Scripture: – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
Examination: Paul writes against requiring Gentiles to follow Jewish laws and customs. He emphasizes that salvation is not of works, but rather putting one’s faith in the work of Jesus Christ alone.
Application: Salvation is a personal decision, but it is very easy to leave that individuality at the altar and begin one’s journey of faith following in the religious traditions of one’s family (biological or church), and not internalizing the realities of a new life in Christ. It’s easy to assume that what is taught in a Sunday school class or preached from the pulpit or discussed at the dinner table is biblical, but that is not always the case.
As Christians, whether newly saved or seasoned, we have the responsibility to study the Bible ourselves, listen to His Spirit as He speaks to us through His Word, and then make decisions about our stand in faith based upon those gleanings. 2 Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It is imperative that we take time to learn what God is saying to each one of us individually. It is not okay to simply blindly accept what a person says to you… or what you read in someone’s blog (mine included!). Pastors, Sunday school teachers, Christian school teachers, and even parents are not perfect. Religious beliefs AND traditional interpretations are often passed down from generation to generation and accepted as biblical truths when they are not.
Even though many men are called by God to lead our churches, they are not infallible. We must still be faithful ourselves to compare what we hear from our church leaders to what God has given us in His Word. As an example, my pastor has spent years of study in higher level ministry education as well as hours upon hours of Bible study in his office (I’ve seen him!) to equip himself with the truth of God’s Word in his messages. As much as I respect him and his position, I am still required by God to compare what he preaches to what is in the Bible, and when I don’t understand something, I can go to him and ask him to help me understand. That is due diligence on my part. That is how I make my faith my own… it is not my parents’ faith, my grandparents’ faith, or my pastor’s faith. It is MY faith.
The Bible tells me that I also have to be able to defend my faith to others. 1 Peter 3:15 states, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” To effectively witness for Christ, I have to be able to explain the reasons I believe what I believe, and it must be based upon what is written in the Word of God, not because someone told me it was what I should believe.
The only way to make my faith my own is to be actively involved in cultivating it. Passively sitting in a pew and listening to a message in church one a week will not help me internalize Scripture and apply it to my life. But if I diligently seek to know God personally… on my own… and find out what He wants me to know from His Word, my faith will transform into the most wonderfully intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe and all that is within it. I will begin to understand His plan for my life as I learn more and more about Him through His Word, and the journey will be ongoing until He takes me home to heaven.
Making my faith my own will reward me with the most amazing relationship with my Saviour! I will spend each day of my life on this earth with Jesus! Together, we will face the struggles and challenges of this earthly life, share sweet moments in His Word, and rest in the Father’s love. And one glorious day, Jesus will take me to my forever home in heaven, where my very own faith will become sight! Oh, what a day!
Memory Verse: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” – Philippians 4:9
Stretching your thoughts:
1. When questions arise regarding your faith, to whom can you go for sound biblical truths?
2. How would you defend your beliefs to an unsaved person? Can you back up your beliefs with Scripture?
I know my faith is founded on Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;
And this my faith confessing, unmoved I stand upon his Word.
Our reason cannot fathom the truth of God profound;
Who trusts in worldly wisdom relies on shifting ground.
God's Word is all-sufficient, it makes divinely sure,
And, trusting in its wisdom, my faith shall rest secure.
(from “I Know My Faith is Founded” by Erdmann Neumeister)