a measure of faith

[explorer]

if each man has been given a measure of faith, and man reads the scriptures and accepts them as true and good, why can't that same man find his own lot of faith to also accept the salvation of those scriptures for himself?

[explorer]

hi nonson, nice to hear from you. i am not a scholar of the bible so bear with me. the giving of faith is supported by scripture if i understand it correctly.

rm 12:3 "according as god halth dealt to every man a measure of faith." Icor 12:9 in speaking of the giving of spiritual gifts "to another faith by the same spirit."

if i understand the bible, and that's a big if, when you hear and accept the WORD you have faith. the word is christ and christ is faith. gal 3:2 "...received you the spirit by the works of the law (mosaic convenant), or by hearing faith (convenant of grace, christ)?" gal 3:23-25 "Before faith come,(before christ came) we were kept under the law,(condemned by the law because we could'nt keep it) shut up unto faith which should afterwards be revealed. wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to christ, that we might be justified by faith. after faith come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

so my line of thinking is when you hear and accept the word, (christ) you are should have faith. but....in ot there are several examples of men of faith. were did they get their faith? it had to be given by the spirit of god. when job was being tested, it wasnt his patience that was being tested, it was his faith. so the only conclusion i can draw as to why someone doesnt have faith while believing in the scriptures, is because that person has looked inside themselves and seen their unworthiness. the scriptures are a testimony of saving faith. had noah not had faith in what god said and built the ark man would'nt exist today. nt is filled with people being healed because of their faith.

*point of interest, there were 2 convenants the mosaic and the convenant of grace. when the tablets were written they had to be written twice. the first set was broken by moses. is this symbolic?

anyway, my head is spinning. i feel like one those dogs you see running in circles chasing their tail. thanks for your input, it made me dig out my bible which i had'nt done for a long while.

[SandyO]

All the words in all the books ever written by man cannot give you faith....they may inspire you, but not one ounce of faith do they impart.

Faith, as defined in the Bible, is "believing in" something that cannot be seen, heard, nor touched. Instead, of "hoping for" or "believing in" a Higher Power, a God, or a Jesus.......wouldn't you rather know for certain? Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the Mind of God and of Jesus in terms of today, not 2000 to 5000 years ago, but today. Is that possible? Sure.

It is a measure of truth given to man not a measure of faith.

[explorer]

let me think about that one, and don't go away, i just need a moment to get my thoughts in order. i see what sandyo is saying about all the words man has written but, with the bible, man put it to paper but the words were inspired by god. by the way, the brackets and notes are for my benefit. to help me keep my thoughts in order.

are you saying that there is only one existing covenant, the covenant of grace? because i believe that to be true. and i think that there are examples of adam's faith in the bible. let me run back to my bible and check.

THANKS!!!

(got any ideas as to what else it is that i'm struggling with? because i don't have the foggiest notion. i just know i don't seem to be getting any closer to finding the answer, i just find another question)

[explorer]

thinking.....thinking....thinking.....