(Q004. Why is faith necessary in the first place?)
Faith is necessary because the Word of God testifies that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6; see Q077, Q390). Whoever desires to learn the Christian hope should therefore pray for God’s grace and for an increase of faith, following the example of the apostles, “Increase our faith!” (Luk 17:5), and the honest cry of the father in the Gospel: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mrk 9:24; see Q075).
Because we all “live and move and have our being” in God (Act 17:28; see Q121, Q139), faith is never something to boast of, nor may we demand anything from God on the ground of our own achievement:
Truly, by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not because of works, so that no one should boast. Indeed, we are his work, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8–10; cf. Rom 3:26–28)
