Faith is an allotment to a chosen People -
2 pet 1:
1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Notice, peter specifies
to them that have obtained like precious Faith ! This should be a signal to any hones heart that Faith is not given to or for everyone, and that its from a source outside of ourselves, for its precious, and comes from a precious source..
Notice that peter says it's obtained !!
This is important, and lets look at this word obtain. It is the greek word:
Arrangement Nounlagchanō= which means:
to obtain by lot
a) to receive by divine allotment, obtain
2) to cast lots, determine by lot
Notice, to receive by Divine Allotment..So what is a Allotment ?
Websters says this :
A share set aside for a specific purpose.
and its synonyms:
Arrangement
Noun: arrangement; plan; preparation; disposal, disposition
So Faith is obtained by arrangement, Plan, or disposal..
You remember what proverbs says about casting Lots and there disposal ?
Prov 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
John gill says of this verse:
" but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the Lord;
or "the judgment" of it; the judgment that is to be made by it concerning persons or things; it being so directed and ordered by him as to fall upon the person it should; or to make known the thing in doubt and debate according to his will, in which all parties concerned should acquiesce. This is to be ascribed, not to blind chance and fortune, to the influence of the stars, or to any invisible created being, angel or devil, but to the Lord only; there is no such thing as chance, or events by chance; those events which seem most fortuitous or contingent are all disposed, ordered, and governed, by the sovereign will of God. "
One receives faith by the Sovereign will of God according to His plan and purpose for them..
This reminds me of the High Priest..He is said to obtain His office Heb 8:6
But now hath he [Jesus Christ] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
This is regarding His Priesthood, and if we are familiar with the OT Priest hood, of which His was so much better, nevertheless we find that the priesthood was not for everyone, but it was alloted to the tribe of levi..
Only those from that tribe could obtain[receive] to the priesthood of God..
It was alloted to that tribe in the Sovereign arrangement of things..
and so it is with Faith, its alloted to the heirs of salvation 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
This Faith is Precious because it communicates Divine realities in the unseen Spiritual Heavenly world where Gods Throne rules, realties otherwise by nature we could never have or believe in..