They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Acts 16:31
There is a popular notion in among many evangelicals today. It is the concept of, "All you have to do is believe in Jesus, then you go to heaven." Is this kind of thinking accurate? Well, yes and no. You see, it all depends on what you mean by "believe". Obviously, the important thing is what does the Word mean by believe?
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,
"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Heb 3:12-19Acts 16:31
There is a popular notion in among many evangelicals today. It is the concept of, "All you have to do is believe in Jesus, then you go to heaven." Is this kind of thinking accurate? Well, yes and no. You see, it all depends on what you mean by "believe". Obviously, the important thing is what does the Word mean by believe?
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,
"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
So we see that to believe isn't merely intellectual recognition of the facts (like Satan and the demons "believe" who Jesus is) but it is a belief in Him that leads us to love Him and obey His commandments! It's just like in the parable Jesus gave us regarding the two builders. If I truly believe that building my house on the sand will bring it to ruin, whereas building it on the rock will secure it, I am going to act on that belief, and build it on the rock.
"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."
Luke 6:46-49
I will build on the Rock of Jesus, by obeying His commandments through the strength He supplies!
In the following Scripture we see the contrast between the true believer and the unbeliever:
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 3:36
So may we be among the blessed few who travel the Narrow Way that leads to life, and believe for real!
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles ?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Matt 7:21-23"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:15
See also my article: "True Grace" for more information on this topic at lifeandtreasure.com.
