DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD? This is the question that most Christians will ask others. Most of the time the answer will be, "Of course I believe in God." The problem with this is that it is the wrong question. James tells us in, James 2: 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Did you know that simply believing that there is a God is not sufficient
to save you. Even Satan and his demons believe this, indeed they know it
for an absolute fact. The question is not, "Do you believe in God?"; but
rather "have believed on Jesus?"
The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved in Acts
16:30 "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered him in the very
next verse. Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved..."
It is the intention of this author to show "WHAT IT MEANS TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD"! First you must realize who our object of faith is. In other words, you must know in whom you are to believe. The following scriptures tell us very plainly, John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 1John 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus Christ must be the object of our faith, we must believe on Him.
TO BELIEVE ON HIM IS TO BELIEVE THAT... Jesus is the virgin born Son of God; See Matt. 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast
found favour with God. 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 1:32 He shall be
great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall
give unto him the throne of his father David: 1:33 And he shall reign over
the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not
a man? 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God.
Matt. 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel
of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
Is it important that we believe that Jesus is the virgin born Son of God; that He is God come in the flesh? Oh yes indeed; it is more than important, it is essential.
1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
TO BELIEVE ON JESUS IS TO BELIEVE THAT... He is the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah; See Matt. 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Is it important that we believe that Jesus is the Christ? Oh yes indeed; it is more than important, it is essential.
1John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
TO BELIEVE ON JESUS IS TO BELIEVE THAT... He is exactly who He said He is and that He did exactly what He said He would do. He claimed to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, God come in the flesh. See Mark 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
He claimed to have come to seek and save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
TO BELIEVE ON JESUS IS TO... Repent and believe the Gospel; Read Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What is this gospel? We are told in 1Cor. 15:1, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 15:2 By which also ye are saved , if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
These verses tell you that you must believe that Jesus died, was buried and raised the third day; to pay your sin debt. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BELIEVE ON JESUS CHRIST? The most precious promises in all the Bible are the ones that God made to you when you believe. Please read these Scriptures very carefully. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Num. 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
HAVE YOU BELIEVED? This is the single most important question that you will ever be asked. Now that you know what believing in Christ is and what it can do; have you believed on Him?
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By Pastor Don Berry Grace Baptist Church, Science Hill, Kentucky >