Identifying genuine faith

A friend and I discussed what is the best evidence of genuine Christianity. Many would say that real Christians do good deeds for the down-trodden. Others say Christians will love and accept all people. A smaller consensus would affirm solid doctrine as the mark of faith. Another consensus would say that genuine Christians go to church and fellowship with other Christians.

All of these can find Scripture that supports their opinions. However, in at least one situation Jesus affirmed a believer who had no opportunity to fulfill any of those criteria. The thief on the cross beside Him said he believed and Jesus told this man he would join him in paradise.

I’m thinking of the importance of telling others. In Canada, Christians tend to be less vocal about their faith than Americans. Even though a loud “I believe in Jesus” does not guarantee it is true, it does follow the teaching in Romans 10.

“’The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:8–10)

The importance of declaring my faith reminds me that Jesus said what comes out of my mouth reveals what is in my heart. (Matthew 15). If genuine faith is in there, it will come out in words. This does not negate those other ‘evidences’ of true Christianity but does identify the source. Genuine Christians live by faith from the heart.

This is exemplified in the lives of the apostles. Peter began the proclamation by declaring the importance of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His listeners already agreed that they should do good, live righteously, and spend much time in the company of the people of God. Yet faith is not about the effect it has on us but about the object of faith, the One in whom we believe:

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it . . . This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:22-24; 32–36)

In this, Peter also brings out another mark of genuine Christianity; Jesus was crucified because of our sin. He died so that those who believe in Him will not perish. No one who truly believes in Jesus can deny the fact and the consequences of their own sin.

^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, every time You bring me to consider the wonder of the gospel, I am struck again with the seriousness of my sin and by the marvel of Your grace. I’m not saved by what I do or how I think or who I love; I am saved because You died for me and granted me the gift of faith. My gratitude is hard to express in words. Grant me a greater understanding of what to say and how to say it — but also how I can often express this marvel in a life well-lived for You.

Faith is not about me

The opinion we have of ourselves usually is quite opposite to the opinion that others have of us. The inflated egotist rarely gains the respect of his peers, while the humble man is often elevated. A certain Roman centurion illustrates this:

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (Luke 7:2–10)

The elders who pleaded with Jesus valued the centurion for what he had done for them. His generous contribution to the construction of their synagogue certainly influenced their opinion. Anyone who loved them that much had to be a good man. 

They also thought that Jesus dispensed healing based on merit. Perhaps this was a Jewish idea, but most people think that way. When life turns sour, prayers include bargaining beginning with, “I’ve been a good person . . . .”

When Jesus met the centurion, this man gave a different estimation of himself. He didn’t consider himself worthy even to invite Jesus into his home. But he did know something about authority, and this was his appeal to Jesus. He recognized the Lord as one who could say the word and things happened. Jesus commended him for his faith saying it was greater than any faith He’d seen in God’s people, the Jews. 

By Jesus’ definition, faith is not about merit. It didn’t matter what the Jewish elders thought of this centurion, nor did it matter what the centurion thought of himself. The point is, what do we think of Jesus? 

My opinion of myself can be all over the map. I can pat myself on the back when I do something that pleases me or pleases others, but I can also moan and wail that it wasn’t “good enough” or that I didn’t give my best effort. When it comes to pleading with Jesus for anything, woe is me if the basis of my plea is my opinion of my own worth, or even any opinions of others about my worth. An inflated ego has no grounds before God, nor does a self-pitying, poor-me focus. What really counts is that I believe in the promises and power of Jesus Christ. Faith is about Him.

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You teach me at least two lessons in this story. The first is that whenever I think I’m a hotshot, others will likely have the opposite view. Beware of an inflated idea of who I am. The second is that regardless of private or public opinion, asking You for anything is not about merit, earning or deserving it, or my reputation. It is about faith that You can deliver, that You will keep Your promises. I must never come to You thinking that I deserve anything, but rather come because I know that when You say, “Do this” — it gets done.