Simply put, it is a sincere heart of humility and love following the likeness of Christ. Sounds simple, and many who have said they believe in Christ and are truly saved may want to continually self-examine their hearts and intentions to check if their faith is authentic.
It’s no secret that most are familiar with the Pharisees. They believed they were in the right standing with God. However, Jesus exposed otherwise. They were into the traditions and the social norms of religion. This weighed down those who tried to follow their standards and strict legalistic rules. Yet, within society and religious circles, they were seen as leaders who were in good standing before God.
We know that their beliefs were wrong.
See, authentic faith means living in the truth of God as yourself. Not the representative you reveal to the world. It’s your true self. The good which you have no problem sharing. But also the part of you that is not aligned with God. That’s the part that lives behind closed doors, with a mask and phony Christian answers. God sees it however, if we don’t yield to the work of the Holy Spirit’s correction and guidance we will push it deep down so no one can touch it, see it, or hear it.
That’s not what God wants for those who He has given the right to be called His children. That makes those who believe more than His creation but now adopted as His children and that comes with certain rights.
But did you happen to catch that? His children are sincerely His children because they receive Him as their Father. They are aligned, in agreement, and yielded to His ways. This is the life Jesus demonstrated, and if we follow the example of Christ, this is our lifestyle (how a person lives).
How one lives matters.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
John 1:11-12 (ESV)
Being authentic is not a matter of knowledge but surrender. There is evidence of that surrender. Jesus left an example for them all in his humanity. Here are a few examples of authentic faith:
- Reciprocal love for God through obedience, which is often learned through suffering.
- Accepting God’s discipline without despising it. This comes from trusting God works everything for our good and His purpose.
- Yielded hearts usually mean we are obedient when we would rather not want to be obedient. When we have a case of the “I don’t want to’s” but still do the will of God.
- We participate in our sanctification by putting action behind our faith empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Authentic faith is not about perfection; it’s about devotion. Devotion is not limited by our flesh, our own ways, hardships, or disappointment. It is a fruitful relationship of trust, love, and guidance into eternal life. A heart that is laid bare before God, withholding nothing.
