I stumbled across this answer to another question on here:
"You don't unless you have faith and the only ones that have faith are those whom God gives it to. So pray and ask God for faith and if He does you will believe that it is truth."
This is the belief of at least one Christian. Are there other Christians that feel this way? If so, why?
If you don't have the faith to pray to God, then you will NEVER receive faith, if it is a gift from God that is granted only to those who ask. Does this work for anyone?
2006-10-23 04:58:00 · 8 answers · asked by Rev Kev 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ooohh you are into the whole the elect of God Calvinistic thing. Be careful. No, we all have the choice whether to search for the truth. When God finds our hearts ready to see Him, He reveals Himself through the faith He has given you. But you had to search first. I could give you Eph 2:8-9 that we are not saved because of works but by faith which is from God, lest any man boast. That is true also. So it isnt that you are condemned to hell the minute you are born, because you arent chosen. but your heart was softened and you sought Him first. God does try to bring every man to salvation but some will never accept. He stands at the door and knocks right? any man who opens the door He will come in with and dine with. So God waits at every man's door, but He also knows your heart. It is freewill at its best and worst. He brings you into this world knowing that you will deny Him, but He wont destroy you before you have the chance to deny Him, because He is a just and righteous God.
2006-10-23 05:07:17 · answer #1 · answered by Hurray for the ANGELS! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. See John 6:44.
It is one of those paradoxes that only makes sense once you go to God and ask him for the gift of faith. One must go to God--in whom the person doesn't or barely believes--and ask for faith. It seems a bit bizarre, but it is the way it goes.
The fact is that you have to acknowledge God in some way to begin having faith in his existence. That is, willingness to know God is required to get to know God. God won't just zap people with faith when they have no desire to have it. This is free agency at work.
2006-10-23 05:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that (faith) not of yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
2006-10-23 05:06:45 · answer #3 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that at least one point in everyone's life, they're confronted with/by God. When that happens, you have a choice of whether to believe in Him or not. I think that God reveals Himself and makes Himself available to be known by everyone. Whether you decide to know Him or not is your choice, but I think everyone gets at least one chance.
I think that you don't even have to believe in God to pray to Him. If you're that lazy, that you won't say a prayer (even if you don't think anyone is listening) just in case God does exist, then you don't have any excuse for not getting to heaven. You do have to do a little work for God, it's a relationship, and relationships are two-way streets.
2006-10-23 05:03:30 · answer #4 · answered by STEPHEN J 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Faith isn't the gift, salvation is. Faith is something you give yourself and therefore to God, in return, there is salvation! Hope that clears things up.
2006-10-23 05:00:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists have no proof that God doesn't exist, so they believe by faith.
Faith is real, and is important in almost everyone's lives in some way.
2006-10-23 05:11:45 · answer #6 · answered by The Question Man 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, that's rubbish.
Why would you pray if you didn't have faith in the first place?
2006-10-23 04:59:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. Yes. Another christian-bible contradiction
2006-10-23 04:59:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋