Q.
Question: Hello brother John. Can you please explain Romans 12:3 specifically the part where it says “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” I understand the context here when it comes to gifts but I’m missing the part of God allowing us faith. If faith is man’s response to grace then how is God giving us a level or measurement of faith? Thank you kindly and God bless.
Steven
A.
Hello Steven,
Great question!
Everything good must have its source in God. Faith is always a response to God, but it is never automatic. Faith can be summed up as “God-dependence.” But this implies faith is a response to God. Romans 10:17 says explicitly, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Therefore, faith is always a response to hearing the Spirit speak to you the word on a given matter.
Faith is not wishful thinking. That would start with man. Rather, faith gets inspired by the Spirit guiding you to the truth you need to trust in a given situation (John 16:13). Faith, through this divine initiative, has its source in God. God must first work in order for faith to be real (Phil. 2:13).
God’s economy of grace and faith has three phases. First, God stirs through the Spirit speaking to you the truth that you need as the foundation of faith for a given matter. Second, faith responds (or unbelief responds). Third, God works when faith responds. In summary, God responds to those who respond to God. There is a divine order: Spirit-convincing, faith responding, Spirit-enabling.
In this way we see how God allots faith. It is not some outside alien element inserted like a chip making the response inevitable. It is the Spirit revealing what God’s will is through the divine initiation of stirring you to trust on a given matter.
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