If Ye Believe

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

We live in a world that is filled with people that will believe almost anything. Maybe you, like I, have heard someone begin to talk about something they read on the internet and without any investigation they begin to repeat what was written as if it is truth. The phrase “fake news” is a phrase that has proven to be a reality. At one time the news media simply reported the events that took place and left opinions and conclusions to be drawn from what was reported to the one watching but now there are some that will report their agendas or opinions in attempt to persuade the viewer to believe what is being reported. There is also a multitude of people that will proclaim that there is no “objective truth” or that truth is relative. This idea teaches that there may be a multiplicity of truths regarding the same subject. Others may say that “there is no absolute truth” and be absolutely sure about that (in doing such they have contradicted the very idea). May I suggest to you that there is an absolute truth, that one can absolutely know that truth, and be confident in that truth! Of all of the false reports and in a time that truth is uncertain, we can be confident in the truth of Jesus the Christ. As a matter of fact, Jesus stated that we can “know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31).

Our salvation hinges on our belief. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), and as many can quote, God sent His only begotten Son, in order that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life (John 3:16). But what type of faith or belief is under consideration when the Bible speaks of these terms? Is it simply, as many teach, that it is mental recognition, or is it mental recognition conjoined with obedience? As we examine the Scriptures, it is made evident that the type of faith/belief that saves is a faith that is based upon the truth of God’s Word, a confidence of what is written, and then acting upon what is written.

First of all, belief/faith is not a blind faith, a shot in the dark, or a haphazard leap. Faith is something that is factual, concrete, and sure. Our faith should be based upon the things that we are able to read in the Bible. Faith comes from hearing/reading God’s Word (Romans 10:17), it comes from the things which have been given to us by the inspiration of God, from God to man (2 Tim. 3:16), which allows us to search the Scriptures and know for certain what God expects of us. Faith is the very evidence of the things hoped for and the things not yet seen (Heb. 11:1). The illustration is used in discussing faith, that one may have never been to New York City but they can be sure that it exists because there is evidence that proves such, and a person can travel to that city by reading a map (or if you follow the instructions given by a GPS). The Bible gives us evidence that there is a God, that He sent His Son to die for our sins, and that those that believe in Him will be saved.

Not only are we saved by believing those things which are found in Scripture, but that belief causes us to obey what is found in Scripture. There are some that teach that mental recognition of what is written is enough. This group of people believe that we are saved by faith and faith only, and that mental recognition is all that is needed for salvation. To this idea let me first say that we are saved by faith (the Scriptures teach that) but the type of faith that saves is the faith that obeys. When Jesus was giving His final commands to His apostles, He commissioned them to go preach the Gospel to the entire world and in so doing stated that “he that believes” shall be saved, and those that argue faith only doctrine will hear those words and be confident in them, but Jesus did not stop with those words. In fact, the passage states that “he that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Dear reader, the type of faith that saves is a faith that mentally recognizes what is stated in the Scripture and also completely surrenders to the will of God, doing those things found in Scripture. James writes that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). This passage does not teach that a person is saved by faith only but that a person is only saved by faith. What type of faith do you have? Do you mentally recognize that Jesus is the Christ, and if so are you willing to put that belief into practice and do those things commanded in Scripture?