The Spiritual Heritage Of Unfeigned Faith

Introduction - What a blessing it is for us to come to this day and celebrate our Mothers and reflect on how they have richly impacted our lives.

There is no doubt that God has given a high and holy responsibility to Mothers.

God tells us in His Word that the responsibility to train a child is vitally important— for He tells us to “6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

How many lives have been affected by manner in which children have been trained?

Now I know for some this morning the thought may be I am a single lady and am not a mother—- or perhaps you have no children and are not a mother physically.

But can I encourage you this way, that all of the ladies here are potentially mothers, either by flesh— meaning you have children, or spiritually— meaning you have those children in Christ that you are a mother as well.

And so that nurturing and training aspect— that God has designed women for as a help meet for man is so vitally important.

And so— I say to all ladies here today— embrace the task that God has given you.

Did you know this that the Bible tells us that all spiritually mature ladies are to be engaged in investing in the younger ladies?

Titus 2:3–4 “3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”

In fact so high and holy is this calling ladies, that God Himself uses the example of a mother’s comfort in comparison to how He comforts His people.

He states in Isaiah 66:13 “13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; And ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

This morning however, I would like for us to consider a particular phrase that is named among some mothers, but likewise should be true for all of us.. both men and women.

And I pray we would see the important connection found here in this passage.

Please look with me at 2 Timothy 1:1–6 “1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

Let’s Pray

We have in this year- I believe a better understanding of this word ‘faith.’

What we do not mean is simply a form of religion.

What we do mean by the word faith is that we are looking to Jesus Christ!

And this, my friend is a bond of trust in the One True Living God—

We have the privledge of looking backward to the cross of Calvary— where as the Old Testament Saints exercised their faith looking forward to the cross of Calvary.

The fact is that we all approach God the same way.

And can I say this morning, that the reality of your faith, will be expressed in the movement of your life.

This is what James meant by stating, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” in James 2:20 and then in James 2:26 “26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

And so I want us to see a peculiar phrase us here in verse 5.

Now in this verse, Paul singles out two ladies in particular. He speaks of a women by the name of Lois. And He speaks of a women by the name Eunice.

Now what is interesting is the only thing we will ever know about these ladies this side of glory is this peculiar phrase— that they possessed ‘unfeigned faith.’

Now I just want to say— this is an incredible commendation. This is where we all need to be… In fact, as you are taking notes, I want you to write this down first of all:

I. The Error Of Feigned Faith

There is a terrible plight, that I believe has done more damage spiritually and generationally than any other sin.

I realize that is a pretty sobering and bold statement, but think about how many lives have been wrecked simply because of this matter of hypocrisy and dissimulation!

Now we do not use those terms in our everyday speech, but it is in line with the deceiver for any Christian to fake their trust in the Lord.

I think of the day in which we live is reaping the results of generations of feigned faith.

The word ‘unfeigned’ means genuine—— it means real—- It gives the idea of being observable and true. And Paul is pointing to two ladies— and connects that fact that Timothy is the man that He is— because of the spiritual heritage He recieved from His family.

He points to these two ladies as a gleaming example of suberb spiritual reality.

The opposite of this kind of life, unfortunately is prevelant today. And I believe it is committed no doubt by lost people… those who truly have no faith at all in Christ, but unfortunately by Christians out of fellowship with the Lord as well.

So evil and wicked is this matter of hypocrisy—- or we might say using the word here feigning faith, that the Lord Jesus Christ sharply denounced the religious crowd of His day.

Can I tell you that there are three problems the Lord declares with the error of feigned faith.

Look with me at Luke 12:1–3 “1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”

A. The Reality Shall Be Revealed

First, we must understand, that there is coming a day—- and maybe sooner than we think, when all shall be revealed.

In fact, many believe that their insincere faith will only be discovered in eternity and so many feel safe and secure acting one way at the church house and a totally separate way in the home.

But can I tell you that this verse does not say it will only be revealed in eternity but rather just the simple fact that it will be revealed.

So either now or ultimately— the facade of faith in Christ will be revealed one way or another.

And can I say, that as it is known, it creates tremendous damage in the lives of those around you—- particularly in the lives of young people who are looking to their moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, brother and sisters, to see if your faith is indeed a reality.

Generations of young people have walked away living a life for Christ because they looked and saw over a period of time the error of a feigned faith.

But then secondly, would you consider this—

B. The Reality Is Already Known

Jesus Christ begins with this revelation, He states, “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy…”

You can imagine as the Pharisees walked down the streets how impressed the “common” people must have been.

They surely had an outward show and appearance of religiosity.

Now doubt they were considered by many to be the ones closest to God— but the Lord knew the reality already.

C. The Reality Permeates Others

II. The Enticement Of Unfeigned Faith

III. The Endurance Of Unfeigned Faith