Building Authentic Faith

Many people wonder how we can be ‘genuine’ toward others. There seem to be many Google answers for this, but what is an answer for how we develop the authenticity of our faith in Christ?

1 Peter 1: 6-9 (ESV)
⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter the Apostle addresses all the Christians dispersed throughout Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He addresses the ‘elect exiles’ (v.1), the believers set apart and chosen by God for His unique work.

In this passage, Peter is telling us how we, being set apart and sanctified by Christ, can further refine the authenticity of our faith in Jesus Christ.  As Christians, we constantly face trials and experience struggles. Through these trials, we will likely experience grief and potential hardship. Peter also uses the words ‘if necessary’ or ‘need be’ when talking about being grieved by the various trials. Not only is there a need for us to go through trials, but it may also be necessary for us to experience grief when going through trials. God has a purpose for everything He puts us through. There is a purpose for the trial, and there is a purpose for experiencing the grief of the trial.

It is here where we can visualize the authenticity of our faith. It is through these trials that God refines us. Our faith in Him is more precious than gold. If gold is meant to be refined and purified through fire, how much more will God purify us? God already knows where our relationship with Him and faith stands, but do we? God uses these hard times and various trials so that our faith may continue to be purified.

But, our faith can only improve when we understand the quantity or strength of our faith. He is exercising our faith and providing us with self-realization so that we can understand our limitations and build authenticity and sincerity with Him.

Peter shows us that as long as we can not physically see Him, we will endure trials until His return. We endure these because we LOVE HIM. God provides the continued strengthening and purification of our faith in Him until the ultimate reward comes to fruition…the salvation of our souls.

Recently, it seems like the trend circles around going through trials on these ‘daily words’, but let us be reminded and encouraged that facing trials, and the grief caused by these trials, is God’s plan for us to purify and strengthen our faith in Him. He gives us the opportunities to become more self-aware of our relationship with Him. He provides us the ability to experience JOY that is so ‘inexpressible’, that there are no words that can describe it.

So, find that inexpressible joy in the refinement of your faith in Jesus Christ as you are experiencing your trials.