The Infusion of Faith as a Gift of the Holy Spirit
The error of the Arminians, as it pertains to faith, is the denial of the infusion of faith by the Holy Spirit. In their man-centered system of theology, the Arminians claim that faith is a self-generated act of man. They deny that God can interfere with the free will of man, by infusing new qualities, powers, or gifts into his will. Masquerading orthodoxy, Arminians will sometimes claim that the gift of grace is God giving man the power to use faith, as a work of his free will. In other words, God helps those who are ready to help themselves.
In this matter of corruption, the Arminian denies total depravity. He claims that Adam’s will was the same before and after the fall. External obstacles prevented the mind and heart affections from operating to their full capacity. The Arminian invention of common grace blesses the unregenerate man with whatever wisdom and power he needs to make his free will decision, regarding Jesus, by employing the light of nature (common grace).
For the Arminian, he must at all cost, keep man in the position to facilitate his personal, faith action. To him, an action of man could never be a gift. When the apostle Paul speaks of grace, it is merely God helping man to make a better decision. Man, takes God’s grace and resists it, if he chooses, or helps himself to it. Man determines his own eternal destiny.
Changing the meaning of words — a regular Arminian practice — helps us to see their devious sophistry. Following the serpent’s suggestion in the garden, for men to act like gods (free will decision to disobey God), this is exactly the suggestion of Arminian, free will decisionalism, today. Make your decision and you will be like God, having the power to determine human destiny.
Does the Bible teach that God infuses gifts, qualities, or powers into the will of the regenerate? First, Jeremiah 31:33b, “I will put My Law within them, and on their heart I will write it.” Second, Isaiah 44:3, “For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground, I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring.” Third, this spiritual infusion is exactly what God did, as noted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:5b, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Fourth, God’s people pray the obvious, “Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned (Jer 31:18d).”
How do dry bones live? Ezekiel 37 depicts this infusion of qualities and power, solely as a gift of God, in those who are made willing on the day of Christ’s power (Ps 110:3). The spiritually dead are made alive in Christ (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13) on the day they are born again (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). Their dead bodies will be resurrected to life on the Day of Judgment (Jn 5:28–29). It is the exclusive work of God, the life-giving Spirit (Jn 6:63), to cause these miracles to happen at the appointed time in God’s predetermined plan (Acts 2:23).
Those who were ordained to eternal life, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 13:48; 16:31). This is not of themselves (Eph 2:8), it is a gift of God granted to them (Eph 2:9; Phil 1:29). Those who believe in His name were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God (Jn 1:13). But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise (of salvation), by faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe (Gal 3:22).
How was this gift of faith infused into the will of God’s elect, redeemed people? Faith came by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17). In other words, the Good Shepherd called His own sheep, by name (Jn 10:3), and they followed Him because they knew His voice (Jn 10:4). He gave them ears to hear, and they received the implanted Word of life (Jas 1:21). How could they not believe? His Spirit had already baptized them (Mt 3:11; Jn 1:33; Acts 1:5;, regenerated them (1 Pet 1:3), and indwelt them (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).
The infusion continues for the adopted child of God (Rom 8:15, 23). God’s gift of the Spirit causes them to know God’s covenant that includes them (Ps 25:14). God’s Spirit causes them to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27). The reason is that they no longer live, but Christ now lives in them. The life they now live is by infused faith, in the Son of God, who loved His own sheep, and who laid down His life for them in particular (Jn 10:11, 15; Gal 2:20). This is more than enablement or empowerment for dead men to choose well. It is life from the dead, a new creation (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15).
Whosoever believes, in union with Christ (1 Jn 4:13), shall not perish but has eternal life (Jn 3:16), for He who has the Son has eternal life (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12). How does one receive the Son (Jn 1:12)? We have seen from the Scriptures that Jesus Christ is received, as a gift of God’s grace (Eph 2:8), at the receipt of the Spirit of Christ, who is the gift of God (Acts 2:38; 10:45; Rom 5:5). The Father and the Son send the Spirit to whomever the Father has given to the Son (Jn 6:37; 14:26; 15:26), and to these Jesus has willed to reveal the Father (Mt 11:27). It is the irresistible grace of the sovereign God that secures salvation for His elect saints (Titus 3:5), and the same grace preserves them until glory (Rom 8:30).
As is our regular duty and service to the church, we reject the error of the Arminians, in this matter, at the intersection of man’s corruption and conversion. We have shown that faith is not a mere enablement by grace, nor is it a mere act of man, but clearly, faith is an infused gift of God, by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit. Conversion can only follow regeneration; for it is the grace of the already indwelling Spirit that grants repentance (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25) and manifests faithfulness in the Christian (Gal 5:22), as a fruit of her union with the true and living Vine (Jn 15:1), Jesus Christ.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 9, 2022
