What is This Gift of Faith?

We Christians often speak about this gift of faith but what exactly is it? Basically, it's the god-given ability to believe and surrender to
Christ.

So, how do people get this gift of salvation? Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 (BBE)that, "Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God:"

This faith to believe in Christ isn't some mysterious property. God gives it away to whom he chooses. Romans 6:23 (BBE) shows that we earn our punishment but receive salvation freely. "For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."

But why doesn't everybody have this gift? God, in his sovereign wisdom, chose certain people to be redeemed from the slave market of sin. As Jesus himself said in Matthew 22:14 (BBE) about these folks who responded to the call to his banquet, "For out of all to whom the good news has come, only a small number will get salvation."

Furthermore, Paul gives the reason why those who aren't responding to the gospel can't respond to it on their own. Ephesians 2:1 and 2 (BBE) reads, "And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins, In which you were living in the past, after the ways of this present world, doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air, the spirit who is now working in those who go against the purpose of God;"

And this is how people are brought to new life spiritually. They must hear the gospel proclaimed. Paul reasoned in Romans 10:14 (BBE), "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

So we realize that most people are in effect spiritual zombies. They were physically born but not from above. I'll point out these important scriptures in my next paperback called You Think You're Going to Heaven? It may be used by the Lord to bring the walking dead to eternal life.

On Thursday, I'll deal with the subject of a scripture which some people use as a magic spell.