Authentic Versus Counterfeit Faith (Part I) Series

Intro

Jesus made an alarming statement in the Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly (Matt. 7:21-23).’” I

None of us want to be one of those people who thought they were living in genuine faith, only to discover too late that it was a sham faith—a counterfeit that probably fooled others but also had a strong element of self-deception. On the surface, Judas appeared to be operating in the same faith as the other disciples. It looked a lot like the real thing. All the other disciples were undiscerning of his sham faith. In the upper room, when Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him, none of them knew it was Judas. In fact, each one began to ask: “Lord, is it I?” (Matt. 26:22 KJV). No one knew that it was Judas. Jesus was the only one who was not fooled by Judas’s lack of genuine faith.

Throughout our study of Romans 4, we have talked about faith. But what kind of faith is Paul talking about? What qualities must faith have in order to be saving faith? The promise of salvation is only to those who have the kind of faith Paul is speaking of in Romans 4. Saving faith is credited as righteousness by God. Sham faith is not.

Thankfully, Paul clarifies what saving faith is by using Abraham’s example. Faith is an action word, and it is understood by examining its fruit. One way we know a tree is an apple tree is by seeing apples hanging on its branches. One way we know faith is authentic is by observing the behavior that it produces. Jesus explained this in Matthew 7:16-20 when he said:

“You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

Jesus immediately followed that instruction with the warning that we quoted at the beginning of this message: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). There are many today who are professing Christian, saying to Christ, “Lord, Lord.” But their lifestyles do not reflect the will of the Father. Biblical faith is more than a profession. It is evidence by a commitment from the heart to do the will of God.

Romans 4:16-22 provides a clear view of what genuine faith looks like:

“For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations,’ according to what was said, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 Therefore ‘it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”

Do you “share the faith of Abraham” (v. 16)? God justifies people who respond to him with Abraham’s kind of faith: “Therefore ‘it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (v. 22). In Romans 4, Paul uses Abraham as an example to teach justification by faith. In verses 16-22, he teaches the qualities of Abraham’s type of faith. As we examine this passage, we are not just doing a historical study. We are learning the quality of faith that we must operate in to inherit eternal life. The assurance of inheriting the promise is to those who (as stated in Romans 4:12) “follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had.” Today we will examine four characteristics of authentic faith as taught in verses 17 and 18. Next week we will expound verses 19-22 for an understanding of the other qualities Paul is addressing. Today: Four qualities of genuine faith that saves: