Is faith a gift from God or is it self-generated?
QUESTION: According to Ephesians 2v8-9, is faith a gift from God or is it self-generated? If I believed and made it to heaven and you didn't did I save myself by my faith? ANSWER: Great question. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that salvation is by grace through faith , and not of ourselves —it’s the gift of God , not of works , lest anyone should boast. But what does that mean for faith itself? Some believe faith is part of the gift , that God gives it directly and irresistibly. That’s the Reformed view . But from a dispensational perspective , which I hold to, grace is the gift , and faith is the means by which we receive it. Faith isn’t meritorious —it doesn’t earn salvation—but it is the God-ordained condition for receiving it. Romans 4:5 backs this up: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” So no, you didn’t save yourself by believing. God saved you—through faith . You responded to the gospel,...