Topical Bible: The Gifts of God: Spiritual: Faith

Bible > Topical > The Gifts of God

◄ The Gifts of God: Spiritual: Faith ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Faith, as a spiritual gift, is a profound and essential aspect of the Christian life, deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible. It is both a personal trust in God and a divine gift that enables believers to live in accordance with His will. The Berean Standard Bible provides several insights into the nature and significance of faith as a spiritual gift.

Definition and Nature of Faith

Faith is described in Hebrews 11:1 as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This definition underscores faith as a confident trust in God's promises, even when they are not visible or fully realized. It is a conviction that transcends empirical evidence, rooted in the character and faithfulness of God.

Faith as a Gift from God

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, emphasizes that faith is not merely a human endeavor but a gift from God. In Ephesians 2:8-9 , Paul writes, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights that faith is a divine endowment, granted by God's grace, and not something that can be achieved through human effort.

The Role of Faith in the Christian Life

Faith is foundational to the Christian experience. It is through faith that believers are justified and brought into a right relationship with God. Romans 5:1 states, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This peace is a result of being reconciled to God, made possible through faith in Jesus Christ.

Moreover, faith is essential for living a life that pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 declares, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Faith is the means by which believers draw near to God, trusting in His existence and His benevolent nature.

Faith in Action

The Bible provides numerous examples of faith in action, illustrating how this gift empowers believers to accomplish God's purposes. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews, often referred to as the "Hall of Faith," recounts the accounts of individuals like Abraham, Moses, and Rahab, who demonstrated remarkable faith in God's promises and commands.

James 2:17 further emphasizes that genuine faith is active and productive: "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead." This underscores the dynamic nature of faith, which manifests in obedience and good works, reflecting the transformative power of God's gift.

Faith and the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in nurturing and sustaining the gift of faith within believers. Galatians 5:22-23 lists faithfulness as a fruit of the Spirit, indicating that the Spirit actively cultivates and strengthens faith in the lives of Christians. Through the Spirit's work, believers are empowered to trust God more deeply and to persevere in their faith journey.

Conclusion

Faith, as a spiritual gift, is a vital component of the Christian life, enabling believers to trust in God's promises, live in obedience to His will, and experience the fullness of His grace. It is a divine gift, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, that transforms lives and brings glory to God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Philippians 1:29
For to you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Spiritual Gifts.
... and affection sanctified and raised to the spiritual sphere, or ... the experience of
the saving love of God in Christ ... but the soul of all the gifts, guarding them ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 45 the spiritual gifts.htm

Spiritual Gifts.
... offices embracing the care of the spiritual and temporal ... classes"those that strengthen
the gifts of saving ... therefore the portion of all God's children, and ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxvii spiritual gifts.htm

Of a Spiritual Meeting of God and Ourselves
... OF A SPIRITUAL MEETING OF GOD AND OURSELVES. ... The soul should also rest in God above
all the jewels and all the gifts which it may send back to God by its own ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxv of a spiritual.htm

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit which we Receive Prepare us for ...
... Against Heresies: Book V Chapter VIII."The gifts of the Holy Spirit ... the union of
flesh and spirit, receiving the Spirit of God, makes up the spiritual man ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter viii the gifts of the.htm

'All Spiritual Blessings'
... we have to say, 'Blessed be God'; for all the gifts that come ... with many a sob between,
that goes up to bless God for anything but spiritual blessings. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/all spiritual blessings.htm

Letter vi. --Fear of Wasting Time.
... is most mortifying to that most sensitive form of self-love, spiritual self-love ...
envy even those souls which are most greatly enriched with the gifts of God. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter vi fear of wasting time.htm

Of Two Spiritual Martyrdoms, Wherewith God Cleanseth the Soul that ...
... by an inordinate desire of sublime Gifts, by the Appetite of feeling spiritual
Consolation, by ... holy Mountain of Perfection, and of Transformation with God! ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap iv of two spiritual.htm

Letter xvii. --Confidence in God.
... those who have appealed to me, the gifts and graces ... of direction under the specious
pretext of spiritual need. ... that the time would come when God, desiring to ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter xvii confidence in god.htm

A Sequel to the Same Matter.
The Spiritual Guide which Disentangles the Soul. ... of pure Faith, with Silence and
Resignation, is continued: In the manner that the Gifts of God's Spirit grow ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap xv a sequel to.htm

Man the Image of the Creator, and Christ the Head of the Man ...
... days appeared as the dispenser of spiritual gifts (as the ... fulness of the time was
come, God sent forth ... of understanding and counsel." "To another, faith by the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter viii man the image of.htm