THE TEST OF GENUINE FAITH

Talking about genuine faith implies there is fake faith. Paul, the apostle, lamented over the Corinthian church, because, according to him, “Many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasures” (2 Corinthians 12:21).

Paul admonished the church to re-examine their position in the Lord by asking them to “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). So, Jesus Christ among us is the proof that our faith is genuine, but if He’s not, then our faith is fake. Although Paul was addressing the whole church, in a way he’s also addressing individuals because the church is made up of individuals with Christ as the head.

When the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us at conversion, we become new creatures (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 2:27). Based on that truth, Paul admonished the church in Ephesus: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:21-24). If we don’t give up our former way of life, we’re saying, in essence, the Spirit doesn’t live in us, and therefore whatever faith we claim we have is not genuine, but fake!

If we have really been born again, let’s live our lives in a way that pleases and honors God, encourages other Christians, and draws unbelievers to Christ. Which sins were you delivered from when you came to Christ? Are those sins still plaguing you? We all have a role to play in allowing the beauty of Christ to be seen in us. We have to, as Paul says, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. … And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:16-17). Being a representative or an ambassador of Christ should not be an off-and-on role; it should be who we are all the time. We should not make a practice of sinning, because Jesus holds us securely, and the devil cannot touch us (see 1 John 5:18).

As Christians, if we sin deliberately, we are blaspheming God (see 1 Timothy 1:20). We can’t be in Christ and live in sin at the same time. That’s why Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden; God cannot coexist with sin! So, if we claim to be Christians, let’s make up our minds to turn away from sin. John gave us another test of our faith: “Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God” (1 John 3:10). Ouch! And also, “Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is” (1 John 3:6). So, are you a Christian? How are you demonstrating that your faith is genuine?

Being human means, we have a sinful nature. We do mess up every now and then, but let’s confess and seek forgiveness as soon as we realize something has gone wrong. “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (see 1 John 1:8-9).

May God help us to meditate on His Word and obey it; be light and salt for His honor and glory. When He returns, may we have no reason to be ashamed!