Examine your FAITH

Pastor Christian Alix

 

"We are not what we say. What we do is the real key to our intentions. "These are words spoken by a renowned psychologist. He has observed in human behavior that the real revelation of a person’s character is through that person’s behavior.

 

Very similar to what God said to us from the book of James that “Faith plus nothing equals nothing.” James describes the kind of faith that equals nothing, he calls it "dead faith” in James 2:17, in the same chapter verse 20 and again at the end of the chapter in verse 26.

 

The Bible provides a clear understanding of genuine saving faith – true faith produces good fruit. In His parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-15 the Lord Jesus taught that while unbelievers are unfruitful; those who are saved would definitely bear fruit. In this parable, three out of four soils produced fruitless plants. What happened was, they heard God’s Word and continued for a while, and seems like they have believed, notice v.13 “when they hear, received the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away”. Their belief never really resulted in salvation.

 

In other words, they said they believed but Jesus said that kind of belief is not sufficient unless it involves a new birth, a spiritual birth, being born again (John 3:1-21) a transformation which leads to a life of obedience. Saving faith is always verified by a transformed life and the presence of the work of the Holy Spirit while false, dead faith is indicated by the absence of righteous actions.

 

Now it is clear that many people possess that kind of faith. They believe in God. They believe in Jesus Christ but not to the point of salvation. They may believe the facts about God and about Christ but they manifest no obvious commitment to Jesus Christ. They manifest no changed life that comes with true salvation marked by repentance and obedience.

 

Intellectual belief is not enough. Remember, even the devils also believe God (James 2:19) but that is not the true saving faith.

 

In contrast, true Christians are fruit bearing. Now, just to help you identify where you stand, here are some passages to guide you and to challenge you, all of us. Ask yourself a question: “Is my faith real?”

 

 

Proofs of True Saving Faith

 

• Love for God: Matthew 22:37-39; Psalm 42:1ff; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7

• Love for Others: Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 4:20-21, 1 John 3:23-24

• Repentance from Sin: Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 51, Romans 7:14ff; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10

• Genuine Humility: Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:1-12; James 4:6, 9ff

• Devotion to God's Glory:  Psalm 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7, 48:10ff; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 10:31

• Continual Prayer: Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18ff.; Philippians 4:6ff; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16-18

• Selfless Love: 1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff

• Separation from the World: 1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4ff.; 1 John 2:15-17, 5:5

  Spiritual Growth: Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16

• Obedient Living :Matthew 7:21; John 15:14ff.; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 1 John 2:3-5