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Sincere Faith
In the past two discussions we have seen two of the three things listed in 1 Timothy 1:5 that
work together to carry our instruction toward its desired goal of love. We have looked at a pure
heart and a good conscience, and now we would like to consider the idea of a sincere faith.
Just what is a sincere faith? Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen." Verse 3 tells us that, by faith, "we understand that the worlds
were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are
visible." And verse 6 informs us that, without faith, "it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." In 1
Peter 1:9 we find that we obtain as the outcome of our faith the salvation of our souls. We learn in
2 Corinthians 5:7 that we walk by faith and not by sight.
This faith is defined as "precious" in 2 Peter 1:1. Jude verse 3 and Ephesians 4:5 teach us that
this faith has been handed down once for all.
Where does our faith come from? Hebrews 12:2 makes it clear that Christ is the author of our
faith.
How do we obtain this faith? Verses such as Acts 4:4, Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 4:1-3 say
that it comes from hearing the Gospel message, the word of Christ.
In what do we have faith? Romans 4:17 says we have faith in God. Acts 3:16 and Philippians
3:9 tell us that faith is in Christ. So our faith is in God and in His Son Jesus.
Even if we know what faith is, where it comes from and how to get it, as well as the correct
object or objects of this faith, we may still wonder, "What does faith do toward us?" This is an
important question with some important answers, and you may be surprised to learn all that a
sincere faith is able to do for us.
A sincere faith, when it is tried or tested, gives us patience (James 1:3). It also results in our
praise, honor and glory when it is tried (1 Peter 1:7).
It carries us to salvation (1 Peter 1:9).
Faith purifies our hearts (Acts 15:9). Remember that we talked about a pure heart? Here you
can see how all of these things work together in a kind of "chain reaction,"
Our faith works through love (Galatians 5:6 and Ephesians 6:23).
This faith protects us. Ephesians 6:16 refers to it as a shield that extinguishes the flaming
missiles of Satan. In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 it is called a breastplate.
Sincere faith justifies us (Philippians 3:9).
It furthers God's provision (1 Timothy 1:4),
It consoles us (1 Thessalonians 3:7).
Our faith is the power that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).
Faith dwells in us (2 Timothy 1:5).
And, to sum it up, Matthew 17:20 and 21:21 indicate that faith provides all the power we need.
So, faith gives us patience and results in our praise, honor and glory when it is tried; it carries us
to salvation, purifies our hearts, works through love, protects, justifies and consoles us, it furthers
God's provision, overcomes the world, dwells in us and provides us with all the power we need.
But, what faith does for us is just half the picture. What must we do toward our faith?
To start out, 2 Corinthians 1:24 tells us we must stand firm in our faith.
We must walk by it (2 Corinthians 5:7).
We are told in 2 Corinthians 8:7 to abound in faith.
Hebrews 10:38 says we must live by faith.
We are to fight the good fight in faith (1 Timothy 6:12).
According to Philippians 2:17, we are to sacrifice and serve in faith.
We must continue or persevere in this faith (Colossians 1:23 and 1 Timothy 2:15).
Colossians 2:5 urges us to be stable in faith.
Verse seven of the same chapter instructs us to be established in it.
And verse 12 says we are to be raised up with Christ through it.
In Acts 6:7 we learn that we are to obey the faith.
Galatians 1:23 says we are to preach it.
We are to make it grow, according to 2 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2 Corinthians 10:15.
As Paul tells Timothy, we are to keep or hold on to our faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
We must pursue it (2 Timothy 2:22).
And we are to have fellowship or communion in it, or of it (Philemon verse 6).
Once we develop a sincere faith, we can expect at least three natural results.
In Romans 1:8, Paul writes to the church in Rome, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ
for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world." So one
consequence of a sincere faith is that it is proclaimed in all the world.
Paul says in Ephesians 1:15, "For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus
which exists among you, and your love for the saints...” He makes a similar statement in Colossians
1:4. And he addresses Philemon in much the same way in verse 5. So a sincere faith is heard by
those around us.
In 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Paul writes that he has sent to find out about the faith of the Christians in
Thessalonica. So our faith is useful to inform others about ourselves.
There is, unfortunately, another possibility that we have not considered. John, in the letter to
Pergamum found in Revelation 2, says in verse 13 that they have not denied the faith. This implies
that it is possible to do just the opposite: deny the faith.
Paul warns in 2 Timothy 2:18 that there are those who upset the faith of others.
And he cautions in 1 Timothy 6:10 & 21 against those who stray from the faith.
So far, we have looked only at half of the term "sincere faith." We have examined the concept
of "faith," but what about "sincere?"
According to 2 Corinthians 13:5, a sincere faith is one that has been tested and examined, and
which has passed the test.
A sincere faith is living and working (1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2 Thessalonians 1:11). "What
use is it, my brethren," James points out in chapter 2 verse 14, "if a man says he has faith, but he
has no works? Can that faith save him?" At the end of this passage, James sums it up by saying,
"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
As we already mentioned, a sincere faith is the only kind that will guide us to the kind of sincere
love mentioned in Romans 12:9 and 1 Corinthians 13. As you may already know, there are various
Greek words that are translated "love." The one used in both of these passages is "agape," which is
the unconditional type of love.
It is interesting that a sincere faith also leads us to the sincere love of 1 Peter 1:20-22. But here
the Greek word is "phileo," which means brotherly love,
And, perhaps most importantly, sincere faith is found always, and only, in sound doctrine. As far
as faith is concerned, a lack of soundness means a lack of sincerity. In other words, heresy equals
hypocrisy. As Paul points out in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, "But the Spirit says that in later times some will
fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of
the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.
What about your faith? Is it the sincere faith we find in the New Testament? Remember that 2
Corinthians 13:5 says to "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!" Are
you willing to do this? If you are, you are well on the way to arriving at love from a pure heart, a
good conscience and a sincere faith.
John explains in the first five verses of the fifth chapter of his first epistle the relationship among
faith, love of God, and obedience to His commandments. In verse 13 he states, "These things I
have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that
you have eternal life."
John is saying, "I have written you the truth. If you accept this truth, it will make you free."
Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R),
(C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977.
Used by permission."