Faith

Is faith a direct and special gift of God, or a general gift?:

This question has been a battleground of theologians. That all men have and exercise in the things of this life a faith (both of assensus and fiducia) which seems indistinguishable in essence from religious faith, seems confirmed by common observation. It would appear that the only real distinction between the general capacity of assent and trust which all men haye, and the “fides specialis” of the theologians, is in the object of faith. In Ephesians 2:8 grace and faith are included in “the gift of God.”

It has long appeared to the writer that what is distinctively supernatural in any exercise of faith unto salvation is the act of the Spirit in making real to faith the person and work of Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:16, 17; John 6:39, 44, 45; 16:8-10).