We have written a few times recently about the subject of a good “reputation” or a “good name” as the Bible sometimes words it.
While it would be challenging to highlight one virtue of Christ over another relative to our reputation, I wish to focus on the idea of “faithfulness.” The Pharisees had neglected faithfulness according to Jesus in Matthew 23:23. It is one of the fruit enhanced by the Spirit dwelling in the Christian, according to Paul in Galatians 5:22.
Faithfulness is dedication to God’s nature and His word. It is commitment to Who He is, what He does, and what He says. It also portrays the idea of dependability. In spiritual terms, it means that God can trust us to fulfill His expectations to the best of our ability.
Jesus stated a number of times, especially in the Gospel of John, that He did nothing on His own initiative. He would judge just as He heard from the Father (John 5:30). If I can’t give biblical reference for what I preach or practice, I should ask myself if I am being faithful.
Jesus said that He speaks the things as the Father has taught Him so that He does nothing on His own initiative (John 8:28). The one thing that Jesus did on His own initiative was to offer His life (John 10:18). The Father did not force Jesus to sacrifice Himself; Jesus willingly submitted. But He knew it was consistent with God’s plans for saving man.
Again, in John 12:49, Jesus says that He did not speak on His own initiative, but the Father gave Him a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. So, Jesus did that. Again, Jesus emphasizes this in John 14:10 and John 16:13.
So what is our reputation? Do the people around us know that we are faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ? Can they depend on us to give them a biblical response (yes, book, chapter, and verse) for a biblical question? If so, then we have a reputation for faithfulness.
That reputation will be challenged from time to time. Jesus said, “whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). That individual, who will not teach the “whole counsel of God” for fear he will lose popularity, is not being faithful to the Gospel.
Paul Holland
