Believe?
This blog is about “Building Strong Foundations in a Shifting World.”
Here, then, is what I believe is the absolute bedrock of all foundations.
When we take our last breath, what’s next? What is most important once our heart lies still at last?
Do you know where you will spend eternity?
Not a hope so or a maybe. Not just a warm, fuzzy feeling based on some philosophy, a deep emotional experience, or some popular worldview currently in vogue.
Also, not what joining a church, a denomination, tithing, being baptized, living a good life, observing sacraments, going on a pilgrimage, or thousands (!) of other works will do for our salvation.
You see, one of the most terrifying warnings in the Bible came from none other than Jesus. Perhaps He spoke quietly, with deep regret knowing how serious His warning was. Maybe He shouted with tears in His eyes. Perhaps He set his jaw and glared at those He addressed, trying to break through the pride and deceit that hardened their hearts:
21 “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 [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23; all scriptures NASB; emphasis added)
The most important foundation we can have for today and all our tomorrows is an absolute certainty that (using Biblical terms) we are saved and born again. Is that possible?
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
Here’s a profound lead-in to what I’m about to share:
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
So, how do we correctly understand the foundational word that seems to be the absolute requirement for our salvation? What does it mean Biblically to believe?
Here is the back side of my author’s business card:
I’ve created a short video based on this that you can see HERE.
Believe. When Jesus was crucified, one thief on a cross beside Jesus hurled insults at Him at first. Later, he came under conviction. It was unimaginable that Jesus could endure that horrible torture and yet pray for His torturers and care for His mother! The thief’s conclusion? “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:41-43). He believed!
He did not join a church and/or a denomination. He was not baptized. He didn’t observe any liturgies or any sacraments. There was no good work he could have done. As good as any of those things could have been for him to grow in faith and make a difference for the kingdom of God, he was hours from death. And: He was saved!
This puts it in perspective, priority, and order:
Eph 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
By grace…through faith…not as a result of works. But THEN we are meant to “walk in them” (good works). We are called to good works and they are the expected outcome of a maturing Christian. They are an outward evidence of the inward change of our salvation. Like the Apostle James said, But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
Two more points about the parachute analogy.
First, we can expand it just a little more. Let’s say that you trusted—completely—in a false religion. You can’t just “add Jesus.” That’s like having your main parachute tangled and useless as you plunge to your death! If you pull your spare chute? It won’t save you. You must first CUT LOOSE your faulty parachute. Only then can you open your spare and have it save you. You must do so quickly and decisively!
Next? That’s as far as the parachute analogy can take us. Because far too many people have a “foxhole faith.” They called on Jesus to save them in a time of crisis. But, it was not a true conversion. See, the thief on the cross came to realize that Jesus was going to die. And he was going to die. But he asked Jesus to save his SOUL. This goes (infinitely) beyond the parachute analogy. This is for real; for eternity. Jesus is not a “thing” like a parachute. Saving faith isn’t something you put on in a moment of need and neglect for the rest of your life. It isn’t some “deep experience” that you once had, or a physical deliverance from a near catastrophe.
This is a serious warning written to the members of a church:
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
I’ll close with this. Think of the Lord’s prayer, the model prayer that Jesus gave us. When you pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). Is it in your heart, mind, and soul that you are first praying for God’s will and kingdom in YOUR life? Your marriage, family, relationships, job, hobbies, and everything else? To the praise, honor, and glory of His name? Or, is it just words?
Blessings!
Bill