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Promises: Imparted Faith

Promises: Imparted Faith

• November 13, 2024 •
sparks of firecracker

“God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” (Romans 12:3b, CSB)

Where does faith come from? How does it begin? How does it grow? The answers to those questions are our next Jesus Person Promise. 

The Bible tells us that faith is the starting point. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, CSB) But faith in God is not innate; it is acquired. Neither is faith something we can manufacture on our own. The spark, the seed, the beginnings of our faith begins with God’s grace. 

There are three appropriate similes to describe this beginning. Faith is like a spark that starts a fire. A pile of wood can’t spontaneously combust. It requires a spark or flame from outside itself. Faith is like a sourdough starter. A lump of dough can’t become bread without the addition of a small bit of sourdough (or yeast). Faith is like a seed planted in the field of our hearts. The field is barren until the seed is planted. Faith doesn’t begin with us; it begins with God.

Jesus is the author, the originator, of our faith. “looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, NASB 2020) Jesus is also the perfecter of our faith, which grows as we walk with Him. But all of this is from God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, NASB 2020)

This promise is both humbling and empowering. Humbling because it reminds us that everything, even our faith, is from God. Empowering because He gives us everything we need, including the faith to start believing in Him. 

Other verses for this promise  (Compiled by David Wilkerson)

  • Romans 12:3
  • Ephesians 2:8
  • Galatians 5:22-23
  • 1 Peter 1:8-9
  • Hebrews 10:38
  • Hebrews 11:6
  • James 1:3
  • 1 Peter 1:7
  • Romans 1:17
  • Galatians 3:22
  • Galatians 3:26
  • Philippians 1:29
  • 1 John 5:4
  • Romans 10:17
  • Hebrews 6:12
  • Mark 9:23
  • 2 Chronicles 20:20
  • Ephesians 6:16
  • Acts 16:31
  • John 20:29
  • Matthew 17:20
  • Matthew 21:21
  • Mark 11:23
  • Matthew 21:22
  • John 15:7
  • John 16:24
  • 1 John 3:22
  • 1 John 5:14-15
  • 1 Timothy 6:12
  • John 14:13
  • John 14:14
  • Romans 5:1
Dale Heinold
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