Two Ways of Believing

Martin Luther wrote, "There are two ways of believing. One way is to believe about God, as I do when I believe that what is said of God is true; This faith is knowledge or observation rather than faith. The other way is to believe in God, as I do when I not only believe that what is said about Him is true, but put my trust in Him, surrender myself to Him, and make bold to deal with Him, believing that without doubt that He will be to me and do to me just what is said of Him."

Jesus said, You believe in God, believe also in Me (John 14:1). That's our relationship of trust in God. We surrender our lives to God. Faith in God is taking Him at His word. Luther defined believing in God as believing without doubt that He will be to me and do to me just what is said of Him. 

Martin Luther warned those who only believe about God. It is only mental assent that there is a God. It is not believing in God, which is a personal trust in God. Faith in God receives the promises of His word. Believing in God depends upon Him to do what He has promised.

Believing about God cannot save anyone. You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). Here is a warning for those who only believe about God. It is a call to truly believe in God. 

Sinners Justified Freely

Justification is a legal term. In court, one accused of a crime is either condemned or justified. Based upon the merit of Christ, sinners are justified freely before God. His sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross for sinners is the basis for our justification, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). 

Sinners are justified freely by faith in Christ. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Faith is trust and confidence, relying upon Christ alone. By faith in Christ, sinners are justified freely with God, and not by the works of the law (Galatians 2:19-20).

Sinners are justified freely by grace in Christ (Galatians 2:21). Faith receives the grace of God in Christ. Faith is the evidence that the believer is justified before God. It is the assurance of faith. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed (Romans 4:16). Be justified freely by grace, through faith in Christ.

Sinners are justified freely in Christ unto righteousness. The only way a sinner can become righteous before God is by faith in Christ. Righteousness is the gift of God. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (Romans 4:5). Be justified by faith in Christ.

It's All about Jesus

Tim Keller wrote, "There are two ways to read the Bible. One way to read the Bible is that it’s basically about you: what you have to do in order to be right with God, in which case you’ll never have a sure and certain hope, because you’ll always know you’re not quite living up. You’ll never be sure about that future. Or you can read it as all about Jesus. Every single thing is not about what you must do in order to make yourself right with God, but what he has done to make you absolutely right with God."

When it comes to being right with God, Keller made it clear. It's all about Jesus. It's not what we have done, but what Jesus has done for us. That's the Gospel (Romans 1:16). Yes, it's all about Jesus. He died for our sins. He is risen from the dead. He is Lord (Romans 10:9).

It's all about Jesus, not about doing better nor trying harder. Rather, it's simply resting by faith in Jesus Christ who is our righteousness with God. The only way that we can be right with God is in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

When it comes to being sure you are right with God, it's all about Jesus. Assurance is not about what we have done nor what we will do. It's all about what Jesus has done for us and what He is doing in us. Tim Keller was right. The focus of our faith must be in Christ alone. He works in us what is pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:21). 

The Throne of God

"Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). We saw the throne of God in Revelation 4:2-4. There was a rainbow around the throne, as a sign of God's mercy. Never again would He destroy the earth with a flood. Again, we saw the throne of God in Revelation 20:11-12. It is the great white throne of judgment. Now, we see the throne of God in Revelation 21. No emphasis is on its appearance. The focus is upon God's voice.

The throne of heaven is a symbol of God's sovereign dominion over all. When He speaks, it shall be done. He decrees what shall come to pass. His word is with absolute sovereign authority. God said to John, "Write, for these words are true and faithful" (Revelation 21:5). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He is the God of all truth. He is faithful to His word to perform it.

From the throne of heaven, God's voice declared our salvation. God said, "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son" (Revelation 21:7). And, how do we overcome? The Bible is clear. "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:5). Salvation is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31).

From the throne of heaven, God's voice declared judgment and condemnation for all who are unbelieving (Revelation 21:8). They shall experience the second death in the lake of fire. The word death (Grk: thanatos) does not mean annihilation but separation. That is separation from God forever in the lake of fire. "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).

Christ Is All Theology

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Jesus Christ, who is the sum and the substance of the gospel, who is in himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth, the all glorious embodiment of the way, the truth and the life." Theology is defined as the study of God. Spurgeon knew that God was incarnate in Christ (John 1:14). God is expressly revealed to us in Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3). 

Theologians have different views and opinions on many subjects concerning God. That can be confusing to many believers. What should we do? Spurgeon had the answer. He taught that Jesus Christ is in himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth. Interpreting the Bible must be done in the light of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has the final word in understanding the Bible.

Jesus Christ is in himself all theology, because he is the full, total, and final revelation of God. Jesus is the express image or likeness of God (Hebrews 1:1-3). Jesus said, He who has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9). Jesus is the revelation of God the Father.

Spurgeon knew that Jesus is the incarnation of God. He is God in flesh, fully God and fully man. All theology is summarized in the first chapter of John's Gospel. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14). That's God revealed to us in Christ.

How Prayer Receives

Prayer receives according to the promises of God in the Bible. The promises of God are sure to you as a believer. Your faith is strengthened, when you ask according to God's promises. There are thousands of promises in the Bible. He hears and answers."Yet you do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2).

Prayer receives according to God's word of promise. That's asking according to the will of God. That means we are certain of God's will. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14).

We believe God can do anything, but will He do what we are asking? It's certain He will, if it's according to His word of promise. The word of God is the will of God. "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (2 Corinthians 1:20). Prayer is asking and receiving based upon God's promises in Jesus name.

Prayer receives according to God's word and will in the Bible. His answer will be Yes and Amen in Christ. We may be reluctant to ask God for anything, because we think God's answer may be no. However, it is Yes in the Bible, so ask in Jesus name. Jesus Christ is the Amen to our requests. Amen means "so be it." Prayer receives based upon God's word and will in Jesus name.

Your Spiritual Growth

Your spiritual growth is through a personal relationship with God in Christ. Don't be satisfied to remain where you are without growing in Christ. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). That statement summarizes your spiritual growth in Christ. 

Your spiritual growth is through the word of God in the Bible. A proper diet is necessary to maintain good health. Likewise, feeding upon God's word in the Bible is necessary for your growth in Christ. Knowledge should lead to growing in the grace of Christ, which is the unmerited favor of God. 

Your spiritual growth strengthens your faith in Christ. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We believe what we know is true. Increased knowledge of Christ should lead to increased faith and assurance in Christ. That is growth in grace. It's growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your spiritual growth is through life situations. God allows us to be in situations beyond our ability, that we may not trust in ourselves but in Him. Our impossibilities are always His possibilities. With God all things are possible. Jesus said, "For without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). That lesson leads us to spiritual growth in the grace of Christ, as we trust Him in all of life's situations. Oh for grace to trust Him more!