To believe we have to have an object of our belief, a fact, a person, a tradition. And these things don't necessarily have to be true to be believed. Misplaced beliefs have been with man since God created him.
Belief is an act of acceptance, "I believe that." We believe a lot of things throughout our lifetimes and often our beliefs change. As children we believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, but as we grow we leave these childish beliefs behind and start accepting more solid or confirmed truths, or so we think.
There has been so much rhetoric bantered about in regards to the subject of believing, I wouldn't be surprised that many of those who visit this blog no longer desire to read anymore on the subject. I've grown weary of it, but that doesn't mean we should give up on trying to communicate what God wants communicated about believing.
One of my favorite books isn't the latest "hot off the presses" writings by one of the modern day gurus that people are flocking to for the answers to life's mysteries. The answer to the "mysteries" of life have been given to us already, we just have to look for them where they will be found. Of course, I'm speaking of the Bible.
Another name for a Christian is "a believer". A believer of what? Oh the list is long and diversified! Belief in God. Belief in Jesus. The Church, the Pastor, the Pope, yourself, each other, the government (well, maybe not that one). Belief in traditions, belief in science, belief in extraterrestrials. Let me just say that belief and faith will most likely mean the same thing unless otherwise noted.
Let's agree on at least two "ground rules" as I begin this post, 1) only the saved are given the Holy Spirit, and 2) the Scriptures can only be understood and discerned correctly through the Holy Spirit's guidance in the life of a believer. This is the real spirit-filled life! In other words, one who does not believe the bible, or does not preach or teach the Gospel of Christ as revealed in the Bible is not saved (Gal. 1:8, 9). Other biblical truths may be up for debate, but not the saving grace of God as presented to all mankind through the inspired and infallible Word of God, the Bible. If we cannot agree here, then we cannot move on. And any other discussions will simply waste our time. Scripture to consider: 1 Cor. 2:14; John 3:3; John 14:17; 2 Cor. 4: 3, 4; 1 Cor. 2: 12. Those should suffice.
Every believer at one time or another must admit to their previous condition and testify to their present condition as the beggar did in John 9:25, "one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
So how does someone move from the realm of blindness to the realm of seeing? The answer is found in John 3:18: He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. According to John 3:18 the only way to escape judgment, eternal judgment is to believe in the Son of God, Jesus. Again, belief is an act of acceptance. To accept the truth that the bible teaches concerning Jesus, that He is the Son of God/God the Son. That Jesus is Deity and therefore the only means of salvation and that's only obtained through believing, or placing your faith in the truth of the Word of God.
The marvelous thing about believing in Christ, is His salvation, is offered to all and is not dependent on anything accept God's grace. And God's grace is obtained through simple child-like faith or trust or belief. AND it is NOT dependent upon how great a person's sin is nor how minute man considers his sinful state to be. That's why God Word teaches us that ALL HAVE SINNED. The cure is BELIEVE/TRUST/ ACCEPT by faith what Jesus has done for us, all of us.
Rom 3:21-26 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demo nstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The sin question has been set aside forever, and equal exercise of grace is extended to all who believe. It never falls short of being the measureless saving grace of God. Thus grace cold not be increased; for it is the expression of his infinite love; it could not be diminished; for every limitation that human sin might impose on the action of a righteous God has, through the propitiation of the cross, has been dismissed forever. GRACE, Lewis Sperry Chafer, pg. 5
Belief does not require works, as the Law did. Belief does not require commitment to Jesus' Lordship BEFORE one can grasp hold of the truths of God. It will move a believer to a life of obedience to Jesus, but that is through faith also.
The ending question on this post is DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS? And if not, what do you find so objectionable about him? What will it take to convince YOU that Jesus is exactly who he says he is?
May his love be shown to you and yours. Let me know what you think of him. I'd love to hear from you.
BHFLU (1 John 4:19)
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