Is salvation created by faith or is faith created by salvation?
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Asked July 17 2014
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George Adams
Supporter
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Jennifer Rothnie
Supporter
Neither. The offer of salvation was created when Jesus Christ died on the cross in our place - Jesus is the founder of our salvation. (Heb 2:10-11, Rev 19:1-3, 1 John 1:1-4, Titus 1:1-3) He made it possible for us to be delivered from slavery to sin, and instead be adopted as sons of God. (Is 46:13, Rom 7:6, Rom 8:1-4, I John 3:1-10). Salvation is used in several different senses in scripture (deliverance from slavery to sin, deliverance from bondage to the law, etc) but primarily it refers to the salvation of our souls and eternal life that we will someday inherit. (1 Peter 1:3-9, Heb 1:14, Jude 1:20-23, Luke 20:24-38, Rom 8:18-25). The holy spirit is the down payment that God will indeed give us eternal life someday (II Cor 1:18-22). God brought salvation through Christ, not through man (Heb 11:32-40, Isaiah 63:5, Titus 3:3-8). However, we do need faith to receive salvation (I Pet 1:3-9, John 3:14-17, II Tim 2:10-13, II Tim 3:10-17, I John 2:24-25, Rom 1:16-17, Gal 3:7-14, Rom 10:5-13). Faith itself does not 'create' salvation. [Indeed, faith is the persuasion that it is Christ who has the power to save us]. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Gal 3:14 Salvation did not create faith, either. Rather, the eternal plan of salvation was revealed in Christ, and it is in His revealed sacrifice that we must have faith (John 3:14-15, II Cor 5:14-15, I Pet 1:3-5, Rom 10:5-15) Faith is our belief/trust that Jesus is who He says He is, and that therefore we should accept His sacrifice, follow Him as Lord, and hope for His promises. (Rom 10:5-13, Heb 11:1-6, John 6:28-29) Even many of the OT people had faith in the promises of God, including the promise of a Messiah (Heb 11). By analogy: "Bob" lives in a landlocked country and has never seen the ocean. Despite this, he firmly believes that the ocean is real (based on the testimony of neighbors who have visited, pictures in books, etc). He decides to sell his house and, sight unseen, buy a new house in another country by the beach. After a long journey, he arrives and now can confirm by sight that the ocean is real. Did the ocean create Bob's belief? No - though the testified existence of the ocean certainly was a factor to why he believed it was real. Conversely, did Bob's belief in the ocean create the ocean? [Certainly not]. His belief was necessary, though, for him to leave the land he grew up in, take a long trip to a beach he had never seen, and take up residence in his new home. In summary: It is necessary to have abiding faith in Christ to receive salvation, but faith does not 'create' salvation. Neither does salvation create faith.Christ alone, by the mercy and grace of God, completed everything necessary for our deliverance from sin and adoption as sons of God by His death and Resurrection. God created this plan before time even began.
JD Abshire
Supporter
Romans 10:9 " That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved". Romans 10:10 " For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:13 " For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". Romans 10:14 " How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?". Romans 10:15 " And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things". Romans 10:16 " But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? Romans 10:17 " So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise". Ephesians 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory". Ephesians 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints". It is clear from scripture that the unregenerate, unsaved have no ability to comprehend much less believe the gospel message without the quickening or life giving power of the Holy Spirit first opening one' s eyes to their fallen condition. So you see, salvation is the easy part once we truly realize we are lost. It is pure grace whereby we are saved. Faith is the vehicle that gives us the understanding. Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".
Pam Johnson
Supporter
Salvation is created by Grace, the Spirit of Grace that God the Father Almighty has poured out on every living human person on earth. He did this so we might come to know the truth, accept it, and receive salvation by believing what He has done for us. Salvation comes by Grace from God and we receive it when we believe it and accept it. TOTALLY A GOD THING. Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, lest anyone should boast.
Al Mari
Supporter
Both are correct, either way. But, it depends on whose faith is referred to. It was the "faith of Jesus" that initiated the process of salvation. Our faith, while necessary for our salvation, is for nought because, as sinners, we need to be reconciled first. This reconciliation is critical before the process of salvation commences. How did we get reconciled? We did, by the death of Jesus (Rom. 5:10; Col. 1: 20-22). Having been reconciled, "we shall (still future) be saved" (Rom. 5:10). But what does it take for "salvation" to occur? This requires Jesus' resurrection., i.e., "shall (future) be saved by his life" (Rom. 5:10). If the Father did not resurrect Jesus, all that happened was "reconciliation" and nothing more. We would still be "dead", although reconciled, as the penalty for sin was paid. We will also not be resurrected if Jesus was not resurrected. "Death where is thy sting" (I Cor. 15:55) is true only when there is resurrection, with Jesus' as proof. Why is there need for Jesus' resurrection and for him to go the Father? So that the HS can be sent to us, as promised by the Father to Jesus. Notice: John 16:7 "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.(NIV). Luke 24:49 "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."(NIV). Yes, Jesus could only send the HS as promised by the Father, but only after his "going away" to the Father. But, why do we need the Holy Spirit? It is the power that strengthens us, since the "flesh is weak"(Matt.26:41) and needs to be energized. It also identifies us belonging to the "body of Christ". It is a "seal" to us, as circumcision was a "seal" to Israel (Rom. 4:12). This HS will empower us in many ways, including having "the mind of Christ", to develop in us that "faith that leads to salvation" and to shape "this clay" into what the Potter wanted best, as in, "But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him" (Jer. 18:4). We are being "shaped" from an "image or template" into the "likeness of YHVH ELOHIM" as planned in Genesis 1:26. We are chosen before we were born to be saved; this is how we received this Holy Spirit. We are in the "book of life" (Rev. 20:12, 15), yet as God is the ultimate judge, he can remove anyone that does not "overcome" (Rev. 3:5). We are being judged now, (I Cor. 11:32), although others will be at the Last Judgment of the Great White Throne" (Rev 20:11-15). In summary, the faith of Jesus in the Father that his death would be counted as death and penalty for the sin of mankind, initiated the goal of salvation after we were reconciled. Having been reconciled by Jesus' death, we are now being "saved" by the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in our "temples", shaping us into "the likeness of YHVH ELOHIM". As we are from the beginning "written in the book of life", our salvation "led to getting us the HS of power" that develops in us the "faith of Jesus". As we are "saved being in the book of life", we then received this promise of the H.S. But, if we do not overcome in spite of this power in us, then God can remove us from this book of life. Indeed, faith leads to salvation and having salvation, i.e., in the book of life, we received the HS of power that develops in us, the "faith of Jesus"; the mind of Jesus so that we will be in his "likeness", at our resurrection.
Joseph McKenzie
Supporter
A saving faith proceeds from being (regenerated) a renewed will, and a renewed will is necessary to believing assent to the truth of God. Faith is a gift from God and not something we produce. Regeneration "born again" proceeds faith and is based on His will not ours. Titus 3:5: "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" Ephesians 1:4-5 "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will".
Judith Tungwarara
Supporter
It is faith that leads to salvation! (Romans10v13-14) For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not belived? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? God's responsibility it is to make sure that we hear the gospel, (THAT IS GRACE). He has his own ways of doing that. The gospel is getting to all the corners of the world for people to hear, but the choice still remains to oneself! John 3: 16 the word of God says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The "whoever" in the above statement, means God did not impose salvation to anyone, but gave people the right to choose! Its always up to an individual to make their own choice on what they hear.
James Kraft
Supporter
Faith comes from hearing, hearing, by the word of God. The bible says that Jesus took the punishment for all our sin on the cross so that we do not have to go to hell to pay for them. Romans 6:23 Says, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ or Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 also tell us the way of salvation, and when we believe it we receive it by believing it is true. The bible says we are justified by faith alone. Romans 4:5 We receive the free gift of salvation by faith, believing the gospel, John 3:16 and when we receive it by faith, we are sealed unto the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13 We are born into the family of God by faith alone, that Jesus died for all our sin, and we have His righteousness in us by the spirit of God that dwells in us. It is the Spirit in us that tells us He will never leave us or forsake us. Without the spirit there is no salvation. Romans 8:9 First Corinthians 2:14 says that the unbeliever, the natural man, can not understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. Galatians 2:21 says that we can not be saved by keeping the commandments or doing good works, but only by faith in Gods grace can we be saved. Galatians 2:16 We are only justified by faith alone without works. Romans 11:6 says we are saved by grace, not works, what we do, for if it was by works, then it is no longer grace. It can not be both. We are saved by what Jesus did for us on the cross plus nothing. Romans 4:5 Justification is totally apart from works. It is all by grace through faith. Once we have received it by faith, we are sealed with the holy spirit of promise and know that we have eternal life. First John 5:11-13 All believers are saved and have eternal life because they have believed in the only way of salvation and have the spirit of God in them and can never be cast away. John 6:37-40 If there was any other way of salvation than through the blood of Jesus sacrifice for all our sin, then Jesus died in vain. Jesus is the only way. Keeping our selves from sin, and doing good works could never save us. Because we have to be perfect to go to heaven. How do we become perfect? By the spirit of God that dwells in us through the new birth. We are given Christ's righteousness when we trusted Him as our only way of salvation. Romans 4:5 First John 1:8 says, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So we know we are all sinners even after we are saved, but are made righteous by the spirit that dwell in us. Those that believe they have no sin are only self righteous. So, back to the bible we know that faith comes from hearing, hearing by the word of God. We know that we have eternal life through Him who saved us by grace, through faith, without works, so that no one can boast. We did nothing for our salvation and Jesus did it all for us just because He loved us. John 3:16 We know that we have eternal life because we are the sons and daughters of God through the new birth when we first believed. That all of our sins have been paid for, past, present, and future. We believe that God can not lie. So if we believe the gospel that salvation is a free gift of God, we have eternal life because God said so. Since Jesus paid our sin debt in full, we can not go to hell because our sins have all been paid for. He took the punishment we deserve upon Himself. He became sin for us who knew no sin. Salvation can only be accepted as a free gift so that God gets all the glory of saving us sinners. If turning from sin to God would save us, then Jesus died in vain. If inviting Jesus in to our heart would save us, then Jesus died in vain. If doing good works could save us, then Jesus died in vain. If changing our life and giving up our bad habits could save us, then Jesus died in vain. If reading our bible, going to church, praying, and giving money could save us, then Jesus died in vain.
ainsley chalmers
Supporter
Faith comes from hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17) because the Bible tells us much about God by pointing out that all good things, like love, hope, joy, salvation, creation, mercy, justice etc, come from him. Basically therefore we trust God and have faith in him because we know him personally through the Bible inspired by God himself through the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16). So faith, like the promises in Holy Scripture, are both wonderful gifts from God to us.
Dean Mathes
Supporter
The word faith can be a verb, or a noun. When used as a verb it applies to ones actions. It is better translated "faithful," but is always tied to the actions of the individual. Hebrews 13 is the faith chapter, and describes how great men and women of faith were justified by their actions of faith. When faith is used as a noun, it refers to a deep conviction that the Gospel of Christ is true. The result of that faith is justification. Thayers Greek dictionary defines faith in God, and Jesus: "Relating to God; the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. Relating to Christ; a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God" So, is faith an action or a condition? If an action we are saved by our actions, if a condition we are saved by Christ's action on the cross. I believe we are saved by both. First, a sinner must take the action of reconciliation by recognizing that they are a sinner and need God. Secondly, God then gives us the gift of faith. John 3:14 KJVS "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up" We know by this verse that the serpent in the wilderness was a type of Christ. The people were saved when they took the act of faith and traveled to look to the serpent. (Verb) Once they looked at the serpent they were Saved from death by God's gift. (Noun) My favorite verses in the Bible: Ephesians 2:8 KJVS [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. So, to answer the question, first is individual mans faith, second is the gift of salvation and faith that God gives us. Every believer knows there is not a logical reason to believe that Jesus was fully God, fully man, born of a virgin, and died on the cross for my sin. Why do you believe that, because God gave you the gift of faith when you asked Him into your life.
Edwin Danny Reaid
Supporter
Every “good gift and every perfect gift is from above”, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17, KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: “[it is] the gift of God”, Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, KJV) So, “what gift has God given” to "one man in his ability to believe” that God did not give “another man in his ability not to believe”. Regeneration, quickening or “born from above” by the Holy Spirit ~ “split second” prior to coming to “Faith”. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but [according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost]. (Titus 3:5, KJV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4, KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6, KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith (Hebrews 12:2, KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29, KJV) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17, KJV) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:33, KJV) I understand these verses to say salvation (regeneration) is given only by God, through faith and by grace. Man contributes nothing. Regenerate man, however, lives in faithfulness by the Holy Spirit’s tutelage and power. Like a dimmer on a light switch, he can live in the full light of Christ or the dimness of his own will. The dimness of his self-will does not forfeit his salvation but his fellowship with God and his witness to others.
Grant Abbott
Supporter
I believe both the statements in this question are true but not for the reasons given above. I think they are part of a continuum of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Here is what I mean: 1) God reveals his plan of salvation to us through his word 2) We choose whether or not to believe his message 3) When we choose to believe, then God gives us the faith, to trust what we have believed 4) When we put our faith in action, we demonstrate our trust in God and become holy Then the cycle starts again as God reveals more of his plan of salvation, we decide to believe, we exercise our faith and we become more like Jesus. God’s plan is to save us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. I think we often view “faith” and “belief” as synonymous but I don’t think they are. To believe is to make an intellectual decision of our will to accept something as true. To have faith is to have a deep conviction that what we believe is true and we are willing to trust our lives with this belief in what God has said and done. When we hear the gospel message, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and hearts to understand what Jesus has done for us; this is the grace of God at work. When we choose to believe the gospel we receive God’s salvation from the penalty of sin. At that moment we are born again into eternal life, as the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. He convinces us from the Word of God, that what we believe is true. He gives us a deep conviction that we can trust God, with every aspect of our lives. This, too, is the grace of God at work in us. God then directs our lives to refine our faith and develop our holiness. Here is an Old Testament example to show this interrelationship between salvation, belief and faith. In 1 Kings 17 & 18 we read about the prophet Elijah and his relationship with the widow of Zarephath and Obadiah (Ahab’s palace administrator). We see Salvation demonstrated in several ways: 1) God announces through Elijah a drought intended to turn (save) Israel from its sin, 2) God saves Elijah by telling him where to flee from the king’s wrath, 3) God saves Elijah from the drought by giving him food from ravens, 4) God saves Elijah by directing the widow at Zarephath to feed him, 5) God saves the widow from starvation by a miracle of bread and oil, 6) God saves the widow’s son from death by Elijah’s prayer for resurrection, 7) God saves 100 of his prophets from Jezebel’s killing spree by using Obadiah, a devout believer, who was also the palace administrator. We see Belief demonstrated in the following ways: 1) Elijah believed that he was God’s prophet and the message about the drought was true, 2) the widow believed Elijah’s word that the flour and oil would not be depleted until the drought had ended, 3) Elijah believed that God could restore life to the widow’s dead son, 4) Obadiah believed Elijah’s word that he would present himself to king Ahab. We see faith demonstrated in the following ways: 1) Elijah had faith to proclaim the Lord’s message about the drought, 2) Elijah had faith that God would protect him from the king’s wrath at the Kerith Ravine, 3) Elijah had faith that God would give him food and drink during the drought, 4) Elijah had faith to proclaim God’s provision of food for the widow, 4) the widow had faith to bake the loaf of bread for Elijah causing the miracle to begin, 5) Elijah had faith to pray for God to resurrect the widow’s dead son, 6) the widow had faith to trust that the word of the Lord from Elijah’s mouth was the truth, 7) Obadiah had faith to worship the Lord form his youth, 8) Obadiah had faith to hide 100 prophets of God in 2 caves to protect them from Jezebel’s killing spree, 9) Obadiah had faith to trust that Elijah would present himself to king Ahab. Salvation, belief and faith always work together to bring us eternal life, that holy state of being that Jesus promised, which is abundantly fulfilling and deeply satisfying.
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