Proverbs 30:6 Don’t add to His words, or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
There is a difference between believing in God and believing God. The devil believes in God and trembles, but the devil does not believe God and that is why he continues in his iniquity. When talking with people about God there is often a statement of: “Oh yeah, I believe in God, but I don’t believe in the bible or anything like that. After all, Jesus was just a teacher of sorts.” This statement is normally followed-up with a weak declaration of non-commitment to anything of faith or value.
I do understand when unsaved people of the world talk this way because they do not know the fullness of what God did for them through Christ. But when it is someone who proclaims to be walking in the truth of God’s word and living a lifestyle that is contrary to what God says in His word, then we have to look deeper and find the root of the hypocrisy and deception. 2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
I do understand when unsaved people of the world talk this way because they do not know the fullness of what God did for them through Christ. But when it is someone who proclaims to be walking in the truth of God’s word and living a lifestyle that is contrary to what God says in His word, then we have to look deeper and find the root of the hypocrisy and deception. 2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
When someone is truly struggling with a personal battle of conscience or belief in what God says, a minister might ask, “Since you believe in God, then why don’t you believe God Himself and what He says?” There is a difference. When men say they believe in God or that God exists but ignore what God says, they are doing the same thing the devil does; and in some cases without trembling.
Until a person starts to believe God, he or she will not leave their iniquitous lifestyle because they believe only in God and that does not take any fortitude or faith. It takes faith to believe what God says and act upon it. To believe in God or that God exists is simply non – committal thinking. Is believing in God and believing God exists a good start to finding God? Yes, absolutely. It is an excellent place to start. But remember, the world is full of people who believe in God but do not do any of the things God says to do to inherit eternal life. We end up in a religious argument with endless semantics. To actually believe God is to do as He says in His word, as in accepting Jesus as Lord – and that is life eternal. Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Until a person starts to believe God, he or she will not leave their iniquitous lifestyle because they believe only in God and that does not take any fortitude or faith. It takes faith to believe what God says and act upon it. To believe in God or that God exists is simply non – committal thinking. Is believing in God and believing God exists a good start to finding God? Yes, absolutely. It is an excellent place to start. But remember, the world is full of people who believe in God but do not do any of the things God says to do to inherit eternal life. We end up in a religious argument with endless semantics. To actually believe God is to do as He says in His word, as in accepting Jesus as Lord – and that is life eternal. Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Jesus was running into this problem on a regular basis, especially concerning the Sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees would ask Jesus why He and His disciples were breaking the laws of the Sabbath or other traditions. Jesus would then ask the scribes and Pharisees why they ignored God’s word to keep their religious laws and traditions. Matt. 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
This line of engagement is a constant discussion throughout the four Gospels in the New Testament. The scribes and Pharisees are constantly touting their belief in God but blinded by their traditions to where they cannot believe God and act upon what God said.
This line of engagement is a constant discussion throughout the four Gospels in the New Testament. The scribes and Pharisees are constantly touting their belief in God but blinded by their traditions to where they cannot believe God and act upon what God said.
In what is known as The Council Of Jerusalem in Acts 15, we come across an event that sets a precedence for our church history. There was a teaching that had gone out stating that unless a Gentile was circumcised he could not be saved. All the apostles of note got together and hashed out this tradition of Jewish faith and whether this should be expected of the Gentiles. Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Peter gets up and says, “Look the Holy Spirit has fallen on the Gentiles the same way He did on us. God is judging the hearts of men, not their keeping of traditions and laws that we nor our fathers could keep, so why would we put this burden on the Gentiles?” Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
A letter is written to be delivered by the elders of Syria and Cilicia where this circumcision doctrine was causing consternation. This is one of the first instructions written in the New Testament because at this point there are no Gospels or Pauline letters to guide their lives. The word of the Holy Spirit was simply this. In order to follow Jesus and be a Christian per se, start here. Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Peter gets up and says, “Look the Holy Spirit has fallen on the Gentiles the same way He did on us. God is judging the hearts of men, not their keeping of traditions and laws that we nor our fathers could keep, so why would we put this burden on the Gentiles?” Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
A letter is written to be delivered by the elders of Syria and Cilicia where this circumcision doctrine was causing consternation. This is one of the first instructions written in the New Testament because at this point there are no Gospels or Pauline letters to guide their lives. The word of the Holy Spirit was simply this. In order to follow Jesus and be a Christian per se, start here. Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
The word of the Lord had come through the Holy Spirit and all the Gentiles had to do was believe God and their walk in Christ would start in earnest. The Holy Spirit is saying the same thing to us today. We are fortunate to have the whole word of God delivered to us in a collection of books collated in the bible. The word of God admonishes us to believe God and act upon His word for our lives so that we may live a Christ-filled life. If we are believing God and doing what He says, we will not have time to live in sin or empty traditions that bring no peace. Therefore, believe God! Blessings.
Hi Norm,
This is a great message! Thank you!