JOHN PIPER: EPHESIANS 2:8 THE DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES OF CALVINISM

What Do I Do If I've Tried to Believe In Jesus but Can't? (youtube.com)

The question addressed to John Piper: "I have concluded that I don't have saving faith. I have tried to believe in Jesus for two years, but I can't. I fear I am beyond saving. What can I do?" 

John Piper: "It may be that the Lord has withheld from you the kind of faith you are looking for in order to make you feel absolutely desperate.. We cannot produce faith. If we have genuine faith it is a gift.."  

Undoubtedly, faith plays a central role in salvation, but whether it is directly given by God or arises from hearing and responding to His Word is a matter of interpretation. Those who teach that faith is a gift misapply the phrase "and this is not your from yourselves" (Ephesians 2:8). The consensus amongst Greek scholars is that the phrase "and this is not from yourselves" refers to salvation itself, not faith. For an in-depth study of the Greek see the link at the end.

The definition of faith is to have complete trust or confidence in something. Biblically, faith needs to be applied in order to receive salvation. The scriptures never define faith as a work i.e. something we do in order to earn salvation. The scriptures make a clear distinction between faith and works. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28,4:2-5; Galatians 3:10-11; Philippians 3:9). The scriptures explicitly state that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned, rather salvation is received by faith. (John 3:16; Romans 5:15,6:23 cf. Galatians 2:16). The conundrum that Calvinism poses is that if faith is a work then our salvation would be earned, but that interpretation violates God's word. 

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (Romans 4:4-5).

It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:5-9).

Piper's irresponsible response in defining saving faith as something God can withhold is false and effectively erects a barrier between God and the enquirer. The right response would be to give hope and assurance to the enquirer by clarifying that the invitation to believe is open to everyone. (Matthew 11:28). The damage that Calvinism does to those outside and inside the church is inestimable.

Pulpit Commentary: "Verse 8. - For by grace have ye been saved, through faith. He repeats what he had said parenthetically (ver. 5), in order to open the subject up more fully. On the part of God, salvation is by grace; on the part of man, it is through faith.. The apostle is so anxious to bring out the great distinguishing doctrine of grace that he puts it in all lights, affirms it positively, contrasts it with its opposite, and emphasizes it by repetition. It is a gift, not a purchase; a free gift, without money and without price; what would never have been yours, but for the generosity of God. It is very usual in the New Testament thus to represent salvation; cf. our Lord's words to Nicodemus (John 3:16); to the woman of Samaria (John 4:14); St. Paul's "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15); "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23); and 1 John 5:11, "God gave unto us eternal life, and the life is in his Son." This usage confirms the view that it is not merely faith, but the whole work and person of Christ which faith receives, that is meant here as the "gift of God."1

Is Faith a Gift of God? – Ephesians 2:8 Reconsidered – Grace Evangelical Society (faithalone.org)

1. Ephesians 2 Pulpit Commentary (biblehub.com)