Is Faith a Work?

We know that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. We know that we are saved apart from works. We know this quite clearly because the Bible repeats it more than once. Saved by faith, not by works. So it is pretty clear that faith is not a work.

Still, the question pops up, and for good reason. You see, if faith is something we produce, if it is something that we create, something that we work up, then how is that not a work? Thus, the most common perception of faith is a work. Which, of course, causes me to question the most common perception of faith.

Here, consider the logic:

- We are saved by faith.
- We are saved apart from works.
- Therefore, faith is not a work.

Good. Now:

- We are saved by faith that we produce.
- Producing something is work.
- Therefore, we are saved by work.

Bad. See the problem?

Now, I have contended that it is abundantly clear in Scripture that faith is a gift, that it is given by God. If this is the case, then faith is not a work, but a tool. God provides the tool and we return it to Him. Not work.

One might think this is a bit ... redundant. Why would God give us something to give to Him? But isn't that His modus operandi? He gives us life with the expectation that we'll give our lives to Him. He tells us to "work out your salvation" while it is He who is at work in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. He tells us to do good works which He prepares beforehand and those good works give Him glory. It seems to me that this isn't redundant. It seems to me that this is normal.

Biblically, faith is not a work. Faith is presented in opposition to works. However, if we continue to make it something that we produce, it is unavoidably just such a thing -- our work. Since God is in the business of giving to us what we need and He is in the business of giving us what we need so we can give back to Him, it seems to me that the fact that faith is a gift would be unavoidable. But, hey, that's just me, right?