The thing about faith is that it is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this faith as much as it is a gift from God is not a stand alone faith. But as part of the Covenant of grace is one where it is a new mind (Romans 12:1-2).
"It is to be remembered that efficacy of faith does not reside in itself. Faith is not something that merits the favour of God. All the efficacy unto salvation resides in the Saviour. As one has aptly and truly stated the case, it is not f...aith that saves but faith in Jesus Christ; strictly speaking, it is not even faith in Christ that saves but Christ that saves through h faith. The specific character of faith is that it looks away from itself and finds its whole interest and object in Christ. He is the absorbing preoccupation of faith." - John Murray
"But Christ is the condition of the covenant, as he is to be applied unto us, and must be embraced by faith, for every condition of the covenant is Jesus Christ already embraced, and applied unto us by faith." Robert Rollock
Although faith is an exercise by us in which we embrace Christ Jesus as part of the Covenant of Grace between God and God's Elect, it is definately sustained by the Holy Spirit of God.
What I mean by stand alone faith - is that faith that is just partamentalized as I believe in the color red, I believe that my car will start, and finally I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. No, but it is something in which is wrought about by the renewing of one's mind. This means all of the mind is effected by this faith, which in turn effects the way of our living and understanding. (Ephesians 5)
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