Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
“To believe in: “is a term used to describe a personal trust in somebody. Some can believe that “I exist” but not many can actually “believe in me “. To believe in, means, to take the risk in. If a child believes in her parents, she totally throws herself on their hands even from a high tree. She trusts in their love$ and power and wisdom. That is why the world cannot understand Christians because we have taken a risk by totally ignoring our minds in our life and have trusted in the LORD with all our hearts, leaning not on our own understanding. ( Proverbs 3:5-6). Yes, you can remember Abraham, he left Ur not knowing where he was going but totally risked his life, his family, career to go a land he never knew, by faith, as seeing him who is invisible. That is believing in Him. Yes, it says, “As for me and my family, we shall serve the LORD”.
THE BASIS OF OUR FAITH
I know you don’t understand such a blind faith and God has also taken care of that. Our faith is based on unchangeable historical facts. Oh, yes one can change history. The historical three facts are “
- Jesus Christ died for my sins.
- Jesus Christ was buried.
- Jesus Christ rose again on the third day.
This is shown in 1 Cor 15:1-3 as the gospel which Paul preached. Jesus Christ died as our substitute. He took our sins and death so that we can be counted righteous ( sinless) and then have eternal life. Rom 6:23, the wages of sin is death, But the gift of God ( for those who have repented) is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. See such a great exchange.
You must believe that he was buried for three days fully paying for our sin. And then, you must believe that he rose again from the dead. And when you see Him alive and a present reality, you call on Him.
(His name) and receive him in your heart, as Lord and you shall be transformed. Don’t call on Him if you have not seen Him resurrected from the dead. Oh! You say how do I believe? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God ( Rom 10 :17). Just study the scripture below and let the Holy Spirit bring faith to your heart. Be silent and patient, but most of all be without physical destruction, remember you are now writing your eternal ticket to glory.
I Cor. 15: 1-3 “ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures”.
Nobody can change those facts. You can even tell the devil loudly that Christ died for your sins and now his blood washes you from all guilt. So long as you can lies on the eternal unchangeable word of God, the accuser will be muted forever.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCH FAITH
Such faith had three main characteristics.
- It is Personal : We do not trust in facts, but in a person Jesus Christ. We are not confessing to the atmosphere but to a person. There is an intensity of the person of Christ in our confession. I trust Jesus personally that he died for me. Oh Lord Jesus, I believe you died for me; I receive you as my substitute and Saviour, Amen.
- Verbal : When you believe with your heart you make confession with your mouth. If you find it hard to speak is because in your heart you have not believed. If you believed that, He died for your sin, He was buried, and He rose again, then open your mouth and talk to Jesus who is alive and make him the Lord of your life! You cannot live with such a gracious, glorious great Saviour without speaking or worshipping Him. Yes, those tears are because, he has come to honour your trust in Him.
What to do
- Talk to Jesus : yes, call upon his name for salvation. When you call his name he will respond and make his presence more real to your heart. Your physical body may feel or not feel but don’t worry about that ( prayer).
- Talk about Jesus: to other men and friends. Tell that now Jesus Christ is your Saviour and your Lord. And you will obey him truly ( evangelize).
- Talk with Jesus: have a deeper fellowship with him as you worship and pray, making all your cares and requests known to him.
- Such faith is very practical: You will transform this trust in Jesus into actions. Faith always is something, which is done. Obedience acts. Let nothing distract your full commitment to obey Christ. Those who oppose you should cause you to smile further. For they oppose you so that you can keep your eyes on Jesus.
- Faith is continual: Those who are saved are those who will end their lives journey in the faith. Whoever believes, and keeps on believing shall not perish but have everlasting life ( John 3:16). We actually live by faith. Remember, the Hebrews chapter 11 heroes. All died in faith. Yes there is no shrinking back ( Hebrews 10). Nebuchadnezzar’s fires should only make you to have an opportunity to allow the world to see your Christ, as you sail through the fires with him. Amen.
HOW TO KEEP FOCUS
- Know the three facts and never forget them, yes, the facts are “according to the scriptures”. Hence study the scriptures more.
- Make the faith personal – it is to a person the Lord Jesus Christ, you speak to him ( prayer), you speak about him ( evangelism), you speak among other believers ( fellowship).
