The Grace of God – Part Two

In order to support the idea that we are saved by faith, some have even gone so far as to argue that ‘God is faith’. Can this be true? What are they really saying when they inculcate such an idea? Now, there is no doubt that the Bible says, “God is love” (1Jn. 4:8); but where does the Bible say, ‘God is faith’?

Not only does the Bible not say ‘God is faith’, to argue from such a point of view is to foster an idea that is based on a faulty premise that does not demarcate intrinsic characteristics of God from extrinsic characteristics which owe their existence to God.

You see, the argument goes something like this: because grace and love can save at the same time and in the same sense then that means love and faith can save at the same time and in the same sense. In other words, because grace and love can be the source of salvation at the same time and in the same sense, then that must mean love and faith can be the source of salvation at the same time and in the same sense.

But is this true? Does it really make sense?

It is important to understand that when we are speaking of God we are talking about one who knows the end from the beginning. With that being said, how can faith be an intrinsic characteristic of God when He already knows everything? What would He have to exercise faith in? Nothing! For He is God, which means faith would have no intrinsic value to Him.

Indeed, it is proper to say that love and grace save because they are the same source: that is, God. Hence, grace does not owe its existence to love; nor does love owe its existence to grace, because both are intrinsic characteristics of God.

Faith, on the other hand, is not an intrinsic characteristic of God because it must look to something outside of itself for meaning in order to justify its purpose for existing. And since faith looks to God for meaning and purpose God is the source of faith. Thus faith only exists because God’s intrinsic characteristics make it purposeful.

So both love and grace owe their existence to nothing because they are intrinsic characteristics of God. Thus they are eternal! But faith is an extrinsic characteristic that wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for God’s love and grace, which means faith is neither equal to love or grace as it owes its existence to them.

Let’s keep in mind here that if God didn’t create life faith would have no purpose. It is only because God created life that faith exists. So faith can’t be the source of salvation as it is dependent on the only one who can save: that is, God. Hence, faith does not actually save you; God saves you. And because love and grace are intrinsic characteristics of God, you have an opportunity to exercise faith in Him who is love and is full of grace.

Please understand that when you say you believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins, you are essentially exercising your faith in the fact that God is both loving and full of grace. Are you not? So how then can you say faith saves you when if it weren’t for love and grace faith would have no purpose? Moreover, how can you say faith saves when it looks to love and grace as the source of salvation?

Conclusion: faith does not look unto itself as the source of what it looks to; rather, it looks outside of itself for meaning and purpose, which means it isn’t eternal like love and grace are, and can NOT therefore be God!