Faith: God's Gift, Not Our Work

Faith is one of the most frequently used words in Scripture, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many people, even within the church, see faith as something that originates from within themselves—a decision, a feeling, or a rational conclusion. This anthropocentric view places the individual at the center, making faith a work or performance that we offer to God, hoping for his approval. But this is not the faith described in the Bible, nor is it the faith that brings true comfort and assurance. When faith is taught as a human work, it inevitably leads to anxiety, doubt, and a lack of certainty about our standing before God.

True faith, as revealed in Scripture and rediscovered in the Reformation, is not a product of human will or effort. It is a gift from God, given freely by his grace. We are saved by grace through faith, and even this faith is not from ourselves—it is the work of God in us. God gives and sustains faith through his means of grace: his living and active Word, and the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Just as a child is born with trust in their parents and is nourished by them, so we are reborn with faith in God and are nourished by his Word and sacraments.

This understanding of faith shifts the focus from ourselves to God’s action. It is not about our decision or our performance, but about God’s faithfulness and his promises. The examples of Abel, Noah, Abraham, and others in Hebrews are not stories of human achievement, but testimonies to the power of God’s gift of faith. These men and women saw reality differently—not through the lens of human reason or cultural priorities, but through the promises of God. Faith enabled them to trust in what they could not see, to hope in what was yet to come, and to act courageously because they were assured of God’s faithfulness.

Today, we are invited to receive and nurture this same faith. We are called to gather where God’s gifts are given, to be fed and strengthened by his Word and sacraments, and to let go of the anxieties and distractions that pull us away from him. Faith is not our work for God, but God’s work in us—a gift that grabs hold of his promises and brings us comfort, assurance, and hope, even in the midst of life’s uncertainties.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith Is Not a Human Work, but God’s Gift Faith is often misunderstood as something we must muster up or choose, but Scripture teaches that faith is a gift given by God’s grace. When we see faith as our own work, we are left with uncertainty and anxiety, always wondering if we have done enough. True assurance comes from knowing that faith is God’s work in us, not our work for him. [39:42]
• 2. God Nurtures Faith Through His Means of Grace God gives and sustains faith through tangible means: his Word and the sacraments. Just as a child is nourished by their parents, we are spiritually nourished by God when we gather to hear his Word and receive his gifts in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This is why regular participation in the life of the church is essential for a living, growing faith. [41:40]
• 3. Faith Reorients Our Priorities and Perception The gift of faith changes how we see the world and what we value. Instead of being driven by anxiety, ambition, or cultural expectations, faith enables us to see life through the lens of God’s promises. This new perspective frees us from the tyranny of worry and helps us to live with courage and hope, trusting that God will provide. [46:01]
• 4. The Examples of the Faithful Point Us to God’s Promises The stories of Abel, Abraham, and others are not about their own strength or virtue, but about the faith God gave them to trust in his promises. Even when circumstances seemed impossible, faith enabled them to hold fast to what God had said. Their lives remind us that faith is not about being superhuman, but about clinging to God’s Word, even when we cannot see the outcome. [49:14]
• 5. Worship Is God’s Action for Us, Not Our Performance for Him Our gatherings are not performances to earn God’s favor, but places where God comes to us with his gifts. Through Word, sacrament, and even the symbols and liturgies of the church, God communicates his promises and strengthens our faith. Jesus is at the center, acting on our behalf, so that we might rest in his finished work and live in the assurance of his love.
  
  ** [51:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [34:45] - The Misunderstanding of Faith
• [35:59] - Anthropocentric Worship and Faith
• [37:14] - Faith as a Human Work: The Problem
• [39:42] - Faith as God’s Gift
• [41:03] - Means of Grace: Word and Sacrament
• [41:40] - Faith Like a Child
• [42:50] - Calvinism, Arminianism, and the Nature of Faith
• [44:04] - God as Author and Perfecter of Faith
• [45:20] - Faith Versus Anxiety
• [46:36] - Faith’s New Perspective
• [47:17] - Abel, Cain, and the Nature of True Faith
• [47:57] - Abraham: Faith and Promise
• [49:14] - Faith in the Face of the Impossible
• [50:32] - Heaven Brought to Us
• [51:46] - Worship: God’s Action for Us
• [52:23] - The Christian Faith: God’s Initiative
• [53:03] - Prayers and Intercessions
• [55:00] - Benediction and Offering

Bible Reading

Hebrews 11:1-2, 4-12 (ESV) — 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 11:1, how does the Bible define faith?
2. What do the stories of Abel, Noah, and Abraham in Hebrews 11 have in common regarding their faith?
3. In Ephesians 2:8-9, what does Paul say about the source of our faith and salvation?
4. The sermon describes faith as a gift from God, not a human achievement. What examples from the sermon or the Bible passages support this idea? [[39:42]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that when faith is taught as a human work, it leads to anxiety and doubt. Why might this be the case? [[38:26]]
2. How does understanding faith as God’s gift, rather than our own decision or effort, change the way a person relates to God? [[39:42]]
3. The preacher mentions that faith is “nourished” by God’s Word and sacraments. What does it mean for faith to be nourished, and why is this important for Christians? [[41:40]]
4. The examples of Abel, Noah, and Abraham are described as testimonies to God’s faithfulness, not their own strength. How does this perspective affect the way we read their stories? [[49:14]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon warns that seeing faith as something we must “muster up” ourselves leads to uncertainty. Have you ever felt anxious about whether your faith is “enough”? How does the idea that faith is God’s gift bring comfort or challenge to you? [[38:26]]
2. The pastor said that God gives and sustains faith through his Word and sacraments, and that regular participation in church is essential. What are some practical ways you can make gathering with God’s people and receiving his gifts a priority, even when life is busy or distracting? [[41:40]]
3. The sermon compared faith to the trust of a child in their parents. In what areas of your life do you find it hard to trust God like a child? What might help you grow in that trust? [[41:40]]
4. The preacher said that faith “reorients our priorities and perception,” freeing us from anxiety and cultural pressures. What is one area of your life where you feel pressure from the world’s expectations? How might seeing that area through the lens of God’s promises change your perspective or actions? [[46:01]]
5. The stories of Abel, Abraham, and others show that faith sometimes means trusting God when the outcome is uncertain or seems impossible. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to trust God’s promises, even though you can’t see the outcome? What would it look like to “grab hold” of God’s promise in that area? [[49:14]]
6. The sermon says that worship is not our performance for God, but God’s action for us. How does this understanding affect the way you approach Sunday worship or other church gatherings? [[51:46]]
7. The pastor mentioned that anxieties and distractions can pull us away from God’s gifts. What is one specific distraction or worry that keeps you from being nourished by God’s Word and sacraments? What step could you take this week to let go of that distraction and receive what God wants to give you? [[45:20]]