Making Your Faith Right
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Having talked with many people of every class about “spiritual things” I can sum up what most people say in 7 words and they are, “Let me tell you what I believe”. Phrases like this are why so many people have “Their own faith”. Just 2 weeks ago my wife and I spotted a restaurant in Hudson that we’d never seen before and stopped in to try it out. The name was Johnny’s Diner. We’ll be going back, but for two reasons, one, the food and service was great and two, to talk more with the owner, Dave. Dave loves Jesus, that was clear the moment we began to talk, but more than that, Dave seemed to have a desire to search out truth a quality lacking in most people. To make a distinction on this point when I talked with Dave he was interested in what the Bible said about the topics discussed, but there was another individual who made the subjective argument that everyone has “their own faith”, “everyone has their own interpretation, so how can you say they are wrong and you are right?”
Well, that is a great question. That fact is, if I proclaim to have faith, I’d better make sure it is the right faith, because there is only one God, one Spirit and one Lord, and listen carefully, only “one faith” (Eph. 4:1-6), and concerning the one faith the scripture clearly states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Now the word of God is “truth” (John 17:17), we must believe the truth to be saved (2 Thess. 2:9-10), and we must obey that truth (Rom. 2:8; 2 Thess. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:17).
We ask, where salvation is to be found and the scripture say, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (acts 4:12). Salvation is “in Christ” (2 Tim. 2:10) and we must know the Holy Scripture which is able to make us wise, “for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
At this point we must ask the questions, what do you believe about salvation? Why do you have that belief? Where did that belief come from? Can you site book chapter and verse as the source or is it just what you believe? Why do you believe the things you do? If I asked you what I must do to be saved will you answer me by turning to the Holy Scriptures or will you answer me by parroting another.
It is most common and most tragic that most people never stop and “question” is what I believe right? Most never question, how exactly did I come to believe the things I do believe?
Do you want your faith to be right? Then stop saying, “it’s what my parents taught me”, or “I was raised to believe this way”, or “I love my church, and my preacher and this is what he says”, and the pièce de resistance, “let me tell you what I believe”. None of these will guarantee your faith is right and aligned with truth, with God. Why is this important? First because your soul is eternal. Solomon wrote upon death, “…the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7). This signifies that death releases the spirit, or soul, from the earthly tent (2 Pet. 1:14), which then will await to stand in judgment before its almighty Creator. Second, because you will not be judged by what your parents said, did or didn’t do, but by what you do (Ezek. 18:20 ff.). Third, because the wrong beliefs, shallow un-defendable faith, and faith that depends on someone other than God, is extremely dangerous. Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
How then do you “work out your own salvation”, how do you make your faith right? It begins by sitting down, opening your Bible, and studying it. Paul wrote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). “Diligence” is, “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort” (Webster). Cambridge Dictionary says this: “careful and using a lot of effort”. You simply cannot please God and get to Heaven by parroting or “riding on another’s coattails”.
Blind faith is established in the hearts of people who accept whatever someone has taught without challenge. Fact is faith can come by only one means. Right faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), which is now contained in the New Testament. To possess “right faith”, means developing your faith by studying the Scriptures for yourself. When Paul preached to the noble Bereans, even though he was an Apostle, they didn’t blindly accept what he had to say, rather they “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). You want your faith to be right then, test every belief you have, everything you practice against God’s Holy word. Hold on to what is right and stay away from everything that cannot be validated by the word of God (1 Thess. 5:21-22)! Only practice what is authorized by God’s word and put into practice His word by obeying whatever He says (James 1:22-25).
“Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men”
Matthew 22:16
Have you ever bought a part to fix your car only to find it was the wrong part? What did you do? You take it back and the parts man says, bend it, twist it, force it to fit, trust me it will work? No! You say, “This is the wrong part, I want the right one”! That is true across the board, why would you then accept any old faith. If it is not right it won’t work. Only the right faith will save you. You cannot be saved by taking someone else’s faith and bending it, twisting it, and forcing it to be right.
To be set free from sin, to have the hope of Heaven as your eternal home means to trust the LORD’s “right guidance”, trust Him to lead you in the “right way” (Psa. 23:3, 107:7; John 14:1-6). Jesus said, “If you continue in my word,[a] you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Only in Christ will you experience the spiritual blessings of forgiveness, peace and hope (Eph. 1:3). Peter commanded that we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, which means to separate things profane by hallowing and venerating God.
To dedicate yourself to God. He goes on to say, “…and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). The only way to give right answers is to have right answers. I know that may seem overly simplistic but think of it this way. There is a game show called Jeopardy where contestants are given “answers” and must give the question in response. I find the depth of their knowledge absolutely amazing. But I also note that most often when there is a Bible category more often than not, they either don’t know the answers, or they shy away from it till they “must” select from it. Why is it that such intelligent people know so little about the Bible? Now consider this: The average person, dad, mom, friend, coworker, who likely would never pass the test to be a contestant on Jeopardy, when asked about faith, salvation, the Bible, when unchallenged will jump in and talk as though they had perfect knowledge. But when challenged to reveal their sources, will shy away, and avoid the category with “that’s just what I believe”. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “moderator” that will hear your friends answer and say, right, or say wrong? But we do have such, His name is Jesus, and right or wrong is found in His word.
My dear friend, is the faith you have the right faith based on your own meticulous and judicious study of God’s word? Or when you think back on its source, is it based on other people’s teaching? You alone must answer and know certainly that as long as the actual source of your faith is in anyone or anything other than God’s word, it is not right. You should never expect to experience all the blessings genuine faith leads to.
“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 Cor. 13:5)
In Christian Love
David Scarpino
Welcome One and All!
Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as only Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
“…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)