How does God look at our faith?

God looks into our heart

"... Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve" (Revelation 3:23).

But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart' (Isaiah 16:7).

God demands a holy, reverential heart

Because God is Holy and He expects all those who believe in Him to be holy.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Holiness is also a working of God in our lives. He only wants our cooperation and willingness to obey Him to make us one like His Son Jesus Christ.

"For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters" (Romans 8:29).

Genuine faith involves obedience to the commandments God given in His Holy Bible. First and foremost are the Ten Commandments.

What are the Ten Commandments?

During the time of Jesus, He summarized them as follows:

• Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself, and Love your enemies as yourself.
• Love your neighbor as yourself, and
• Love your enemies
  

  "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).

Where the Law failed

Jesus knew that it is impossible for anyone to fulfill these commandments. So He has sent to us the Holy Spirit to help us obey all of God's commandments.

"For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" (Romans 8:3-8).

Holy Spirit

So the Holy Spirit whom God gave us at the time when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior will be our helper to will and to do what He commanded us to do, which includes loving even our enemies.

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).