Month 7:11, Week 2:3 (Shleshi/Bikkurim), Year 5935:182 AM
Gregorian Calendar: Saturday 8 October 2011
The Right Kind of Faith
Knowing Where to Begin and End
Now that Yom Kippur is over with all that I said yesterday about Torah, I thought it only right to shift focus again to maintain the proper balance. So today we are asking the question: Do I have the right kind of emunah (faith)? Considering this is one of the most important concepts in the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) it is important we understand it correctly, especially as it is everywhere required and its importance insisted on.
Emunah (faith) means abandoning all trust in ones own resources without denying we should be resourceful. Emunah (faith) means casting oneself unreservedly on the mercy of Yahweh. And Emunah (faith) means laying hold on the promises of Yahweh in Yah'shua (Jesus), relying entirely on the finished work of the Cross for salvation, and on the power of the indwelling Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) for daily strength. But as we have also seen, emunah (faith) implies not only complete reliance on Yahweh but on full obedience to Him also - obedience to His eternal Torah mitzvot (commandments) and obedience to what He tells us to do personally in and with our lives.
To have proper emunah (faith) we must realise that trusting in anyone or anything else except Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is inadequate. If anyone's Emunah (faith) originates in man, depends on man, and ends with man, it is 100% contrary to Yahweh's revelation in the Bible. The Scriptures teach unapologetically that only in the Davar (Word) can we discover the right object of emunah (faith): Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
Even from just a human perspective, Yah'shua (Jesus) was the kind of person that people everywhere are looking to believe in. He was a wise teacher, He had such power and personal magnetism that great crowds followed Him. He was a man of high principle and impeccable character. He spoke with toqef (authority). He was a man of emet (truth) and integrity. But even more important, Yah'shua (Jesus) is the right object of our emunah (faith) because He is Elohim (God). How do we know this? Because Scripture testifies that:
- 1. He is eternal (Jn.1:1; 17:5);
- 2. He is omniscient or all-knowing (Jn.16:30; 21:17);
- 3. He is omnipotent or all-powerful (Jn.5:19);
- 4. He is everywhere (Mt.18:20; 28:20); and
- 5. He is the Creator of all (Col.1.16).
If your emunah (faith) is in anyone or anything other than Messiah, it is inadequate. How, then, can we obtain the correct emunah (faith)?
- 1. Admit your sinfulness and desire to turn from it. Yah'shua (Jesus) said: "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Lk.13:3);
- 2. Believe that "Messiah died for our sins...and that He rose again the third day" (1 Cor.15:3-4); and
- 3. Trust in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) alone as your Master (Lord) and Deliverer (Saviour). "If you confess with your mouth the Master Yah'shua (Jesus) and believe in your lev (heart) that Elohim (God) has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom.10:9).
What about the amount of emunah (faith) we are supposed to have after we have made a decision for Messiah? How can we measure that? The answer is actually very simple: it is to be found in whether your emunah (faith) is in the right object. You can evaluate how much emunah (faith) you have by quickly filling out the following checklist:
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My emunah (faith) is not in my ability to control my own destiny |
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My emunah (faith) is not in my good name and good living |
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My emunah (faith) is not in my assembly/church or its ceremonies |
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My emunah (faith) is not in my ability to improve myself |
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My emunah (faith) is not in my ability to push all negative thoughts out of my life |
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My emunah (faith) is not in my own sincerity |
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My emunah (faith) is not in my power to tap some inner, godlike resources |
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My emunah (faith) is not in how successfully I manage to live and obey Torah |
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My emunah (faith) is in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) |
When it comes to our eternal destiny, is is essential that we trust the right Person. If you have checked off all the boxes above, then you have the right amount emunah (faith). Because if you're trusting in Messiah you will have all the things that religious and secular people try to do and accomplish without Messiah and fail. So put your emunah (faith) in Messiah, not in works, and then the works will come forth, empowered by the Ruach (Spirit) to the glory of Yahweh!
Remember, 'doing' Torah doesn't save you, it won't make you right with Yahweh, and you won't manage anyway. Doing Torah is a fruit of true emunah (faith) in Messiah because then you are supernaturally equipped!
Acknowledgements
[1] RBC Ministries, Do I Have the Right Kind of Faith?
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