Authentic Faith

Authentic faith is not rooted in emotional experience but in the truth about Jesus Christ.

Twice the text says this man believed (4:51-53). We find the same pattern with the Samaritans (vv. 39-41). In neither case are we told when the individual was saved. John is showing us how authentic faith always results in continued belief. Don’t misunderstand what he’s teaching. He’s not saying a person needs to be saved over and over. He’s not denying genuine conversion happens at the moment when a person turns from sin and trusts Christ. What he is saying is that those who are genuinely converted will continue to believe on Jesus Christ.

I’ve talked with a number of individuals who claim to be Christians, and when you ask them how they know Jesus Christ has saved them, they point to a past decision. As you continue to talk with them, there’s no evidence in their lives they are indeed believers, but they’re holding on to some experiences in their past. They base their hope on the words of a prayer or a religious experience from the past. Authentic faith always continues. It doesn’t stop. It doesn’t give up. It doesn’t turn away. Genuine believers will continue to follow Jesus Christ.

Throughout John’s Gospel we see those who seem to believe but then turn back from following Jesus Christ.

From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (6:66-69)

How are we to understand what happened to these disciples who turned away? As readers we’re forced to ask, “What is genuine belief?” Genuine belief is belief that continues. Look at the contrast between those who turned away and the Twelve. Jesus asks them if they want to leave as well. Peter, answering for the group, says in effect, “Where would we go?” Then he acknowledges who Jesus is and says, “We believe.” Do you see the contrast? Those who left Jesus demonstrated by leaving that their faith was not authentic (cf. 1 John 2:19). On the other hand, the disciples, by persevering in the faith, demonstrate that their faith is indeed authentic.

This discussion of authentic faith continues throughout the New Testament. Authentic faith always continues; authentic faith is evident when we persevere in believing and trusting Jesus Christ.

Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him— if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. (Col 1:21-23; emphasis added)

Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. (Heb 3:12-14; emphasis added)

Believing Jesus is not something we do one time. We must keep believing, keep depending, keep trusting. From the beginning—the opening verses of the Gospel of John—the need for continual trust is emphasized. Those who become children of God are those who received Christ (John 1:12), those who are believing(present tense) in his name.

Why is continued belief so important to John? Where did he learn this emphasis? “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples’” (8:31). To continue is to “abide,” to “remain,” and to “persevere.” True disciples continue in the faith, growing more and more in their dependence on Jesus Christ. Authentic faith is more than spiritual curiosity about Jesus. Authentic faith is more than emotional feelings about him. Authentic faith is not a single decision for him. Authentic faith is an actual commitment, an informed belief, and a growing dependence on Jesus Christ.

We can think of faith in Jesus Christ the way we think about marriage. If an acquaintance were to ask me if I was married, I would say yes. If he asked me how I knew I was married, I might mention my wedding ceremony years ago. He could respond, “I know a lot of people who had a wedding ceremony but who aren’t married.” So how do I know I’m married? Is it because of the piece of paper I received years ago from a county clerk? Is it because of some photos in an album? Is it because I’m wearing a ring? Those all testify to a past event and remind me I had a wedding. But the real way I know I’m married is because I go home each night to my wife. She gives me a kiss, we spend the evening wrangling kids together, collapse into bed, and wake up to start again the next day. I know I’m married because every day I live out my marriage.

Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Don’t point to a past event. Show me how you live out your faith every day. For Christians, faith starts again each morning when our feet hit the floor. Faith goes to work and comes back home at night. Faith falls asleep with us. For two thousand years a synonym for Christian has been believer. Not believed but believer. Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Is your faith authentic?