What Saith The Scriptures About Believing?

                There is no denying that we cannot believe everything we hear.  In fact, we are admonished in 1 John 4:1:  "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world."  Yet, on the other hand, believing the Gospel of Christ is essential in order to obtain Heaven as our eternal dwelling when this life is over.  Let's notice some things relative to believing.

Belief Is Essential

          Do you realize in order to become a Christian, one must believe?  Notice the words of Jesus:  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16). 

          The Hebrew writer stated:  "But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).

          Concerning those to whom God would send strong delusion, Paul stated the reason:  "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Th. 2:12).

Belief In Jesus

          The belief required of one is not a generalized belief but one that is specific.  Jesus narrowed this belief down when he said:  "....for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (Jn. 8:24).  In response to the Eunuch's question of "What doth hinder me" (Ac. 8:36), Philip replied:  "If thou believest with all thine heart...." (v. 37).  When Jesus asked the Apostles if they would also go away (Jn. 6:67), Peter made this statement:  "Lord, to whom shall we go?  Thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (vs. 68,69).

Belief Necessitates Hearing

          A person cannot believe what they do not know.  Consider this:  "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not belived?  And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" (Ro. 10:14).  In verse 17 Paul wrote:  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  An angel stated to Cornelius that Peter would:  "...tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Ac. 11:14).  Do you believe?  If not, you should.  If you do, will you obey?

- Donnie Oliver