Assigned Faith

“…each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3 ESV)

Paul boldly says that, varied individuals have been assigned, by our sovereign God, levels of faith in this verse. Paul makes a case for why each Christian must not elevate himself/herself due largely to this fact. Paul would also say in 1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” Quite literally then, the person that says that “They put their faith in Christ.” is either unwittingly OR purposefully believing something contrary to the Scriptures.

If someone is under the impression that they had done something for their salvation, OR, if they believe that their sanctification solely rests upon “their faith”; that they need to just “have more faith” they’re wrong. Now the Scriptures tell us that we are to grow in faith, our faith will increase, and that as we get closer to God that faith increases. So I’m “not saying” that our faith “doesn’t increase”, for it does. I am also not saying that, once we are Christians we merely sit around waiting for God to increase our faith. On the contrary that’s not true at all either.

In order for our faith to increase, we must be growing in the grace and knowledge of our God, the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) When we grow in our understanding of Christ and His work, namely the gospel, God increases the faith He’s already given us. Although we typically understand our work to reap rewards, what do you have that you have not been given? The idea of working and gaining pay for that work is not a heavenly economy. We are slaves of righteousness. We are slaves of Christ. Meaning, we do what we’re told to do and that’s it.

Anything that we “gain” has nothing to do with our work, but is due to the joy that the slave-master has in giving to His slaves. The most derelict believer is still a son or daughter of the King and will be an equal inheritor with Christ. This is not to encourage a lazy hoard of slaves, but to set those slaves free from a works mentality. I gain; faith, grace, love, forgiveness, righteousness, heavenly pleasure, earthly pleasure, complete satisfaction of my soul––not because I have worked hard for it. I gain those things because Christ worked hard for them and then graciously gives it all to me.

I am freed to simply to work for my Lord, because it makes me happy to work for Him. This is not the toil of working the ground in spite of the briars and thorn bushes. This is work that is pleasurable and fulfilling for the “goal” has already been achieved, and already, in a not-yet sort-of-way, been given to me. The faith then that I have directly correlates not with my works. The level of faith that I have, regardless of what I do for God, correlates purely in relation to the grace and wisdom of God as he assigns it.

Therefore: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14 NIV)