“Is Your Faith Genuine?”

“Is Your Faith Genuine?”

1 Peter 1:7

That the trail of your Faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto Praise and Honor and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

The Proper Object of Faith

The trail of the Believer's Faith is a necessary and ongoing experience. But before we go into a discussion of the purpose and results of this testing, we need to always be sure that our Faith is resting upon the proper Foundation. The proper Foundation of Faith, that is, the Proper Object or our faith, must be ever in Christ and Him Crucified. What Jesus accomplished for humanity on Calvary includes the forgiveness of sins past, but it is so much more. The relationship that any human being has with God is dependent upon what Christ accomplished 2,000 years ago. The ministry of Cross of Christ Faith is fond of stating this, “Christ is the Source and the Cross is the Means”. What this statement says in a nutshell is that everything we will ever need for eternal existence and well-being can be found in the Person of Christ. In other words, what Jesus did at Calvary was to open up the way for Heaven's Blessings to be given to the believer. We earn nothing. All things from Heaven's Storehouse have already been paid for by Christ at Calvary. We can't bargain with God or boast in our ingenuity or resourcefulness. Our righteousness is as filthy rags and our personal efforts fall far short of gaining access to the Stores of Heaven. The Riches in Glory of Christ are in Christ Alone. They are made available to us as a result of the Covenant of Jesus established for us at Calvary. So every trail of Faith must begin by the Believer assessing whether or not he is dependent upon what God has supplied. Christ and His Finished work must ever be the sole object of our Faith, or all else will come to nothing.

The Purpose of the Test

Once it has been established that we are firmly planted on the Foundation of Christ and Him Crucified, the Lord will begin the testing process. WE must understand that just to hear and acknowledge something as truth does not necessarily mean that your Faith regarding that truth is genuine. As an example, I can agree that waiting on the Lord is a proper answer to some situations. I can agree that it is a Biblical concept. However, to find one's self in a position where waiting on the Lord is not just theology, but where it is necessary for you presents a “trail” of your Faith. It's easy to tell others to wait on the Lord, but what happens when your turn comes to do so? Can you wait on the Lord while taking n other action regarding your need? Is your soul at rest throughout the process? Are you fidgety, edgy, irritable to those around you? These circumstances reveal to the Believer whether their Faith is real or only in the mind. Faith that has passed the test, Faith that is genuine, is Faith that can be used. You can only walk in the approved portion of your Faith. So until you are applying what you believe to a real life situation, when that Faith is placed under the microscope of a trail or test, one soon finds out whether or not they have Faith that will take them across the river, over the mountain, and to the desired Goal of God. Again, we can only walk or live in the approved portion of our Faith; Faith that has been tested and found genuine!

The Results of the Test

When Faith is truly present and it affect our lives in the way designated by God, Christ Alone will receive Glory. He is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith. He supplies the Means and the Way for us to hear His Word. He writes that truth on the tablet of our hearts. If we are willing and our Faith resides in the proper Object, He will give us Grace to travel through the testing of that Faith. And once that Faith has been proven genuine, once that portion of our Faith is approved, He will supply the Grace and the moving of the Spirit that will allow us to utilize that Faith for the furtherance of His Kingdom and His Purpose. Our responsibility is to choose to believe His Word and to have our Faith centered upon Christ and His completed Work at Calvary. God then supplies the Grace (His Goodness given to undeserving people) by which His Purpose is accomplished. To God be all the Glory.