Is faith a work?

[Runningman]

We lose so much nuance in translation. I think Bible translators are playing it safe to not step on any toes. Orthodox Christianity in the West has so many traditions based on misunderstandings, convinced in their own mind, but the Bible is a lot deeper than is apparent in the plain text English translations/versions.

Actually, to me it seems the various Bible translations/versions have strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

If I understand correctly, Jesus is saying that the work God wants us to do to have salvation of our soul is to believe on His Son Jesus Christ.

SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?? how will you convince your self perfectly that Jesus was even real??

Clue: The Holy SPirit will reveal Him to you (eph 2:8,9)

However, Paul says that we are given a gift of being saved because of our faith and that it has nothing to do with our works or self-effort.

Paul says FAITH is the gift based on God's WORD to you, and the ONLY WAY you're even CAPABLE of believeing or having faith.

 

[Magenta]

From Ephesians 2:4-7

 

[Mem]

Yes I would like to see a bit more expounding on that with a source if possible.



I never noticed that either, but it confirms something that I have always thought. Male and female were created in His image. God isn't a human. We understand male and female, but God is beyond all that; however, apparently He is often referred to in the masculine such as being called Father by Jesus many times.

The NIV puts it like this, other versions put it differently, but this is how understand it.

Genesis 5
1This is the written account of Adam’s family line.
When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.

Yes, He Is the (definite article) I Am, and Logos (word) is masculine 1Thess 2: 13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God— the word which is now at work in you who believe.

 

[Magenta]

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the
righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

 

[RaceRunner]

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the
righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

 

[Runningman]

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the
righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

I see it like this. They received faith from "hearing the word of God" (Romans 10:17) and God grew the faith from the initial seed (or thoughts) that they heard ,from the preachers, if we believe that faith, believing, and trust are all connected in the case of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NIV
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.


Romans 10:14,15 NIV
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

 

[Magenta]

Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

1 John 4:18

 

[Mem]

Hebrews 10: 18And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.


John 6: 67So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”

70Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
Strong's Greek 1228 indicates "diabolos" (adj. often used as a noun) meaning, 'slanderous, accusing falsely'

 

[Runningman]

Hebrews 10: 18And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.


John 6: 67So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”

70Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
Strong's Greek 1228 indicates "diabolos" (adj. often used as a noun) meaning, 'slanderous, accusing falsely'

Seems somewhat connected to this:

Matthew 16:23
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

late edit:

I must add more verses to show what the Lord said:

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save their life f will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

[Mem]

Seems somewhat connected to this:

Matthew 16:23
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

I think there is a connection somewhere. One that needs to be crystalized by meditating on what significance if any is there in Jesus (bothering to?) ask, "Do you now want to leave too?" And Peter's answer seems to essentially be saying, "we wouldn't know where to go, for the words for life, that come from whom we believe is the Holy One of God." And "Yet," did Judas "want to leave too?" or was he actually 'already gone?'

 

[Runningman]

I think there is a connection somewhere. One that needs to be crystalized by meditating on what significance if any is there in Jesus (bothering to?) ask, "Do you now want to leave too?" And Peter's answer seems to essentially be saying, "we wouldn't know where to go, for the words for life, that come from whom we believe is the Holy One of God." And "Yet," did Judas "want to leave too?" or was he actually 'already gone?'

It depends on many things.

John 18:9
9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

 

[justpassinthrough]

I've shown "us," but it isn't in my power to help you.

Let me know when you find the scripture that says faith is the substance of belief.

 

[justpassinthrough]

FreeGrace2 said:
Faith is WHAT we believe. That's the difference. If one believes in something, they HAVE faith in it. There is nothing "generated".

Check with any English grammar text for the definition of a noun and a verb. It's really very simple and clear.

What do you think the difference is between faith and believe?

Yes it is.


Faith is a noun.

Believe (obey) is a verb.

 

[FreeGrace2]

Galatians 2:20 says he lives by the faith of the Son of God. This is the faith we are given in salvation and the faith that allows us to walk in the Spirit.

Can you provide the verse that says we are given faith in salvation?

 

[FreeGrace2]

Our faith is a work. We believe. That is a work. It is something we do.

Doing "something" isn't a work, according to the Bible. According to Rom 4:4,5, which I quoted in my post, describes "work" as what EARNS something. Salvation is not earned, in any sense.

And since "faith" is a noun, it CAN'T be a work. Working is a verb, an action.

Thinking isn't work either, in the sense of earning something.

 

[FreeGrace2]

Can you link that, please? I’m trying to look into it a bit deeper and I can’t find where there the gift is referred to in the feminine gender.

Biblehub.com

Type in the verse. Then click on "interlinear" where the verse is parsed.

 

[FreeGrace2]

Yes,faith is a kind of work, in our mind and behavior.

No, it isn't, according to the Bible. In fact work is contrasted to faith or believing. Rom 4:4,5

 

[FreeGrace2]

FreeGrace2 said:
Faith is WHAT we believe. That's the difference. If one believes in something, they HAVE faith in it. There is nothing "generated".

Check with any English grammar text for the definition of a noun and a verb. It's really very simple and clear.

What do you think the difference is between faith and believe?

Yes it is.


Faith is a noun.

Believe (obey) is a verb.

Yes, that is what I said.

 

[Cameron143]

Can you provide the verse that says we are given faith in salvation?

The believer can do nothing apart from Jesus...John 15:5. That includes and begins with salvation. Also, Philippians 3:9...found in Him...which is through the faith of Christ...