:31, among other verses. René A. López, in his article "Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?", presents several theological problems with the idea that faith is a gift from God. Firstly, it resembles the sacramentalism of the Roman Catholic Church, where faith is transmitted from God to humans. Secondly, if God imparts faith, human responsibility for believing or not believing is nullified. Thirdly, if faith is a result of regeneration, people should be called to hope and pray for regeneration rather than believe in Jesus. Lastly, if faith is a gift, the commands in Scripture exhorting believers to live obediently become less urgent, as their sanctification is guaranteed.

In conclusion, the origin of faith remains a subject of discussion among Christians, with both sides presenting compelling arguments from Scripture and theological reasoning.

The function of faith in salvation

The idea of faith as a gift stems from the desire to avoid viewing faith as a work of merit. By considering faith as a divine gift, any human work or pride associated with personal faith is negated. Proponents of this perspective interpret various passages from the Bible to support their claim, including Ephesians 2:8, which states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

However, René A. López, in his article, "Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?", challenges this notion. López argues that if faith is solely a gift from God, then individuals should be asking God for regeneration before they can believe. He points out that such a request is absent from Scripture, which instead contains numerous verses calling people to exercise personal faith (e.g., John 1:12–13, 3:16, Acts 16:31).

López also addresses the implications of the "faith-is-a-gift" view on sanctification. According to this perspective, true believers, having been infused with faith by God, are guaranteed sanctification and will never fail to live godly lives. However, López contends that this diminishes the importance of scriptural commands urging believers to actively pursue holiness. He concludes that faith is not a gift but a human response, much like a beggar holding out their hand for food.

In conclusion, the function of faith in salvation remains a subject of theological debate. While some view faith as a gift from God, essential for salvation, others argue that it is a human response, a choice to believe and trust in God's offer of grace. Ultimately, the correct understanding of faith's role in salvation is complex and multifaceted, requiring careful examination of Scripture and thoughtful consideration of various theological perspectives.

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