Do you believe that god calls some to have faith but not others?

Question

I've seen a few people express this idea, and I just wanted to see what everyone thought of it?

Answer 1

Scripture clearly teaches what you are suggesting.

Matthew 11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Mat 13:10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
Mat 13:11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mat 13:12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Mat 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Mat 13:14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.
Mat 13:10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
Mat 13:11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mat 13:12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Mat 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Mat 13:14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.

Mat 15:13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Joh 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Joh 6:65 And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."

Joh 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
Joh 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Joh 8:45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
Joh 8:46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Joh 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

Joh 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Joh 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Joh 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Rom 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Rom 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

1Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Eph 1:5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Eph 1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

2Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
2Th 2:10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2Th 2:11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
2Th 2:12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2Th 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
2Th 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

1Peter 2:8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

1John 4:6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

If you study these scriptures you will see that God's word teaches that not all people are called to faith. Many are called, few are chosen.

Answer 2

I believe God desires relationship with people. If faith is seen as a positive thing, then why would God call some to faith and not everyone? I don't believe faith = salvation, but if faith is part of salvation, then it would also have to be something God calls everyone to. I do wonder sometimes if some people are just "wired" differently.

Answer 3

According to the BIble, everyone was called to have faith and believe Him but only few had answered this calling and others didn't listen. . . As what I've learned since a child, it is said in the Bible. . John 3:16 . . For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten son that whosoever believeth in HIM shall not perish but has an everlasting life. . Now, when we say whosoever, it means anybody, meaning all of us. It is just that we failed to hear GOD calling us because we do not open our heart to HIM. Try to talk to HIM through PRAYER and I guarantee you that HE will answer all your Questions. . Good luck. . . Try reading the BIBLE

Answer 4

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


1 Timothy 2:4

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


Matthew 18:11-14

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine

which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

God wants everyone saved.
You don't have to read many R&S posts to see many use their freewill to reject forgiveness of sin and salvation.

Answer 5

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance"
2 Peter 3:9

"For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure OF FAITH" Romans 12:3

Sorry to copy and paste this time,but the 2 verses say it all..

Answer 6

some people are never exposed to faith - they never hear of it or they don't understand it and they die that way. Think about people in remote tribes and so on. So of course some people are never even offered salvation.

I don't know why or how God chooses who can be saved and who cannot. But just looking at how the world is, you can see there are people who are never given a chance. I wish I knew why but God has his reasons. It is not my place to judge, although I do find it sad.

Answer 7

No, I don't. I think 'faith' is an individual belief, not something given by a supreme being such as God. I have 'faith' and know I chose that path myself, it wasn't conferred on me.

Interesting question, though!

Answer 8

I'd have to look it up to find it exactly, but if I remember correctly, it is in the Bible that it is only through the Holy Spirit that one can believe in God. I do believe that God has given us free will, and some of us just ignore His call.

Answer 9

i believe that deep within every man woman and child there is a fundimental idea of god, god wants everyone to have faith in him, but he is not a begger, he wants us to want to serve him, and not to question him, and some people are not open to spirtuality, and some are completely open to it, i think faith is given freely to anyone who will have it

Answer 10

No, God gave each of us free will..it's really about whether or not we CHOSE to have faith.

Answer 11

it supposes everybody has faith in God.. without to be called by him..