Faith is NOT a gift! Ephesians 2:8-9 (Why I am not a Calvinist, Part 2)

Is faith a gift of God? If so, then some may have it and some may not, indicating that Calvinism may be true.

Ephesians 2:8-9 seems to indicate that faith is, indeed, a gift.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But is that true? If we examine this verse more closely, we will find that "it" is not in the original language, and "that" is a neuter word, which does not describe either "grace" or "faith," both of which are feminine words in the Greek.

The gift that God gives is not faith, but the gift of salvation described in the first part of verse 8. It is good news--the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

#Faith #Calvinism #Ephesians2 #Gift #Soteriology #gospel #grace #WhyIamnotaCalvinist #ReformedTheology

Don't forget to subscribe!

[richardgatewood]

Considering that faith is a fruit of the born again spirit of a person that accepts Jesus and salvatiion is the gift of God; THEN FAITH is a gift of God...

[lmorter]

The prodigal son was considered dead to his father yet he was able to repent and return to him.

[truthwithproof]

I have learned that Faith is a gift but it's a noun... it's referring to the The Gospel. The Faith. Look at the Byzantine Greek

[robg_]

"I will take it on faith" is always a saying that I am used to when trusting someone, so understanding faith in that way surly indicates faith is trust not a works, God bless

[onemansbook]

Ben, just watched this video of yours. Great topic and I like the way you broke it down focusing on the word "that". Earlier today I broke it down even farther and focus on the words "and that not of yourselves". The gift here just might be that which we would think is from us not God. All of us understand that Grace is only from God, so, Paul would not have to correct that belief. He would have to make it clear that faith is not of yourselves. I think Paul injected these words in there as to correct the readers belief that the reader was totally responsible for faith. Paul seems to be teaching us that Grace and Faith are gifts from God and not of ourselves.

[redfritz]

Yes, faith is a response caused by regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

[papoo]

I’m not a Calvinist but I think faith is a gift that EVERYONE receives (Romans 12:3) upon hearing the word (Romans 10:17). You then choose whether or not to exercise it.

[eldansambatyon]

and WHY DO MANY CHRISTIANS STUMBLE BY ADDING THE WORD " ALONE " many kept saying "grace alone or faith alone" when they explain EPH 2 : 8-10? causing misunderstanding.... its God's Grace, then you have to have faith in God and his grace... and doing work is the natural expression of your faith

[demicosmith]

"and that not of yourselves" refers to the entire first clause. "through faith is referring to Christ's faith, not ours.

Our faith is the PREREQUISITE for the grace of God to CAUSE us to be saved through Christ's faith.

The entire first clause sums up "ETERNAL LIFE" which is the gift of God.

We believe in Jesus to be justified by the faith of Christ Galatians 2:16 KJV.

[themasterscall]

"And That" is speaking collectively of what has been said. God's Grace gives the Gift of Faith (to His Elect) which results in their salvation. Jesus reveals himself to whom he wills. Men who are Dead in trespasses and sin, cannot birth themselves into the kingdom. Ye must be born again and that is of God and not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man (No Free Will).

[noele.tongson]

For to you it has been granted (charizomai) on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29). I am not a Calvinist.

[Daniel.Ministry]

Faith is represented in Greek by 4 different words, 2 of which are verbs.
Hebrews 11:1 states that FAITH is substance of what is hoped for - evidence of what is not seen.
Faith = substantive evidence.
Faith is what we do.

The gift of God is NOT salvation.

The gift of God is his grace.
Grace is what is given at conversion, that which cleanses us.
Faith is to remain clean.

Additionally, the Greek does not say "have been saved".
It actually reads "are being saved".

[jamesjohnson]

To each is given a measure of faith. I'm not a calvinist

[jamesjohnson]

Most of the troubling verses were written to church's in trouble. Study Ephesus. They were rowdy. They were strangers to the covenant of God. So when you realize the audience you'll get a better view of why paul writes this way

[mysticmouse]

Response vs gift is a false dichotomy. Apart from God we do not have the ability to respond. We are born dead in trespasses and sinm

[collin]

Here's my question and my thoughts on this topic. How do you believe in any particular thing? Don't you have to come to a place where it finally makes sense, where it finally dawns on you as true?

If faith is about trusting God, what would cause us to trust in God? It seems to me that would require an actual revelation of God to us, particularly in the heart.

Or is general revelation enough for this? But if so, why doesn't everyone trust in God? That would be the obvious choice! Who wouldn't choose the living God? Who wouldn't choose a million dollars if it was handed to them? I think it's the fact that people don't grasp what is being offered. They don't comprehend God, or else they would choose Him. If you have life and death before you, eternal joy and eternal pain, there is no choice at all. At least not the kind of choice you have to deliberate about. Anyone would immediately choose the better if they could comprehend it. But they don't. And I think a lot of the stories people tell about their salvation confirm this. There was a certain point when they finally got it. How did that happen? The timing usually seems to have God's fingerprints all over as well. So I do think God has a specific time for people. But when they do finally come, they want to come because they finally see it. I think it's understanding in the heart that leads to faith.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17

But if they all heard the word of Christ, why didn't they all believe? They were hardened, as Paul notes,

"as it is written, 'God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.'” Romans 11:8

I lean towards unconditional election, but unlike calvinism, I don't believe regeneration precedes faith. Rather, I believe revelation precedes faith. That would be my take on John 6 "they will be taught of God." It's the teaching of God that draws people, because when they understand, they come.

That's my take!

[williamcyriaque]

Outside the the Spirit of God, man cannot do anything that please him. For you to respond positively to the Gospel, God must give you an obedient and a fertile heart. King Pharaoh didn't have that gift from God. When you hear the Gospel witch is a seed, if the heart that you receive from God grows that seed, faith starts there because it comes from the word you hear.

[slaphappy]

People love to complicate things. Especially Calvinists. Salvation is the gift that Ephesians 2:8 is referring to. We do not obtain salvation a result of anything we do, but what Christ did for us. The point of this verse is to contrast faith in Christ and our own works. Everyone wants to focus on faith itself instead of the object of our faith, which is what we should really be focused on, and that is Christ and his shed blood that washes away our sins. Faith is how we receive this gift of salvation

[onemansbook]

I was an Armenianist for over 55 years, won't call myself a 5 Point Calvinists yet, but trying to find the truth!!! There is only one truth and God knows it.

[jeffrohm]

Great video again, Ben! Totally agree with you that Faith would be better described in our terms as Trust. My only thought here is that both Grace & Faith in this context here are both bound in the gift of salvation as a "whole gift"...that could support the Calvinist position that again 0% of this would be by our doing....so it could be taken as both Grace and Faith as a sum of it's total parts would be gifts.