Sunday, September 18, 2005

Thank God for Faith

Faith comes from God. That is why Paul regularly gave thanks to God for the faith of those who believed in Jesus Christ.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:15-16)

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints — the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven. (Colossians 1:3-5 NIV)

We gives thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
Notice that it is not only faith that comes from God, but also love and hope. Faith brings forth good works, love energizes extraordinary effort, and hope results in patient expectation. The attributes and their fruit all come to us from God.
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The Thessalonians received faith from God by the Word that was preached to them.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other. (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
Not only does our faith come from God, but we also grow in our faith because of God. From beginning to end, it is all about the God. There is no boasting before Him, only receiving and enjoying the benefits of His gracious work in us.

Thank God, the source of all true faith.

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