A Background of Faith Is Not Something to Boast About

A Background of Faith Is Not Something to Boast About

Through the passage above, we can see that Timothy received a precious spiritual influence from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. In today’s terms, we might say that he was raised in a household of faith, or that he grew up in a Christian home. This was surely a great blessing, because from childhood he had known the holy Scriptures.

However, being raised in a believing family is not something to boast about before others. The more important question is whether we now hear the words of Jesus and obey them. Therefore, today I would like to consider this matter: faith is not something to boast about, and our past background is not more important than our present obedience to the words of Jesus.

In truth, I do not know whether a person can have faith even before being born, though there is a passage saying that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15. Concerning John the Baptist, please read “Art Thou He That Cometh, or Look We for Another?”). In any case, today we know well, through various studies, the importance of prenatal education and early education. And even apart from any particular research, as we become adults, we personally feel how much harder it is to learn and become skilled in something later in life than when we were young. That may be why adults often tell children to study harder while they still have the chance to study.

The written Word of God also says that there is a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), and therefore it is important for us to act according to the proper time. Scripture also says to remember our Creator in the days of our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2). Likewise, the apostle Paul told Timothy that from a child he had known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make him wise unto salvation.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 “14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Therefore, as much as possible, because knowing the Scriptures from childhood may be better than coming to know them only as an adult, we should teach the Bible to children and help them gain the wisdom that leads unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. If there is any benefit in being raised in a household of faith, it would be this very point: from childhood, one naturally comes to know Jesus within a believing home.

However, unfortunately, among those who grew up in church or were raised in Christian homes, there are some who later grow up and lose their faith or forsake it. On the other hand, there are also those who were not raised in a Christian home, but who came to know Jesus later and yet believe in Jesus more earnestly and obey the Word more faithfully than those who were. Through this fact, we can understand that being raised in a believing family is a personal blessing, but not a privilege that one can boast of before others.

In Jesus’ day, there were also people who took pride and boasted in being Abraham’s descendants by blood. But Jesus said the following to them:

John 8:37-40, 43-45 “37I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you. 38I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 43Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When He speaketh a lie, He speaketh of His own: for He is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.”

In this way, those who were Abraham’s descendants by blood boasted that their father was Abraham. But Jesus said that because they were not doing the works of Abraham in the present, they were not Abraham’s children. Rather, He said that their father was the devil.

The same is true today. If a person grew up in church or was raised in a Christian home, yet does not live according to the words of Jesus now, then that past background means nothing. Therefore, the present is more important than the past. The more important question is whether I now hear the words of Jesus and obey them. Who I was in the past is not more important than who I am now (Ezekiel 33:10-16).

The relationship between Jews and Gentiles is the same. In the gospel, unlike under the law of the Old Testament, Scripture now says that he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, that is, by blood.

Romans 2:23-29 “23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

Amen. This word is truth. Praise is not from men, but “from God.” Therefore, it is foolish for a person to boast in his own mouth about having grown up in church or having been raised in a Christian home in order to be recognized by people. And if someone boasts in such a background, yet dishonours the name of God, then he becomes worse than those who did not have such a background but desire to sanctify the name of Jesus.

Therefore, whether or not someone was raised in a believing family is purely a personal matter, and not something to boast about. We must not forget that all of us, in Jesus Christ, have become one by the blood of Jesus. There is no one higher or lower, but all are brothers and sisters together (Matthew 23:8, 12). We must also know that we are each members of one body, serving only Jesus, who is the Head of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Ephesians 2:11-13, 19-22 “11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Amen.