LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Unfeigned Faith
The expression "unfeigned faith" appears twice in Paul's epistles to Timothy. The first time it refers to Paul, the second to Timothy and his family. The expression can be understood as "genuine faith" in contrast to "apparent faith".
How can we differentiate genuine faith from feigned faith? Feigned faith:
(a) Is evidenced in the way we relate to God. We still see God as distant, we are afraid of him, we cannot say "Father" to him. We can believe in him, and even defend his existence in discussions with unbelievers; but we cannot say that we are "children" of God, and that he is our "Father". A genuine believer has received the Holy Spirit, for sonship, and through him cries "Abba, Father". He rejoices in the fact that he is a child of God, and can recognize the Spirit within him, guiding him, comforting him, teaching him.
b) It does not know Jesus Christ. He speaks of God, but not of Jesus Christ. Many speak of God, in a general sense, but not of Christ as God incarnate. The Lord said: "No one comes to the Father but by me", "I am the way". Many believe in God, pray to God, but do not know the relationship with Jesus Christ. A genuine believer knows that through Jesus Christ he has come to know God, values his death on the cross, and his blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.
c) It is based on inheritance, not conversion. It is a cultural inheritance, it is the religion of the parents, not an individual experience. Now, genuine faith is not alien to the ancestors, to the family, but it comes from a personal, individual experience. Genuine faith is not biologically inheritable, but it can be witnessed through preaching and the example of one's elders. The unfeigned faith of Eunice, Loida and Paul had much to do with Timothy's real faith.
d) It is mental, not spiritual. If it is mental it is on the plane of the soul, changeable, insecure; only if it is spiritual does it have the firmness of heaven.
e) It is prone to doctrinal disputes and idle talk (1 Tim. 1:3-7). Feigned faith is so weak that it needs to assert itself before itself. And so it quarrels and argues, usually about external issues, about the law, the commandments, doctrines. A genuine believer does not need to prove anything to believe, because his faith has been given to him from above and is beyond human opinions.
f) It does not produce any real change in the way of living. Feigned faith makes promises, attempts, but no real change in life. Since there is no new birth, it is the same old man trying to make amends. The genuine believer, on the other hand, can see in himself a new way of looking at life, of looking at the world. He realizes that the world is walking in the wrong direction, he knows that he does not belong to the world.
What is the faith that you have? If you have a fake faith, it is of no use and will be of no use in the future. It is like a foundation of shifting sand. Now is the time to ask God and make sure you have genuine faith.