Does the faith which we exercise in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation come from us, or does it come from God? In our unsaved state, upon hearing the gospel, do we generate the faith to believe from within ourselves, or does God give us that faith?
As I recently studied through and taught the Book of Ephesians, the answer to these questions became very clear to me and I want to share it with you.
The correct answer is that God gives us the faith to believe the gospel. One proof for this is in correctly translating and understanding what is being said in Ephesians 2:8. With this in mind let us examine this verse in the light of the Greek text. The following would be a very literal translation of that text. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not out of you: the gift is of God."
The thing we want to look at for a clearer understanding of the verse is the word we have translated this. Let us ask ourselves what is the this that is the gift of God?
It is translated from the Greek word "rovro," which is a nominative or accusative, singular, neuter, demonstrative pronoun. As many have presupposed "rovro" does not have reference to the aspect of salvation alone in this verse, but clearly refers to the entire concept of the grace, the being saved, and the faith, all being the gift of God. We can know this by understanding how Paul uses this word "rovro" throughout all his writings.
He uses it most often to refer back to a grouping of nouns and verbs; i.e., to an entire concept. Occasionally he uses it to refer ahead to what he is going to say, as in the beginning of Ephesians 4:17. He rarely uses it to refer to a single word, but when he does, it will refer to a word of like case, number, and gender (i.e., nominative or accusative, singular, neuter).
In Ephesians 2:8, there is no word of like case, number, and gender. In fact, the noun forms of the three words preceding in the verse are all feminine in gender; namely, the grace, the salvation, and the faith. Is there a problem? No, not when we see "rovro" commonly used in this way throughout the New Testament.
For some examples of its predominate usage let us look at Ephesians 5:17. In verse 16, we are told that we should be "redeeming the time because the days are evil." Then beginning in verse 17, Paul says, "because of this [rovro], do not be unwise ones, but know what the will of the Lord is." Here "rovro" refers to the entire concept of verse 16.
Another instance is in Ephesians 6:1; "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this [rovro] is right." Again, "rovro" is referring to the entire concept of children obeying their parents.
Lastly, let us examine its usage in Ephesians 6:13. In verse 12, Paul says, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against world rulers of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies." Then beginning in verse 13, we read, "Because of this [rovro; i.e., all these things] take up the whole armour of God."
There are many more examples which we could look at, but from those already cited we can see that the word "rovro" is commonly used to refer back to a grouping of things or thoughts being spoken about. This is the way Paul has used it in Ephesians 2:8. In this verse, the grace, the salvation, and the faith, this (rovro) is the gift of God.
As we are told in Ephesians 2:1, we were dead in our trespasses and our sins. Dead persons can do nothing. They can make no responses and no decisions. As those being spiritually dead, God had to reach in to us to give us life. We could not reach out to Him (cf. John 6:44; Eph. 2:5). As those chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) our salvation is totally the work of God. Even to the point of giving us the faith to believe (cf. Philippians 1:29). May the understanding of this truth give each of us great joy in our God, thanking Him only for the provisions He has made in effecting our eternal salvation.
(A 10 Minute Video)
As I recently studied through and taught the Book of Ephesians, the answer to these questions became very clear to me and I want to share it with you.
The correct answer is that God gives us the faith to believe the gospel. One proof for this is in correctly translating and understanding what is being said in Ephesians 2:8. With this in mind let us examine this verse in the light of the Greek text. The following would be a very literal translation of that text. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not out of you: the gift is of God."
The thing we want to look at for a clearer understanding of the verse is the word we have translated this. Let us ask ourselves what is the this that is the gift of God?
It is translated from the Greek word "rovro," which is a nominative or accusative, singular, neuter, demonstrative pronoun. As many have presupposed "rovro" does not have reference to the aspect of salvation alone in this verse, but clearly refers to the entire concept of the grace, the being saved, and the faith, all being the gift of God. We can know this by understanding how Paul uses this word "rovro" throughout all his writings.
He uses it most often to refer back to a grouping of nouns and verbs; i.e., to an entire concept. Occasionally he uses it to refer ahead to what he is going to say, as in the beginning of Ephesians 4:17. He rarely uses it to refer to a single word, but when he does, it will refer to a word of like case, number, and gender (i.e., nominative or accusative, singular, neuter).
In Ephesians 2:8, there is no word of like case, number, and gender. In fact, the noun forms of the three words preceding in the verse are all feminine in gender; namely, the grace, the salvation, and the faith. Is there a problem? No, not when we see "rovro" commonly used in this way throughout the New Testament.
For some examples of its predominate usage let us look at Ephesians 5:17. In verse 16, we are told that we should be "redeeming the time because the days are evil." Then beginning in verse 17, Paul says, "because of this [rovro], do not be unwise ones, but know what the will of the Lord is." Here "rovro" refers to the entire concept of verse 16.
Another instance is in Ephesians 6:1; "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this [rovro] is right." Again, "rovro" is referring to the entire concept of children obeying their parents.
Lastly, let us examine its usage in Ephesians 6:13. In verse 12, Paul says, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against world rulers of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies." Then beginning in verse 13, we read, "Because of this [rovro; i.e., all these things] take up the whole armour of God."
There are many more examples which we could look at, but from those already cited we can see that the word "rovro" is commonly used to refer back to a grouping of things or thoughts being spoken about. This is the way Paul has used it in Ephesians 2:8. In this verse, the grace, the salvation, and the faith, this (rovro) is the gift of God.
As we are told in Ephesians 2:1, we were dead in our trespasses and our sins. Dead persons can do nothing. They can make no responses and no decisions. As those being spiritually dead, God had to reach in to us to give us life. We could not reach out to Him (cf. John 6:44; Eph. 2:5). As those chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) our salvation is totally the work of God. Even to the point of giving us the faith to believe (cf. Philippians 1:29). May the understanding of this truth give each of us great joy in our God, thanking Him only for the provisions He has made in effecting our eternal salvation.
How God Saves
Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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