More Than A Saving Faith (II)
Last week we had the opportunity to discuss what it means to have a sanctified life. We are all born-again into the saving grace of God once we accept Jesus Christ’s perfect life, His death on the cross, His resurrection, and that He is reigning today; however, there is a time when a Christian truly looks at the Word of God and says “I want to know more, I want to be 100% God’s”. This is that moment when the believer takes their faith a step further into a sanctified faith.
Last week we discussed the royal official who became saved when he acknowledge that Jesus Christ had the authority and power to heal his son. However, it was not until he was met on the road home by his servants that the royal official took that step into a sanctified faith (John 4:46-53).
Today, I want to discuss a similar circumstance of a different individual who had already made that step to further his faith. This man would prove that man’s outward appearance does not reflect the spiritual maturity of the person.
“7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.”
Luke 7:1-10
What is surprising about this passage of scripture is the man’s faith allowed for a greater understanding of Jesus Christ than anyone else in Israel. Christ not only healed the servent but also eternalized in the Holy scriptures a gentile. The centurion’s faith established an understanding that the Son of God’s authority was limitless. The centurion had already taken that step in his faith to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is capable of even healing from afar, as long as it is within His will. The centurion did not need Jesus to come to his home because he knew that as a Man with authority, Jesus could command it to be done just as the centurion would command those around him to complete his tasks.
It is also this great faith that amazed Jesus Christ who notes that not even the Jewish people, God’s chosen people, had the same amount of faith; a fact that is seen by how often Jesus is asked to perform miracles in front of the religious leaders. While Jesus may have been going to the centurion’s home based on the plea of the elders, it was the centurion’s faith in Him that ultimately caused Jesus to heal the servant. We should also acknowledge that the centurion’s faith had works, he was obeying the Old Testament and blessing Abraham’s descendants, and even knew the customary laws of the Jews regarding interactions with the gentiles. This mans faith is manifested in works.
While last week we saw an official who needed to take that step in being sanctified, this week we see a man who had taken that step without ever being in front of Jesus. Despite this, the centurion was aware of Jesus’s actions and had already came to the conclusion that He had authority greater than his. I hope this helps to encourage you to take that step yourself and see what Jesus will do in your life!
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex