A Tested Faith

A Tested Faith

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you . . . .” 1 Pet. 1:3-4. This is a tremendous experience. Then we are raised up with Him and are seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6. Our spirit has been seated there while we seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth. Col. 3:1-3. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last times.” However, if it is to succeed, we need to have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Then we belong to Jesus Christ. Gal. 5:24.

We are tempted because we have sin—we have a flesh with passions and desires. 1 John 1:8. Each temptation is a trial of our faith, whether we love God more than our desires. The ones about whom Paul writes—those who have a form of godliness, yet deny its power—love their desires more than they love God. 2 Tim. 3:4-5. On the other hand, those who love God win the crown of life in the temptations. They are kept by the power of God.

We cannot have a tested faith without having gone through sufferings. Peter writes: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” In Romans 8:28 we read that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. When we read 1 Corinthians 2:9, we see the glory obtained by those who love God. They are all kept by faith. They are not deceived by their desires, but they consider it all joy when they are tempted because it produces patience, and patience leads to a perfect work. Jas. 1:2-4, 12-14.

When we were in the flesh, we bore fruit leading to death by following our sinful desires. Rom. 7:5. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Rom. 8:9. We cannot say that those who are in the flesh are tempted, because they have the same mind as the flesh. Rom. 8:5. But we are tempted if we are in the Spirit—if we desire the things of the Spirit, and when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. Then we have succumbed in our mind. We have failed in our high calling and are being drawn down to the earth, the visible things. But if we keep the incorruptible and imperishable inheritance before our eyes, our faith will stand the test, and we will gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 2:13-14.

We can only be tempted, receive a tested faith, and win the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ as long as we are in the body. During this time we can come to the same life Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-18.