"How Do I Know If I Have True Faith?"

Hebrews 11:1-6

Don Fortner

 

     Last week I received a letter from a young lady who seems to be genuinely seeking the Lord. She is going though the struggles and conflicts of soul that all experience in the process of conversion. She asked a question that commonly vexes the people of God. It does not vex the carnally secure religious hypocrite who has made his decision for Jesus and never doubts it. But it does vex one who, by the Spirit of God, sincerely seeks the Lord. And it is most vexing to the precious babes in grace. The question is this: "How do I know if I have true faith?"

     None but God the Holy Spirit can answer that question to the satisfaction of your soul and conscience. And he answers it by means of the gospel, effectually applying the blood of Christ to your heart and enabling you to rest in the Savior's finished work. Yet, there are several evidences and characteristics of true faith, by which we may know whether our faith is true or false.

 

l.  TRUE FAITH ACKNOWLEDGES AND CONFESSES PERSONAL DEPRAVITY, SIN AND GUILT (Ps. 51:3-5; I John 1:9). No one has true faith in Christ who does not, from his heart, take sides with God against himself and justify God in his own condemnation.

 

2.  TRUE FAITH TRUSTS CHRIST ALONE FOR ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD (Acts 8:26-37). Faith looks to Christ alone for peace, pardon, justification, sanctification, preservation and ultimate glorification.

 

3.  TRUE FAITH SURRENDERS TO, FOLLOWS AND OBEYS CHRIST AS LORD IN ALL THINGS AND OVER ALL THINGS (Luke 14:25-33). The believer's submission to Christ in this life is not perfect; but it is sincere and entire. God's children are not rebels to Christ. They do not rebel against his doctrine, his will or his word. They submit to him, willingly.

 

4.  TRUE FAITH LOVES CHRIST, HIS PEOPLE AND HIS WORD (I John 5:1-3). Faith always works by love. Where love is absent, faith is absent. Where genuine love is found, faith is found.