Lake Norman Publications

FAITH COLUMN: Imperfect faith a fact of life



Do you have perfect faith? Has your faith ever wavered? Have you ever fallen into doubt or fear? I know I have, for my faith is far from perfect.

In John 12 we see Jesus making His entrance into Jerusalem, and as He does so, comes across a group of Jews. John talks specifically about a group of Jewish leaders and their faith in John 12:42-43; “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

Wow. A group of men who believed in Jesus, and then allowed fear to cause them to withdraw that faith. Why? Because they loved human praise more than God’s praise. A common interpretation of this passage would lead us to believe that these men weren’t true followers of Jesus, because true followers of Jesus never cave in the face of fear.

A true Christian’s faith will withstand any and all persecution. So what do we do with these men? We throw them into a category of unbelievers, because they didn’t prove themselves.

I could write and say if you do this, you are not a true believer. If you are a coward before men, then you have no inheritance in the Kingdom. I could stand before you and say to you, if you ever deny Christ because you fear men, you then, are not a Christian. And if I did, I would also have to say that some of the apostles were also, not believers.

John is writing this after he knows all the disciples will desert Jesus. Jesus is arrested, and BOOM! Everyone is gone! Jesus is on trial, a lady comes up to Peter, “Do you know Jesus?” Nope. Remember, John is writing this after the fact that Peter will deny Christ.

Not only that, but even after Christ was resurrected, Galatians 2 11-13: “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.”

Peter over and over and over again, fearing men over God. Not only Peter but Barnabas falls into the same mess. We have men who have walked with Jesus, believed in Jesus, loved Jesus, then deny Him because of their fear of man.

Believer, listen. We are saved not based on the quality of our faith, but based on the object of our faith. We are saved not because we have a strong faith, but because we have a weak faith in a strong Christ.

Be encouraged by this, that though we are weak, He is strong. We are not the cause nor the object of our salvation, Christ is. Rejoice in that today.

– Jason Victory is the Family Pastor at Westport Baptist Church. 

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