BELIEVING

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
 JOHN 3:16

Introduction

An interesting theme runs through the entire Bible. We find it in almost every book of Scripture from the Old to the New Testaments. It’s the theme of believing God. In Genesis, God came to Abraham, really out of nowhere, and told him that he and his wife Sarah were going to have a baby in their old age. At first God’s promise sounded ridiculous. The Bible tells us that
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3).

Believing is more than an intellectual acknowledgement that the Bible is true. Believing is also more than having confidence that the Scriptures are divinely inspired. To truly believe means to have faith that God is alive, is active, and is keenly interested in me today.

Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Here it is written that God is, not that God was!

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)

According to John 3:16 and 17, God’s love was demonstrated by sending Jesus to us. Rather than coming to judge, Jesus came to save anyone who would believe in Him. Verse 18 emphasizes the fact that there are only two options: life through Christ, or death. According to the Bible, every person is guilty of sin (Romans 3:23), and deserves to be separated from God (Romans 6:23). Verse 18 of John 3: says that those who do not believe are “condemned already,” in the present tense.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

We have already been declared guilty (John 3:19), because we are guilty. God’s love and patience cause Him to delay judgment (2 Peter 3:9), so we have the opportunity to let Christ pay our penalty for us. The Bible clearly says we are saved by faith in Christ, but also that we are saved only through faith in Christ. Those who don’t believe in Him cannot, and will not, find eternal life (John 3:36).

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

Main Scriptures

Hebrews 11:6, Romans 4:3, John 3:16-19, John 3:36

Questions

  1. Is faith the same as belief?
  2. Why must one believe in Jesus in order to be saved, given that there are other religions?
  3. What is the fate of one who believes in Christ but not fully obeying His instruction?
  4. What is the fate of those who have not come to the knowledge of Jesus?
  5. Is Jesus the only way to God? Yes / No if Yes give a brief explanation.
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