Some Interesting Things About Belief

By Steve A. Hamilton

Introduction: We live in a generation where most people claim to believe in God. We have denominations teaching that all a person needs to do to make it to heaven is believe in Jesus Christ. Yet, the Bible contradicts both the notion that all believers in Christ are going to be saved and that faith only saves.

I would like to share with you some interesting things the Bible reveals about Belief.

I. Paradoxical belief. Claiming to believe in Christ does not mean the person believes in Christ.

    A. If a person is not willing to believe earthly things, they will be unable to believe heavenly things (John 3:11-12). For example, God’s creation and science contradicts the theory of evolution. How can an evolutionist believe in God if he won’t believe the truth of earth’s creation?

    B. A person can not believe in God if he does not seek after God (John 5:43-44). Yet, how many people do you know claim to know God but they are unwilling to obey the scriptures?

    C. If you do not believe the writings of Moses (by application the Bible) you don’t believe in Christ (John 5:46-47).

    D. In fact, those who won’t believe the truth, don’t believe in Christ (John 8:45-47).

II. Does the Bible teach faith only saves?

    A. Actually, the Bible teaches the opposite (James 2:24). It is interesting that those who teach “faith only” will claim that the book of James is not inspired. But we just learned that a lack of belief in God’s written word means the person does not believe in God. Therefore, we have people who don’t believe in God teaching that belief/faith is the only thing necessary for salvation (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

    B. If belief was the only thing necessary for salvation, does that mean all demons are going to be saved (Jas. 2:19)? I think not!

    C. Jesus himself taught that belief alone would not save a person (Matt. 7:21). In the end, many people will claim belief and faithfulness to Christ but notice obedience to God’s word was left out in their lives (Matt. 7:23).

    D. Do we think these men who believed would be saved (John 12:42-43)? These men were not even willing to confess Christ! But because they believed, am I so naive to think they would be saved?

III. The truth about belief.

    A. Preaching saves those who believe (I Cor. 1:21). Yet, if belief saved, then preaching would have no part in a person’s salvation. Yet, God choose to save men through the preaching of God‘s word.

    B. I’m not saying belief has no part in our salvation. Without belief in Christ, we have no chance of salvation (Heb. 11:6).

    C. In fact, all things are possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23).

    D. We find that belief will benefit our prayers (Mark 11:24).

    E. A lack of belief will cause us to die in our sins (John 8:24).

    F. You see, belief in Christ is far more than an acknowledgement that Christ is Lord. Belief means you will obey Christ in every word and deed. It is when we disobey that we demonstrate our unbelief in Christ. Notice what God told Moses when he struck the rock on the second occasion (Num. 20:12).

        1. Could we say Moses didn’t believe God because he didn’t acknowledge Him?

        2. Could we say Moses didn’t believe in God at the very moment he is performing a miracle by God’s power?

        3. Or could we say Moses didn’t believe because he didn’t obey God since obedience is the demonstration of our belief?

    G. Our disobedience is unbelief whether we have become Christians or not (Heb. 3:12). The Israelites in the wonderings were unbelievers because they failed to obey (Heb. 3:16-19).

Conclusion: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the son Of God? If you do, then prove it in your obedience by becoming a Christian this very moment in the watery grave of baptism. If your belief in Christ has been nothing more than lip service and you now see your error, please come…