Belief : The Work of God

We know that belief (of the Gospel) is the work of God from scripture. John 6:29. 2 Corinthians 4:6

Free Will advocates believe that belief of the Gospel or the belief into the one God sent is the work of man even though Jesus says in John 6:29 that belief into Him is the work of God.

Free Will advocates believe that God cannot interfere with man’s response to believe the Gospel or not to believe The Gospel of Christ. They think a person can believe without being generated from above John 3:3,5,8

So, they must believe that believing is the work of man; a work generated from certain men’s self propelled individuality which demonstrates they believe they make the difference between Heaven or Hell instead of Jesus Christ’s atoning shed blood and His imputed perfect righteousness in thought, word and deed alone.

They must be inherently or self generatively different from those that don’t believe; but yet 1 Corinthians 4:7 says you have no reason to boast because what makes you to differ, you have received. I have to believe that includes belief which would correlate with belief being the work of God in John 6:29

2 Thessalonians 2:13

If belief was the work of man, this would give a man a reason to boast which Ephesians 2:8-10 denies. Plus, we know that by man’s work no flesh will be justified in the eyes of God, Romans 3:20 Therefore, salvation comes only by the shed blood and perfect imputed righteousness of the person of Jesus Christ to whomever God chooses to mercy. Romans 9 Matthew’s 1:21

His people He promised to save who were chosen from before the foundation of the world Ephesians 1:4 are generated from above John 3:3,5,8 unto belief of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that salvation is conditioned on the work of His atoning shed blood and His perfect imputed righteousness alone; without any effort or contribution from those He represented as their substitute.

They will know their righteousness is as a filthy menstrual cloth. They will know only God is good and that they do not have a righteousness sufficient to please God.

In Luke 18:13 The tax collector stood at a distance from Jesus begging for mercy because he knew that he had no righteousness of his own. Jesus said in Luke 18:9-14

¶ And He also spoke this parable to some of those relying on themselves, that they are righteous, and despising the rest:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee was standing, praying these things to himself: God, I thank You that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious ones, unrighteous ones, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

12 I fast twice on the sabbath; I tithe things, as many as I get.

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner!

14 I say to you, This one went down to his house having been justified, rather than that one. For everyone exalting himself will be humbled. And the one humbling himself will be exalted.

Luke 18:13 Matthew 1:21 Isaiah 64:6 Romans 9:15,

Scripture interprets Scripture supporting that belief into the One God sent (in the Gospel of Christ) is the work of God and not the work of man; since none are righteous none understand and no one seeks after the true God.

Since Scripture says faith is a gift from God; and John 6:29 says believing is the work of God it leads us to believing that belief is not a work of man and has to be an unmeritorious gift of God since Ephesians 2:8–10 says Faith is a gift so no man can boast.

If faith wasn’t a gift he would have reason to boast whether he took the opportunity or not to boast.

Man will not be justified by any of his efforts or work since salvation is conditioned solely on Christ’s work and perfect righteousness alone. Romans 3 Romans 4

John 6:29

Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe into
Him whom that One sent.

Romans 1:16-17

16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to every (one) believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek;

17 for in it (The Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; even as it is written, “But the just one shall live by faith.” Hab. 2:4

Romans 3:21-27

21 But now apart from law a righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22 even the righteousness of God through faith of Jesus Christ toward all and upon all the ones believing; for there is no difference,

23 for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 being justified undeservedly by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness through the passing over of the sins that had taken place before, in the forbearance of God,

26 for a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for His being just and justifying the one that is of the faith of Jesus.

27 Then where is the boasting? It was shut out. Through what law? Of works? No, but through a Law of faith

Ephesians 2:8-10

for by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God;

not of works, that not anyone should boast;

for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before prepared that we should walk in them.

John 10:26

But you do not believe, for (because) you are not of My sheep, even as I said to you.

Matthew 11:27

All things were given over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and to whomever the Son purposes to reveal Him

Matthew 16:17-18

16 And answering, Simon Peter said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And answering, Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in Heaven.

Romans 9.16

16 So, then, it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of the One having mercy, of God.

Romans 9:18

18 So, then, to whom He wills, He shows mercy; but to whom He wills, He hardens.

John 3:3, 5, 8

Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, If one is not generated from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God

Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, If one is not generated out of water and Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.

The Spirit breathes where He desires, and you hear His voice; but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes; so is everyone having been generated from the Spirit.

John 6-37, 39, 44

All who the Father gives to Me shall come to Me, and the one coming to Me I will not cast out, not ever,

And this is the will of the Father sending Me, that of all that He has given Me, I shall not lose any of it, but shall raise it up in the last day.

No one is able to come to Me if not the Father, the One having sent Me, draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day

John 6:65

And He said, Because of this, I have told you that no one is able to come to Me if it is not given to him from My Father.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

¶ But we ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers, having been loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth,

14 to which He called you through our gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

Because it is God who said, “Out of darkness Light shall shine,” the One who shone in our hearts to give the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Isa. 42:6, 7, 16

All highlights and italics added for emphasis Read KJ3 Literal Translation hit icon on bottom of SGPbooks.com ” Read KJ3 Here”