Who Is Responsible for the Growth of Our Faith?

A question was recently asked regarding faith and its growth: Is a person responsible for the growth of their faith?

Although there is no direct command in the Bible that our faith must grow, we can still find several texts that speak about the growth of the faith of God’s children.

“We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged.” (2 Cor. 10:15).

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing” (2 Thess. 1:3).

The question of the increase or growth of faith usually arises when we are faced with a very serious task, and we realize that we need more faith to be able to accomplish it. A good example of this is found in Luke 17:5-6:

“The apostles said to the Lord: ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you’” (Luke 17:5-6).

Why did the disciples begin to ask  the Lord to increase their faith? Because just before that, Jesus had taught that if a brother sins against us even seven time a day, we are called to forgive. And the disciples immediately began thinking about needing more faith. They realize they could not do this on their own and that they would definitely need help.

Faith is not about relying on something definitely happening the way we wish—it’s about faith and hope that God will help, God will act, God will give strength, and God will carry us through!

The famous phrase spoken by the father seeking healing for his son speaks to this same reality:

“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

So, the request to increase faith portrays faith not as our personal confidence that something will happen—like passing an exam or recovering from illness—but rather as absolute dependance on God and His action! What matters is not the size of faith, but its direction and application!

And more: if the disciples ask the Lord for faith—and the father does the same for the sake of his son’s healing—and Christ does not correct them, we must conclude that the matter of faith growth is in the Lord’s hands!

“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus Christ is the founder (author) and perfecter of our faith! Jesus perfects our faith. He works so that faith will grow, strengthen, and become more visible.

So what is our role? There are three key areas that speak about our overall growth in salvation, which includes the growth of our faith:

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” (1 Pet. 2:2).

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19).

“…holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Col. 2:19).

So, these three directions for growth are as follows: God’s Word, prayer, and active participation in the church. God uses these factors for our growth in faith. This is what is expected from us! If you do this, over time you will notice how your faith grows. That growth is produced by God. But just like physical growth, spiritual growth does not happen in 5 minutes. It requires time. A lot of time. We must be consistent, persistent, and diligent.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

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