“Sirs, what must I do to
be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the
Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:30b-31
If I had a dollar for every person I’ve met who proclaims
that they believe in God I would be a rich man.
Is that all it takes to go to heaven when you pass from this earth,
simply believe in God and/or Jesus? Is
that it? No changed life, no conviction,
no shunning of sin? Just “I believe in
God” and then go on with business as usual?
I think people are missing the point.
Jesus didn’t allow Himself to be beaten, scourged and hung on a cross to
die just so someone would believe in Him.
He was making a payment with His death.
He paid a debt He didn’t owe knowing full well that we were incapable of
paying it ourselves. For that He took on
the weight of the sins of all mankind.
Scripture tells us in James 2:19 “You believe that there is
one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” Do you realize that if all an individual had
to do was simply believe in the existence of God that the demons of hell would
be saved as well. They believe in
God. Based on the criteria of so many
people why wouldn’t the demons be saved?
Ah, but here is the piece of the puzzle that folks are either ignorant
of or simply don’t want to hear: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17) My question is: if
you believe in God, have you allowed that belief to change your life? Has it altered the path you are currently
on?
Simply acknowledging God or His Son Jesus by expressing your belief is a waste of your breath if you don’t seek forgiveness for your sins. God doesn’t want to be acknowledged, He wants your allegiance. He doesn’t desire your “religion”, He wants an intimate, personal relationship. A changed life is a sure indication that a person’s belief in God has made in difference. The next step is to seek to be like Christ in all you think, say and do. More than just believing is required to accomplish that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
Simply acknowledging God or His Son Jesus by expressing your belief is a waste of your breath if you don’t seek forgiveness for your sins. God doesn’t want to be acknowledged, He wants your allegiance. He doesn’t desire your “religion”, He wants an intimate, personal relationship. A changed life is a sure indication that a person’s belief in God has made in difference. The next step is to seek to be like Christ in all you think, say and do. More than just believing is required to accomplish that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
