The Origin of the Believer’s Christian Faith

Some people believe in Jesus Christ, and some people do not believe in Jesus Christ (Jn 10:26). Why is there a difference? Where does faith come from? What does it accomplish?

First, faith in Jesus Christ is a gift of God (1 Cor 12:9; Eph 2:8–9). God gave gifts to men, and one of His gifts was faith. When we go back to the Garden of Eden, we observe Adam and Eve (Gen 1–3). What was the first sin? It was not trusting God’s Word. Our first parents did not believe in the promise and provision of God. Falling out of favor with God and into slavery to Satan, people, for the most part, lost their knowledge of God. If God did not wish to have mercy on some people and reveal Himself again to them, we would all simply die in our sins and suffer eternal punishment.

In the earliest generations of humanity, God revealed himself to Abram, who was granted right standing, as a called-out friend of God, being justified by faith (Gen 15:6; Gal 3:6). Adam was guilty because of the disobedience of unbelief, but Abraham was declared, “not guilty,” because he trusted in God’s covenant promises, and His atoning sacrifice for sins (Gen 12, 15). These were types of Christ’s covenant, cut with His own blood atonement for sins (Mt 26:28). The same faith Abraham was given is required of us.

Christians believe certain things, and these comprise the Christian faith. Foremost in our system of belief is the identity of God in Christ and the work accomplished by all three persons of the Triune Godhead. From the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325), our most universal statement of faith, came expanded creeds of faith like Chalcedon (A.D. 451) and the Apostles’ Creed (c. 700).

A Christian in a certain tradition will point to her denomination’s aligned confession (Augsburg, 39 Articles, Westminster, Heidelberg, London, Philadelphia, etc.). In essence, she is saying, “This is how we understand and practice the Christian faith.” Creeds and confessions, like other Christian writings, are not inspired in the same manner as the Holy Bible. They are simply helpful tools for understanding the Scriptures, in which our faith is actually revealed and resides.

Most people, even many Christians, think faith is something self-generated by an individual. Faith is actually granted to a person for Christ’s sake (Phil 1:29). It is received as a common faith by all Christians (2 Pet 1:1; Jude 3), but it is measured out proportionately by God to individuals (Rom 12:3). In other words, we can say there is a common Christian faith, but each person walks through life with varying degrees of faith. Some are said to have “great faith” (Mt 8:10; 15:28). Jesus’ disciples entreated Him, “Increase our faith” (Lk 17:5).” This was, in part, because of Jesus’ frequent charge against them, “O ye of little faith” (Lk 12:28). So little or no faith is not favorable.

Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6), so the one who has not received the gift of faith has no assurance of the things hoped for like the ones who have received it (Heb 11:1). These believing people are called “faithful” (Rev 17:14) because faithfulness is being manifested in them as a fruit of the Spirit of Christ (Gal 5:22), who is called, “Faithful” (Rev 1:5; 19:11). In other words, the gift of God, the Holy Spirit of the Faithful Christ, is spreading faith, as a spiritual gift and spiritual fruit, to people by indwelling and abiding in them. God’s Spirit Himself is gift from the Father and the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26), and who gives Himself (God is love, Christ is peace, God is good, etc.) through manifested gifts like faithfulness.

If there is anything faithful in our faithfulness, it is Christ, who is faithful. Paul wrote, “to the saints, at Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1).” How are they faithful? They abide in faithfulness (Christ). They walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7) in what God has taught them, as they walk by His Spirit, who is their teacher (Jn 14:26). What God has caused them to learn is Christ Jesus, who is called, “true knowledge” and “wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24; Col 2:2; 3:10).

Second, faith has an object. Jesus said, “Have faith in God (Mk 11:22).” Some have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21), and this is as much positional, as it is practical. A believer practices faith in Christ because she is a believer positioned in Christ (1 Cor 1:30). Those positioned outside of Christ do not have faith in Him. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).” In Christ, there are faithful ones exercising faith. Outside of Christ, there is no faith practiced and only unfaithful ones. Therefore, to be transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son is to receive faith (Col 1:13; 2 Pet 1:1), practice faith, and remain in Him, who is our trust (faith).

Third, the Christian life is a journey of faith through a war zone. God is our help (Ps 46:1), and we trust in the Lord, forever (Is 26:4), not in ourselves (2 Cor 9:1). We are not alone. God, who is faithful to strengthen us (2 Thess 3:3), sends others, like Timothy, to strengthen and encourage us (1 Thess 3:2). Whole churches are strengthened in the faith (Acts 16:5), especially when they see God’s Spirit at work through those who trust in His name (Acts 3:16).

Paul knew it was the Lord Jesus Christ who strengthened him in his faith (1 Tim 1:12). Jesus has prayed for our faith, so it will not fail (Lk 22:32). John Bunyan made a fascinating observation pertaining to the whole armor of God, explained by Paul in Ephesians 6:10–20. Bunyan observed every device given to the Christian warrior for spiritual battle actually depicts Jesus Christ. Christians are to put on Christ (Rom 13:14), and we are to put on the whole armor of God (Eph 6:10–20).

If the articles of armor tell us anything, they tell us Christ is all and in all (Col 3:11). Put on the belt of truth. Christ is truth (Jn 14:6). Put on the breast plate of righteousness. Christ is righteousness (1 Cor 1:30). Put on the helmet of salvation. Christ is salvation (Acts 4:12; 2 Tim 2:10). Put on the shoes of the Gospel. Christ is the Gospel (Eph 1:13; Rom 15:19). Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Christ is the Word of God (Jn 1:1, 14). In addition to all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrow of the evil one (Eph 6:16). Christ is faithful (Rev. 19:11), our shield and defender (2 Sam 22:3; Ps 33:20).

Fourth, faith works (Jas 2:17). True faith, that is, Christ, works in us and through us to do the good works prepared for us beforehand (Gal 2:20; Eph 2:10). In Christ Jesus, faith is working through love (Gal 5:6) because the work of faith is a labor of love (1 Thess 1:3). Who is behind a labor of love? It is God, who is love, and who is in us to will and to do His good pleasure (1 Jn 4:8; Phil 2:13). Thus, we can say that God is working your faith. After all, He is the author (Heb 12:2), and He finishes the good work of faith He has begun in you (Phil 1:6). He fulfills every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power (2 Thess 1:11).

Has your faith saved you (Lk 7:50)? Let us be clear, Christ saves you through faith (Eph 2:8–9). Has faith healed some people (Mt 5:34; Lk 8:48)? Again, it was Christ who healed, but faith was manifest, and as noted, faith had been given to them by God’s grace (Phil 1:29; Gal 3:22; Eph 2:8–9; 2 Pet 1:1).

So, we have learned of the origin of faith and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Faith is a gift of God to those positioned in Christ and who practice faith toward one object: God in Christ. God works faith, daily, in the Christian’s walk of faith.

Whatever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23), so faith is all encompassing for the Christian. Whatever we do, we do by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal 2:20). Simply put…to remember where faith has come from and what it accomplishes, “For from Him is faith, through Him is faith, and to Him is faith.”

David E. Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

February 28, 2021