What “faith” is or should be is not clear to many. Quite a few feel insecure. The problem is often the question “How do I believe correctly?”. This is understandable. Those who are insecure like to do something right. Such hardship, however, also shows what is taught in congregations and communities. Unfortunately. God Himself is often portrayed as the One who asks this and that of us. With this, we suddenly slipped from a simple “faith” (literally: trust) to a legalistic thinking – as if we had to fulfill something, do something, before God can meet us. But is that so? Or does the Gospel of grace just speak of something else?

Some faith journeys start out wonderfully, sustained by God’s grace, but then comes the Christian subculture that sets a grid for “right” and “wrong.” This means that the problems are pre-programmed. Paul recognized this similarly when he wrote the church in Galatia:

“O ye unreasonable Galatians, who then hath bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was drawn crucified? This is the only thing I want to know from you: Did you receive the Spirit from your works of the law, or on hearing of his faith? Are you so unreasonable? Did you undertake the beginning in the Spirit, now to complete it in the flesh?”
Galatians 3:1-3

You can start out well but end up wrong, such as slipping from grace into legalism. You can descend from strength to cramp. But it is precisely the contrast that should take place. Paul writes to Timothy, his “child in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2):

“For God has not given us a spirit of despondency, but of power and of love and of sound judgment.”
2Tim 1:7

With these words Paul encourages his co-worker. No despondency, but strength, love and common sense! It is as if Paul is shaking Timothy awake. These are clear words. Apparently, Timothy needed this very thing. How good that now we can also learn from these words. It is also a contrast, namely “not this”, “but that”. Here you read how healthy faith is brought to the point. Power, love and sound reason are what should come out of a healthy faith. This should characterize the fruit of the gospel. This is how we should stand in life.

Let’s look a little closer at this encouragement.

Force

Power is the ability to accomplish (Mt 25:15). The word of the cross, writes the apostle, is foolishness to those who perish, but to us, who are being saved, it is God’s power (1 Cor. 2:18). The cross is the expression of God’s ability to accomplish. Paul never relied on his own strength, but always assumed that he and the other believers were sustained by God’s power.

“And my word and herald message was not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in instruction of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might be founded, not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
1Cor 2,4-5

Dear

The selfless love (gr. agape) is the essence of God (1Joh 4,8). It is poured out in our hearts:

“But expectation does not fail, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.”
Rom 5:5

Holy Spirit has been given to us and likewise God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through it. They are two positive confirmations of reality. He who believes has experienced the love of God. It is an immutable part of His grace. Not only have we seen and experienced the love of God (in Christ), but we have also received this same love through His Spirit. If we stand in faith and live in trust, this faith will become outwardly effective through love. We may count on His love and should not make any comparison with our own (lack of) love. Faith is trusting that God is working in you and me by means of His Spirit, just as He is working in the world. Faith is always oriented to the result. Love is of it the form of expression.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but only faith working through love.”
Gal 5:6

Love is central to faith. Love is far more important than any theology, than any understanding. However, it is appropriate to point this out again and again. We should maintain a good course. We are never alone in this.

“For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be reproved, be assured, be of like mind, keep peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2Cor 13,11

Common sense

The third term Paul mentions in his letter to Timothy is “sound reason” (Gr. sophronismos). It is about a “spirit of […] common sense”. As a figure of speech of context, it is about spiritual reason, about a spiritual attitude. It is not an “ingredient” (as if we have to pick up this spirit somewhere), but it concerns the orientation of our mind.

In Mark’s Gospel we read how Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was then clothed and completely “sane” (Gr. sophroneo) (Mark 5:15).

Sound reason shapes sound faith. There is no need for rapture, but there is also no need for false subservience to religious rules. When the healthy urge to live is stopped, one should use common sense and speak clarifyingly. There are already too many people damaged by religion.

No spirit of despondency

Paul was of advanced age when he wrote Timothy. Timothy, on the other hand, was a young man, cared for with demanding tasks. Now Paul could encourage Timothy from his experience of life and faith. He is to “rekindle the gift of God’s grace that is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1:6). Apparently Timothy was in danger of becoming discouraged, as if the tasks were getting on top of him.

“For God has not given us a spirit of despondency, but of power and of love and of sound judgment.”
2Tim 1:7

Paul reminds him of what God has given us. Timothy is to hold fast to God’s promises. Despondency springs from one’s own perception. Timothy is to take a different position. What has God given us? Not a spirit of despondency, but a spirit of power and love and sound reason. These three things go together. We could perhaps also name it as “powerful, reasonable love” or as “loving reason to accomplish” or similar. What is meant is a state of mind. These three things complement each other. They are mentioned in one breath and it is a spirit “of power and love and sound reason.”

No despondency, but also no false piety. No focus on your own weakness, but on God’s power and love. From this grows confidence and a humanity strengthened by faith. As a Christian, we should be sober, show sound judgment, and consider what is essential (Phil. 1:9-10). Elsewhere, Paul writes that we are to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may be able to discern what is the will of God-the good, the acceptable, and the perfect” (Rom 12:1-2). This runs like a thread right through his letters. Showing sound reason, in love, is an expression of powerful faith. Paul is sober, but full of love and power, because this corresponds to the Gospel.

Those who form their faith in this way become mature and independent. Wherever others want to determine our faith, where the grace of God in Christ Jesus is threatened by dogmatic guidelines, traditions, by supposed spiritual special effects, by ideological guidelines or by a dependence on persons, we should keep a healthy distance. Common sense is precisely what helps us develop a healthy faith in this world.