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the Struggle for Faith??
newgene87:
So I was doing some thinking of HOW we get Faith... after reading Ray's paper (FINALLY) on James and Paul - it all clicked. I was left a little empty on how we got Faith. In light of Hebrews 11:6 - "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Im still a little foggy on that but that's not the point. So i prayed about it and kept on with my daily reading. And i found in Jude...
"... it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (1:3)
I took Ray's words to heart and zeroed in on the important words of "earnestly contend" for the faith; and looked that it's to struggle for; fight, strive. I even found the link of the verse in Luke 13:24 - "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
So, am i right in seeing that, Faith is something for us to struggle for?? Like, I took firm hope in Ephesians 2:8 - " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" --- that this faith, through His Grace; was BOTH the gift of God - but now i see, we are to struggle, strive and fight for it... am i right in interpreting it that way?? If not, can someone assist my thinking on this? I already know that "faith" is not of us, and we are NOT to have Faith in God, but have the Faith OF God (or is that right, according to Scripture) cause if that's the case, i can see why it's a Struggle. I also noticed Paul tell us to, "Fight the good fight of Faith..." (1 Timothy 6:12). this slowly become disheartening because i want to have faith so bad. Maybe someone can help me
Thanks
Eugene
eggi:
Hi Eugene,
As you said it yourself:
this slowly become disheartening because i want to have faith so bad. Maybe someone can help me.
Are you struggling for faith? Yes, it seems so.
Does that contradict that it is God who is dragging you to Him? No. It is still God who has given you the faith you have, and it is still God who will give you the rest. It is a free gift. However, it is not coming floating down the river, we have to walk upstream!
God bless you,
Eirik
onelovedread:
"…SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?"
Here is a prophecy of Jesus concerning how much faith He expected to find on earth when He comes to establish His Kingdom in the earth:
"And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall He find FAITH on the earth? (Luke 18:7-8).
The answer of course is: "Little: He shall not find but very little faith." But don’t take my word for it. Notice what Dr. Strong says regarding this word ara translated "shall" in the King James:
G687 a???a ara ar'-ah "A form of G686, denoting an interrogation to which a negative answer is presumed: - therefore."
This Greek word "PRESUMES a NEGATIVE answer." Jesus asked a rhetorical question the answer to which was obvious, and therefore needed no answer—OF COURSE He will find virtually no faith on the earth when He comes! That is because "many are called but few are chosen." And only among the "few chosen" do we find the "chosen and faithful" (Rev. 17:14).
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: newgene87 on July 22, 2012, 05:00:06 PM ---So I was doing some thinking of HOW we get Faith... after reading Ray's paper (FINALLY) on James and Paul - it all clicked. I was left a little empty on how we got Faith. In light of Hebrews 11:6 - "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Im still a little foggy on that but that's not the point. So i prayed about it and kept on with my daily reading. And i found in Jude...
"... it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (1:3)
I took Ray's words to heart and zeroed in on the important words of "earnestly contend" for the faith; and looked that it's to struggle for; fight, strive. I even found the link of the verse in Luke 13:24 - "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
So, am i right in seeing that, Faith is something for us to struggle for?? Like, I took firm hope in Ephesians 2:8 - " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" --- that this faith, through His Grace; was BOTH the gift of God - but now i see, we are to struggle, strive and fight for it... am i right in interpreting it that way?? If not, can someone assist my thinking on this? I already know that "faith" is not of us, and we are NOT to have Faith in God, but have the Faith OF God (or is that right, according to Scripture) cause if that's the case, i can see why it's a Struggle. I also noticed Paul tell us to, "Fight the good fight of Faith..." (1 Timothy 6:12). this slowly become disheartening because i want to have faith so bad. Maybe someone can help me
Thanks
Eugene
--- End quote ---
You do have faith Eugene, you wouldn't be here if you didn't. One doesn't constantly think/talk/study about God if they didn't have faith.
Try not to be so pessimistic when you read 'difficult' scriptures. Our Father already knows everything that is necessary to make us righteous and will deliver us as He has promised.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Marques
Kat:
Hi onelovedread,
Luke 18:8 I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?
This verse made me wonder what it was saying about the faith of the elect. Well then I considered that when Christ comes to the earth the elect will be 'with' Him, as they will already have been resurrected. So the angels "will gather together His elect" (Mat. 2:31) and they will join Him "in the air," before He descends to the earth.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
v. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
The elect will be "the armies" that come with Him, so they will not still be with the nations on the earth.
Rev 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
v. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
v. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
v. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
v. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
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