What Genuine Faith Looks Like

A major test of faith—the thing that reveals if we genuinely know Christ or simply know about Him—is our willingness to stand firm even if we're insulted.

Inside and outside the church, Christians are being told that loving people means keeping silent about God's strong warnings against culturally acceptable sins.

If getting along with culture was our goal, Christ would never have said:

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12

 

Many pastors and teachers are sugarcoating unpopular biblical teachings or avoiding them altogether. If that was our goal, Christ would never have said:

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:38

Genuine believers test everything with God's Word because "the Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." 1 Timothy 4:1

And if we doubt the importance of these things, Scripture gives us this charge:

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5

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God calls us to speak the truth in love, not in anger or self-righteousness (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:24-26). But speaking the truth in love means we must know the truth. As we study Scripture during our daily quiet time and study in groups with good Bible teachers, we understand God's values and we develop discernment so we can accept what is true and reject what is false.

See I Am not Ashamed of the Gospel and Truth with Love, Love with Truth.

💙 And please check out the Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

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