BELIEF AIN'T FAITH

📖Scripture: “…though not seeing Him now, you have faith in Him.” -1 Peter 1:8b

🔎Reflection: Yesterday, we looked at four very different Greek words, which are all translated into the English language as “love.” Today, we’ll dive into a single Greek word, “pis'-tis,” which is translated into English as either “belief” or “faith,” depending on the context. The Greek word “pis'-tis” is from the root word “pay'-tho,” which means to be persuaded of what is trustworthy. But as Jesus' half-brother, James, warns, “Even the demons pis'-tis—and shudder!” (James 2:19).

Just because it’s the same word (pis'-tis) from the same root (pay'-tho), that does NOT mean belief and faith are the same. There is NO distinction between the “pis'-tis” of demons and that of countless religious people and church attendees who recite creeds, pray prayers, confess doctrinal truths, and check all the appropriate legalistic boxes. That’s because modern Christianity has confused religiously concocted, artificially manufactured, and synthetically derived man-made “belief” as synonymous with divinely bestowed, authentically gifted, and authentically conferred God-given “faith.”

Sadly, many churches today are filled with self-assured religious consumers, i.e., “believers” rather than Spirit-born faithful saints, “children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God” (John 1:13). Faith is only ever God’s gift (Eph 2:8-9). It is authenticated in how we respond - not through self-inflicted consequences of sin and rebellion - but through the Refiner’s Fire, i.e., the sufferings and trials (1 Pet 1:7) of “good works,” which God prepared in advance for His Bride to accomplish (Eph 2:10).

Mere “believers” today are those having reduced King Jesus to a cosmic vending machine: selfish prayers in and selfish blessings out. Jesus is their “homie,” a “holy man,” a “great teacher,” or a “prophet,” rather than the WORD incarnate, the eternal Son of God, the unique God-man, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, our Scapegoat, and the ONLY Way to the Heavenly Father. Scripture reveals the “pis'-tis” of demons far exceeds all that: In Mk 1:23-24, the unclean spirit acknowledges Jesus as “the Holy One of God.” In Mk 1:34, Jesus exercised authority over demons that knew Him and were silenced by Him. In Mt 8:28-29, the demons declared Jesus as “Son of God.” In Mk 5:6-7, the Gerasene demoniac referred to Jesus as “Son of the Most High God.” In Lk 4:41, the demons heralded Jesus as the “Son of God.” In Acts 16:16-18, “the spirit of Python” (serpent demon) that possessed the slave girl acknowledged Paul and Timothy as “servants of the Most High God.” In Acts 19:15, the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were attempting to manipulate the power of the Holy Spirit. When they attempted to exorcise an evil spirit from a man, the spirit responded, “Jesus I know… but who are you?” The evil spirit then proceeded to strip them naked, along with a serious beatdown!

Mere “belief” masquerades as the real deal, but it never edifies (builds up) the Body of Christ. Instead, “belief” tears it down with counterfeit religion and pseudo-spirituality, which is rampant today! Authentic “faith,” however, supernaturally unites us to Christ as integral and devoted members His Body & Bride, leading to the glory of God (Heb 11; John 14:15). To claim “pis'-tis” without devotion to Christ’s church is to stand condemned, just like those in Matthew 7:21–23 who performed many great signs and wonders in His name yet who were completely unknown to Christ Jesus, who will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!”

🤺Action: The biblical test of authentic “pis'-tis” isn’t whether we, with hearts deceitful above all things (Jer 17:9), have convinced ourselves that we’re right with God, but whether or not we are faithfully submitted, humbly devoted, and relentlessly committed as born-again, functional members of Christ’s Body & Bride. Test and examine yourself (2 Cor 13:5) by asking the LORD to examine your “pis'-tis” to determine whether it is counterfeit “belief” from within or legit “faith” from God.

Prayerfully inquire, “LORD Jesus, does my ‘pis'-tis’ merely acknowledge a set of convenient doctrines and religious traditions, or is it lived out for YOU as the Alpha and Omega, the KING of kings and LORD of lords in my denial of self and total submission to YOU in a local church that reveres YOUR WORD as God-breathed divine revelation?”

🙏Prayer: Heavenly Father, please expose every counterfeit belief in me masquerading as authentic faith. Strengthen me to live by legit Holy Spirit-wrought faith that humbly obeys, serves, and perseveres for Your glory. Holy Spirit, please conform me to the image of Christ, that my faith would be a testimony of Your gracious power and presence. I pray all this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Catch the video version of today post right here: https://youtube.com/shorts/7iDIAN1Do7Q?feature=share

Blessings & love,

Kevin M. Kelley

Pastor

BigIslandChurch.com