Have you believed?

FIRST we looked at how Jesus said we must repent. Second, Jesus said you must believe. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 ESV). Actually, repentance and faith go together. You cannot believe unto salvation if you have not repented, and you cannot repent without faith. Both of these acts are a result of the work of God's gracious Holy Spirit in the heart. After Jesus performed many miracles, preached sermon after sermon, warned, rebuked, invited people to believe, the Scripture then said, "Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him... Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them." (See John 12:36-43). Why did they not believe? It says, because "they could not believe."

Photo: courtesy of Maria Tomassetti

John the Baptist said, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." (John 3:27). Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." (John 6:44). Paul said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." (Ephesians 2:8). James said, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights..." (James 1:17). Peter said, "To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ..." and "...you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 1:21). John said, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God..." (1 John 5:1). Jude said, "...contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3).

It is clear from the Bible that faith is a gift from God. But the question is, have you received faith? Have you believed?

You may ask, "Believed what?" Have you believed in the good news of the gospel? Have you believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world? (John 11:27). That He is God manifested in the flesh? (John 1:1,14). That He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world? (John 1:29). That He is the light of the world, so that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life? (John 8:12). That Jesus is the only way to God the Father? (John 14:6). That He came from the Father and has gone back to Him? (John 16:28,30,31; 17:8). Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal I AM, the Living One, Jehovah, YHWH, Adonai, the Lord GOD, the First and the Last? (John 8:58; Revelation 1:17-18; 21:6; 22:13). Do you believe that He is the propitiation for your all your sins? (1 John 1:7; 2:2). Do you believe He rose from the dead? (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4).

How do you know that you truly believe? Jesus said to those who believed in Him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32). He also said, "Abide in me, and I in you." (John 15:4). Paul said that in Christ Jesus, faith works through love. (Galatians 5:6). Hebrews chapter eleven says faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1). Chapter twelve says that faith is looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2). James said that faith without works is dead, useless and cannot save you. (James 2:14,17,26). Peter said that you are being guarded by faith for salvation and rejoice in it. (1 Peter 1:5-6). Peter also said that genuine faith is tested by various trials. (1 Peter 1:6-7). Peter again describes faith as waiting according to God's promise for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13). John describes the results of faith as walking in the light; having fellowship with God and Christians; confessing sins; keeping His commandments; walking as Jesus walked; loving other believers; doing the will of God and not loving the world; abiding in Christ and His teaching; doing righteousness; quitting sinful practices; giving to needy Christians; listening to His apostles; not fearing judgment; believing God's testimony about His Son; receiving answered prayers; keeping away from idols. (1 John).

My dearly loved friends, are these marks of faith showing in you? Have you truly believed in Jesus? Have you repented from trusting your own works, your own goodness, your own righteousness, your own faith, your own efforts, your own prayers, decisions, knowledge, self? Have you been "looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith"? (Hebrews 12:2). Do you trust Him who never sinned, who obeyed every commandment, resisted every temptation, believed every word of God, carried every sorrow, was stricken for every transgression, crucified for all your sin, died for your pardon, was buried for you, rose from the dead for your justification, lives so you can have life, removed the wrath of God, went back to the Father, will come again to save, to judge and to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords? Do you believe Him, trust Him, rely on Him, rest in Him? Is He your righteousness? Is He your God, your all in all?

Looking to Jesus,
Penn