Faith is a Gift
We believe that FAITH is a gift of God contrary to the general belief that it comes from the believer, verses in support notwithstanding:
Mark 11:22 (KJV) “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”
Luke 7:50 (KJV) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Mark 4:40 (KJV) “And he said unto them…how is it that ye have no faith?”
(Plus many more verses)
This is what is written about where faith comes from. It is a gift of God and a fruit of the Spirit. Faith is conferred to the spiritually “converted as a little child” as our Lord said in Mark 10:15. [1] A “little child” is a spiritual suckling (Isaiah 28:9 KJV). Our Lord found this in His apostles (John 13:33).
Luke 17:5 (KJV) “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”
Eph 2:8 (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.”
Gal 5:22 “(KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
It is demonstrated that human understanding is too limited to comprehend “spiritual things” or parables. Example, who can clearly explain the word of our Lord in the following?
Mat 17:20 (KJV) “And Jesus said unto them…for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove…”
Mat 21:21 (KJV) “…Verily I say unto you,If ye have faith, and doubt not…if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”
Christ chose the size of a mustard seed, barely visible to the eye, because FAITH is not supposed to be seen by men as to boast about. The degree is proportional to how “little as a child” we are in the eyes of God. God gives the equivalent of MOUNTAIN to be MEN in Judges 9:36. [2] God’s way is symbolized by the “sea.” [3]
Psalms 77:19 (KJV) “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.”
Thus, a real believer that is spiritually converted into a little child like the apostles can tell to the “mountain”, or his own life, to go to the “sea” or the way of the Lord; it will be done. The apostles’ life was in line with what our Lord showed as example.
[1] Mark 10:15 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
[2] Judg 9:36 (KJV) “…And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” [3]