2 Timothy 2:13 NASB95
If we believe not, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:13 TPT
But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us!
There is no denying the importance of faith. The Scriptures both in the old and the New Testament tell us that “The just shall live by faith.” We are also told in Hebrews 11:6, “without faith it is impossible to please God,” and Romans 14:23 says, “that which is not of faith is sin.” Christians are also often referred to as “Believers” because the foundation of our relationship with Jesus is one of faith. Therefore, understanding what faith is, what it isn’t, and how to get it is really important.
I listed those two versions of 2 Timothy 2:13 because it seems to say something that is contradictory to living this life of faith. You see, most Christians think that faith is something that we do that gets God to do something, but faith is actually a response to what God has promised to do and His ability to do it. God cannot deny Himself. He is faithful, and true faith is what happens when we focus on His faithfulness and not our faith. Have you ever said these words, “I’m just not sure I have faith for that.” If you have, then you can join the rest of us, but the good news is it is irrelevant whether or not you and I have faith for something. The real question is does He have faith for it. Does God have faith in His own ability to bring it to pass, whatever the “it” is. If you really want to walk in faith, and you want your faith to grow stronger and stronger in believing then you need to get your eyes off of your faith and fix them on the faithfulness of God. If you get your eyes off of your faith and rest in the faithfulness of God, then you’ve discovered what real faith is. That’s right; faith is simply resting in the faithfulness of God. It is resting in the fact that he has faith in his ability to handle any situation. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 in the KJV says, “Faithful is He who called you who also will do it.” Whatever situation that He has called you into, He has promised that He will do it, and He has absolute faith in His ability to do it. Unfortunately, we have turned faith into some kind of performance or works on our part when true faith abandons our performance and works and trusts in His.
“By faith, even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11 – She had faith AS A RESULT OF CONSIDERING HIM FAITHFUL who had promised.