Do you desire to have a better understanding of faith? My guest blogger today gives us some clear insight into Saving Faith and the Spiritual Gift of Faith.
Faith in God is the most essential thing that a person needs in order to expect God to move on one’s behalf. Hebrews 11:6 informs its reader that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” So, what exactly is faith? Faith, as translated from the Greek word pistis, is defined as having trust and confidence in God. It also refers to giving credence to the truth of His (God’s) word.
Faith is great! Faith takes one above and beyond where they were. Faith takes one from a life without Christ, to a life that experiences the grace of God which brings one into an eternal relationship with Him. This can be referred to as saving faith (see Ephesians 2:8). Faith is great in that God’s saving grace is availed to those who believe in the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus the Christ, and yield themselves over to His Lordship.
It should be borne in mind that faith does not stop at salvation. The just live by faith. The just walk by faith. The just work by faith. The just even die in faith.
By looking into the spiritual gifts that are given by the Spirit of God to those who are in the body of Christ, you will notice that one of the gifts given is the gift of faith. Even though faith in God carries the same definition, this gift goes beyond saving faith.
Notice the following in I Corinthians 12: 1, 4, 5-6
- Now concerning spiritual gifts (literally spirituals [Greek] pneumatikos).
- Diversities (various) of gifts, i.e. spiritual endowments, but the same Spirit.
- Differences of administrations/variety of ministries, but the same Lord.
- Diversities of operations/distinction of effect in the works, but the same God being active in all.
Verse 9 informs us that faith is one of the spiritual endowments that fall into this category.
The gift of faith (sometimes referred to as extraordinary faith) is faith that goes beyond saving faith. The gift of faith is given to believers in the body of Christ for the benefit of all in the body of Christ. For example: there is a particular need which appears to be beyond man’s ability to fulfill, and yet God has endowed someone with the ability or capacity to believe and accomplish such a deed. This would be the working of the gift of faith: God supernaturally endowing someone to place their trust, reliance, and confidence in God towards accomplishing the extraordinary.
From what has been discussed in this editorial, it should be clear to all who believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that faith in God to access God’s grace for salvation, and faith given by God as a spiritual gift to the believer fits into the category of greatness. (I Corinthians 13:13).
Guest Blogger
Dr. Thomas L. Dozier, Sr. Pastor
The Word of Grace and Truth Ministries
Tampa, FL 33610