For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17
And Jesus said unto them, Because
of your unbelief: for verily I say unto
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard
seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and
it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20
You surely have noticed that the opening verses are not from the Book of James. This is because faith is so important that we must take a deep look into it for as Paul wrote: "The just shall live by faith." Lack of faith is conjoined with unbelief so if you lack faith you also lack belief, not that you do not believe in God, in Jesus Christ, it is that your belief has no traction in your life. Your belief is shallow and might, as it often does, lead you into heretical beliefs and practices. I see this with those who attend the Bethel School of the Supernatural here in Redding, California. The students love the experienced they are receiving, the mysteriousness that leads a person's curiosity so that they have a shallow belief for their faith is not in Jesus Christ, it is in the experiences, and this is faith that is not leading them to righteousness, but to a teaching that sounds Scriptural but is a gospel that is not a Gospel. You cannot say you have faith that is pleasing to God and not have a belief that is pleasing to God, and the reverse is just as true.
I wrote about Abraham and his faith and Abraham shows to us that there must be a personal relationship with God. This was shown by Abraham separated himself to do the will of God that seems hard to understand. Abraham left his home in the land of Ur to travel to a place that he did not know to go and had to lean on God to take him to that place. Abraham separated himself from his comfort to an uncomfortable life as he traveled through harsh, at times, lands, where people were not always that friendly, to go to Canaan where the land is not always lush and abundant. To do this required a personal relationship, faith, trust, a belief in God, and in God only. Today we find that people and their separation to God is more of a mental and moral separation, from those who do not see Christianity the way we do, and this shows more about their feelings as to how they are viewed by the world, family, friends, etc., than showing a personal relationship with God: "If a man came to me, and hate not his father, mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciples" (Luke 14:26).
Faith does not where is being led, where you are going and what you will do, but if you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ then you have all the knowledge you need, for this faith is in Jesus Christ who you know who is leading. Faith is not a life of intellect and reason. The foundation, the root of faith is in the knowledge of the Person, and a snare that has caught many Christians is that they have the idea that God is leading them to success.
This personal relationship, a faith in Jesus Christ, leads a person and in the building of their character. This faith will build your character, a character leading your to become in the image of Jesus Christ. Yes, there are times of "transfiguration" times when we feel the experience of God in our lives, God wrapping His arms around us and often we are changed, at least for the moment. Then, times change, life moves on and the ordinary days come and the glory vanishes. True faith, a life of faith is not a mounting up on wings of eagles, but a life of walking and not fainting. We grow in our sanctification but faith is even more for us as it must be tried and proved and then to stand the test. Abraham gave us a picture of this type of faith, a tried and proved faith built on a personal relationship with God. "Abraham believed God."
Learning to live the life of an Authentic Christian is to build upon an Authentic Christian Faith, and that faith is to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. You will be tried, tested, and misunderstood, but really, who cares? You have a faith in the everlasting God who will never leave you and will take you through whatever circumstances come your way. Your faith, this Authentic Christian Faith will bring to you a blessing that only can come from God, from a life living for God. The question is: will you build this relationship, this faith, this Authentic Christian Faith?
For thou desirest not sacrifce;
else would I give it: thou
delightest not in burnt offering.
the sacrifices of God are a
broken spirit: a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou
will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17
Examine your relationship to God
Richard L. Crumb
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