Tag: belief

Are you saved?

Posted on by NeuralMonk
A common question asked by evangelicals is, “Are you saved?”  However, what is missing is the object of the question, saved from what?
If it is the joker?  Batman has you.
Are you drowning?  The lifeguard has you (if one is present).
Is it Death?
Maybe it is a meaningless life?
The real questions, the ones that really matter, are bigger than just about salvation.
While some evangelicals believe savation is just saving us from death and yes, God can save you from death by receiving His faith.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”
Believing that Jesus is Lord requires our action to make Him the ruler of your life.  This is not just a quiet belief, but actual action required.  By taking this action of faith, then you will be saved from a meaningless existence of serving yourself.  You will be serving Him.
How do you serve Jesus as Lord?  By being called out of your current life into the life of the church.  By serving others in your church and community, you are saved from a worthless life, and if you keep your faith active through His grace, God can save you from a worthless death.

Faith

Posted on by NeuralMonk
Faith is a communication of belief.  The communication is not vocal, it is an action.
I can tell you I believe something.  That is a weak argument.
I can show you I believe in something.  That is a strong argument.
I can be the sender of faith.  “I will show you my faith by my works.”
I can be a receiver of faith.  “You are saved by faith through grace.”
God sends His faith to us by the acts of His Son.  God also believes in you.
If I receive His faith, I not only believe in myself, but I believe in God.
Faith is the seed of belief.
I share my faith in God, by believing in you.  I do good works for you to show you that God believes in you.  By this work I express my faith in you and God.
Your current future is death.
God’s belief in you is that you can be a new creation.  This new creation takes death, and gives it new life.
Unless you receive that faith, you cannot be saved from death and a worthless life.  To receive that faith, you must show you believe by doing what God has faith we can do.
God has faith that you can love, because He created you in His image, and He is love.

Belief

Posted on by NeuralMonk
Belief, Trust, Consent, Agree.  All four words are commonly confused.
Example:
Do you agree the chair is safe?  (no action performed)
Do you consent to sit in the chair? (still no action)
Do you trust the chair? (first action)
Do you believe in the chair? (continuing action)
Belief is commonly used for agree or consent, but belief requires action.  When you truly believe, you can transmit your belief as faith to another person.
When you trust, you do something.  When you believe, you continue to do something.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.”
“If you believe in me, you will keep (do) my commandments”
Understanding that belief is beyond agreement, beyond consent and beyond trust.  It is foundational to faith.
“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith BY my works.  Faith without works is dead.”