Doctrines (posted Saturday, August 18 2007)

Believing in the ability of Christ

Our second previous example of believing in a person is closer to the Biblical meaning. Belief in Christ is faith in His ability to save; trust in His substitionary work on our behalf; confidence in His perfect sacrifice. As He said to those of His day, we must believe that He is the savior, the Messiah, whose work provides salvation by paying for the sins of the world.

- John 10:24-26 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

- John 11:25-27 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

- John 12:44-46 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."

This definition of belief was further clarified by the church fathers and Apostles. By believing in Jesus, we are trusting that His work accomplished our salvation. We believe that Jesus is Christ, the son of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

- Acts 15:11 "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

- 1 TImothy 1:15-16 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

- 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is clear that believing in Christ doesn't mean just acknowledging his existence or even that He is the son of God. One must believe that Jesus was the Messiah who paid for the sins of the world on the cross, and the Son of God who died and was raised again as proof of His perfect sacrifice.

- John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Any believer should be very clear about this point when giving the Gospel in the world: an unbeliever may acknowledge that Jesus lived and was a good person, and may even agree that He was God. But that person is still condemned unless he believes that Jesus, as Messiah or Christ, saved him from the condemnation of sin through His work on the cross.

- Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

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