Chapter 32 - Faith

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The Christian life is not lived by man for God, but by God in man. From beginning to end, His work within mankind occurs by grace alone. (John 3:16; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:21) Therefore, humanity is privileged to cooperate with God by faith alone. (Romans 12:3; 14:23; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6-7; Hebrews 11:6)

“…the righteous man shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17; cf. Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38)

“…whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

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Cooperative Faith

Cooperative faith is the solitary means by which the New Testament church is privileged to experience life shared with Jesus Christ. It is distinguished in the Bible as follows:

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Cooperative Faith	Reference
Cooperative faith is a gift of God to mankind that cannot be produced through human effort.	Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8-9
Cooperative faith is the instrument by which God works on earth through mankind.	Deuteronomy 4:29; Habakkuk 2:4; Matthew 9:29; Romans 3:28; 9:30-32; 14:23b; Galatians 5:6; 1 Timothy 1:4; Hebrews 3-4; 11
Cooperative faith is the means of approval by God.	Romans 3:28; Hebrews 11:2, 6, 39
Cooperative faith is the inner assurance and conviction that God will perform as He has promised.	Hebrews 11:1
Cooperative faith is a righteous response to the grace of God.	Romans 1:17; 3:28; 14:23b; Galatians 3:11; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38
Cooperative faith is based on knowledge of God (revealed by the facts of His written Word, the Bible, rather than blind presumption).	John 4:24; Romans 10:17
Cooperative faith is undergirded by agreement with God (collaborative agreement with the will of God according to the facts of His written Word, the Bible).	Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 6:38; 1 John 2:16
Cooperative faith is demonstrated by trust in God (trust is evidenced by action that corresponds to knowledge of and agreement with the will of God).	Hebrews 11:4-5, 7-38; James 2:14-26
Cooperative faith is an active, continuous choice to subordinate self-interest to the will of God.	Isaiah 50:7; Romans 14:23b; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 7:18; James 1:19-20; James 2:17
Cooperative faith is dependent (it is characterized by radical dependence on the indwelling life (zoe) of God).	Matthew 18:3-4; Mark 10:14-15; Luke 18:16-17; Galatians 5:16-17; Philippians 2:22; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:7
Cooperative faith is evidenced by works.	James 2:14-26

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The cooperative faith of the Bible is a gift of God to mankind; the instrument through which He works on earth; the means of approval by God; and an inner assurance and conviction that God will perform according to what He has promised. In addition, it is a righteous response to the grace of God; supported by knowledge of God; undergirded by agreement with God; demonstrated by trust in God; active and continuous; dependent; and evidenced by works.

By grace alone, God has chosen to collaborate with mankind to fulfill His works on earth. Man is provided the privileged opportunity to cooperate through instrument of faith alone.

© 2018 James Hiatt

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