Faith Fully Assured

     For by grace you have been saved through faith,

and that not of your selves; it is the gift of God.  (Ephesians 2:8).

      That Scripture indicates in no uncertain terms: faith is a gift, a gift from God.  A gift is unearned, if you earned the gift then it is not a gift, rather it is a payment.  God is not making a payment, He is bestowing on His children a gift, and that gift mentioned in the above Scripture is; Faith. Let us examine the above Scripture, in other words, let us use exegesis to determine who is the "you" that has been given this gift of faith.  It is a gift not of "yourselves" so then, who is "yourselves?"  Context determines the interpretation, so to whom is Paul writing?  Look at verse (1): "...To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus."  It is clear, Paul is writing to the faithful saints in Ephesus and it is they who receive this free gift of faith and that by irresistible grace, a gift from God.  It is not by any works that man does that gains him this gift for His saints, "are His workmanship" (vs.10) so there it is clear again, it is God who creates His saints therefore we are His workmanship and He created His saints beforehand that we should walk in good works (vs. 10). Therefore Paul is writing to the saints who did not by any means of work make themselves saints, rather they were created beforehand, in fact before the foundation of the world (Romans 8:28-29).  This fact should bring great joy and confidence to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, all things done in His name are done by the prompting of the Holy Spirit that proceeded from the Father and the Son who by His Word, and that alone, not some revelatory vision, or imagination, rather His Word, that determines that a person is in the will of God, and we act in faith grounded in His Word.  This faith, this gift is so important that to come to a greater understanding of faith cannot be underestimated, or just accepted without the knowledge that the faith exhibited is truly faith based on His Word, and is His gift.  So we proceed in our discussion.

     What is the more generally accepted definition of faith?  Faith can be reduced in definition to three segments, each of the segments are so conjoined as to include the general idea of persuasion of truth. Yet, there are those who (1) distinguish the character of faith in its subjective nature. For something to be subject, or to understand the word, subjective, the definition of it will aid: "exiting to the mind, belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought, or related to the character expression of an individual , as to their moods, attitudes, opinions, etc. (2) Next, faith is to be distinguished in the nature of its object; and (3) others in the nature of the evidence, or the ground upon which it stands. 

     Now, number (1): the definition is that faith, or belief is given by some to be a persuasion of the truth that is stronger than opinion, and weaker in knowledge.  The Metaphysicians find in the cognition of man these three things, the possible, the real, and the necessary.  Time to dig deeper; looking at possible there is clarity inasmuch as anything "possible" can only be ascertained by conjecture, or by opinions; in other words, a thing may be plausible or it may be probable, yet still in is uncertain in its possibility.  Immanuel Kant the philosopher would argue that for a thing to be true, it is true on the grounds sufficient subjectively, insufficient objectively.  Kant gives a common accepted definition of faith when he states: "By faith is understood any persuasion which is weaker than knowledge, but somewhat stronger that a more deeming possible of probable, as, "I believe that it will rain today."  After making that statement he repudiates this definition to be of religious faith. 

     With the above definition in hand, the definition of faith finds its support as that everything that we are not sure, absolutely sure, and yet are persuaded, somehow convinced of its truth, we say we believe.  If that which persuades a person is strong, stronger even in its obscurity, or full knowledge, it is believed to be true.  If we say that we have no doubt about it then it is said that the person knows it.  If we are perfectly sure of a thing, then it is said that it is known, known as fact.  

     The above may seem deep, philosophical, and it is in much respect, yet it is understandable and must be placed in the current trend, a trend that has invaded the church for many years making congregants to believe in a thing that is only at best possible, being persuaded of its truth, yet have not done the work to validate their faith that is grounded on their belief that has determined their theology.  An example that comes to mind is that of a man, seen by me on the internet, a video of him, acting drunk, saying that he was drunk in the "spirit" with all the falling downward, stumbling, and shouting, and this was being seen by many, if I can use the emotions I saw by the people present as this was something of God's spirit upon the man and was to be believed as something that they should strive to have in their lives.  This form of religions experience in one manner or another is present in many churches and believed to be of God by many, and yet, the question is; is this something in which to place our faith?  Without a person taking time to study God's word, pray, and if needed to use others who are great men of the faith, such as Augustine, Wycliff, Tyndale, Calvin, Owens, Edwards, Whitecliff, and not just their favorite theologian that agrees with their faith, a faith that is grounded in probability, and has no ground in plausibility for those actions cannot be found in His Word, the Bible.  Misplaced faith, hurts the individual, placing upon that individual a faith based on man's opinions, leading an individual to have a theology outside of the Bible, and further it hurts the church, the ekklesia, the called out ones that God bestows His gift of faith to those He created to be His workmanship, those to whom are called His ambassadors, to whom He has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19:20).  

     "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke (Psalm 116:10) we also believe and therefore speak," (2 Corinthians 5:13). 

     "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (1 Timothy 3:18).

Richard L. Crumb