The following excerpt is taken from Lenski's commentary on Eph. 2:8.
I thought it would be enlightening on this subject.
Col. 2:12 states this directly: "through the faith of the operation of
God."
One often meets careless statements such as: "Grace is God's part, faith
ours." Now the simple fact is that even in human relations faith and
confidence are produced in us by others, by what they are and what they
do;
we never produce it ourselves. Even deceivers know that they must
cunningly
make their deceptions of such a nature that they may appear true and
grand,
and that they may thus produce faith in those whom they wish to deceive.
There is no self-produced faith; faith is wrought in us. Saving faith is
wrought by the saving grace of God. Salvation is received "by means of
faith." The dogmaticians call it the (Greek, organon leptikon, I think),
(german, die Nehmehand,) by which God makes the gifts of grace our own. In
this matter of being saved by God faith is the trustful reception wrought
in
us by God, only this reception, which is distinguished from the subsequent
activity of gratitude and works of faith. On this account faith is
essential, and he who does not believe is lost because he does not by
faith
receive the salvation he ought to receive." P. 422-423.
I think the sentence, " Now the simple fact is that even in human
relations
faith and confidence are produced in us by others, by what they are and
what
they do; we never produce it ourselves." Hits the proverbial nail on the
head, so to speak. God convinces us through His word to trust Him.
Gary http://www.faithalone.org/
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