[The goal of this command is love, which comes from]… a sincere faith.
Summary: Wrapping up our discussion of Paul’s three reasons for his “command,” we come to the question of faith. What is it and why is it important?
Writing to Timothy about the need to “command” misguided believers in Jesus not to do certain things,* he says the goal is love (agapē). He then explains that there are three sources, three artesian springs if you will, where the headwaters of love spring from. The three sources are:
A pure heart.
A good conscience.
A sincere faith.
Since we have already examined what he means by a pure heart and a good conscience, let’s now look at what he means by a sincere faith.
“Faith” is one of those words that all Christians use but is often misunderstood. The Bible defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). While that provides a peek into the meaning of the word, it doesn’t answer all questions.
Let’s begin with Romans 10:17 —
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
Before we can have “faith,” we have to have something to have faith in. The Word of God, the Gospel message, tells us about God and his offer of redemption through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Next, we need to receive the message, believe it is true, and put our hope in it. This is what the writer of Hebrews is talking about when he says we “hope for” what we “do not see.”
Once we have received the Good News about Jesus and believed, when we have dared to hope it could be true, we have to decide whether or not we are going to trust God. This is where sincerity comes in. We can know about God, hope that he is real, and yet not trust him enough to let him take control.
Finally, faith requires action.
Jesus says, “Do to others as you would have them to to you” (Luke 6:31). When we allow God to be in the driver’s seat, we have to sit in the back with the other kids and get along. A sincere faith tries to get along.
A pure heart. A good conscience. A sincere faith.
All three work together. A sincere faith is one that leads to godly action. Each of these, with God’s help, continually grows in the direction God wants for us.
Application: Apply your faith by obeying God.
Food for Thought: Why is a sincere faith necessary for a godly love (agapē?
*The “certain things” Paul mentioned were “not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.” (1 Timothy 3b-4)
Why is a sincere faith necessary for a godly love (agapē?)
If our faith is not sincere, but we claim Jesus as our Lord, we are double-minded. A double-minded person is driven and “tossed about” by their environment and the doubt that comes from not trusting God. Living in spiritual instability makes it difficult to love selflessly, much less love with the love of God.
James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Thank you, Chris!
You make a great point. Like a pure heart, a pure, or sincere faith, does not have room for double dealing.
Good Job CH!
Why is a sincere faith necessary for a godly love (agape)?
The biblical definition of faith is trusting in something we cannot explicitly prove, actually placing our reliance on the fact that this something is true. Believing that Jesus is God incarnate who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was resurrected is not enough. Even the demons “believe” in God and acknowledge those facts, James 2:19.
We must personally and completely rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for OUR SINS. We must seek and receive the salvation Jesus Christ has secured and provides for all mankind. This faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says about who Jesus is, what He accomplished and fully trusting in Him for the salvation He provides. Acts 16:31. Biblical faith is always accompanied by repentance, Matthew 21:32, Mark 1:15.
Hebrews 11:1, “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
1 JOHN 4:19, We love because he first loved us.
JOHN 13:34, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Thanks, Ron!
Faith and repentance do go together, and together they change us.
Good comments as always. I don’t have much to add. I think a sincere, or true, or real faith in Christ is necessary because Christ is the foundation of His church and our lives. Everything flows from that foundation that is personally applied through a sincere faith.
1 Corinthians 3: 11: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7: 24 – 27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Thank you, Rich!
You make a great point: Faith has to be “personally applied.”
So important!