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Eternal Faith
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The distinct church of the New Testament was designed to be animated by the indwelling life of God.  Therefore, human cooperation occurs by grace through faith alone.   
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“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). 
 
“…whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

                                    God Indwelling Man

Scripturally speaking, the Christian life is not lived by man for God, but by the indwelling God for man.  From first to last, the work of God in man occurs by the lavish grace of God alone (John 3:16; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:21).  The New Testament church cooperates with God in His gracious works of justification, sanctification and glorification by faith alone (Romans 12:3; 14:23; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6-7; Hebrews 11:6). 

                                      Cooperative Faith

Cooperative faith alone allows the New Testament church 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 mankind’s 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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By grace alone, God has chosen to collaborate with mankind for the fulfillment of His works on earth.  Man is graciously provided the opportunity to cooperate by instrument of faith alone.  

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



 © 2018 James Hiatt