We Believe in Christ, but do we BELIEVE Christ?
by Shirley D. Tingle
Since you and I live in the American South, we’re said to be living in what’s termed as the “Bible Belt.” This term was first used in a “derogatory” way by an American writer and satirist named H. L. Mencken, in 1925, when he was reporting on the Scopes Monkey Trial. The Scopes Monkey Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee, which is not far from my home. We’ve actually gone to the courthouse there to see the play that reenacts the trial. It’s worth the drive but be sure to take something to fan with because there’s no air-conditioning in the courthouse, staying true to the time period of the trial. Anyway, my point about the Bible Belt is that people in those states are more likely to have a religious belief system, have more places of worship, and are more regular in attendance at their places of worship than some of the other states, [reference material from: thought.com, “The Bible Belt Extends Throughout the American South,” by Matt Rosenberg].
Many, many people say that they believe in Christ and that they believe that Christ is the Son of God. In fact, there’s a television commercial that encourages people to just believe in Christ and then call the number on the screen. Around our national holiday of Christmas, virtually everybody walking believes that Christ was born on Christmas Day. It’s great that they do believe in Christ, and maybe they would be open to studying and learning about His teachings. But after Christmas, where are they? Then on the Sunday that has been designated as Easter Sunday, the same people also believe in Christ, and that He arose from the dead the third day after his crucifixion. This is another great teaching moment, especially if they already believe Christ was crucified and arose from the grave. Will they want to learn what Christ has to say about becoming a Christian and serving Him?
People believe in Christ, but do they BELIEVE Christ? If I believe in Christ but I don’t BELIEVE Christ—His commandments, the things He has set forth for us to do in His Will, and then actually do them, then of what value is it?
There are several scriptures that talk about believing in Christ. It’s important step in God’s plan of salvation. But just believing in Him alone doesn’t bring about salvation from our sins, nor does it make us a Christian.
“And unclean spirits when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried saying, Thou art the Son of God,” Mark 3:11, KJV. Were the unclean spirits saved because they believed that Christ was the Son of God? When Jesus went about teaching, preaching, and healing, He had occasion to heal people by casting out demons from them. Mark 5:1-16, KJV, gives an account of the healing of the man of the Gadarenes who had unclean spirits. “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he (Jesus) said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he (Jesus) asked him (the man), What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.” It goes on to say that the demons asked the Lord if He would send them into the nearby herd of swine, which Jesus did . The herd of swine ran “violently” down into the sea and were drowned. The demons inside the man who was healed knew who Jesus was, and believed that He was the Son of God. But were they saved because they believed?
James 2:19, KJV, says: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Are the devils (demons) saved by just believing?
We must, indeed, have faith to be saved—but faith alone will not save us. Not only must we believe in Christ, but we must BELIEVE Christ. Christ has given us commandments in order for us to complete our soul’s salvation. If we BELIEVE Christ, we’ll do all of them. John 14:15, KJV, says: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” How many? All of them.
It starts with becoming a follower of Christ, an imitator of Him—a Christian. What are we to do?
1. Romans 10:17, KJV: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Hear God’s Word (and believe it).
2. John 8:24, KJV: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Believe that Christ is the Son of God.
3. Luke 13: 3,5, KJV: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repent of all sins.
4. Matthew 10:32, KJV: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Confess before men that Christ is God’s Son.
5. Romans 6:3-4, KJV: “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Be baptized and begin living a new life in Christ.
Christ’s Great Commission to His apostles was to: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen,” Matthew 28: 19-20, KJV.
There are many other verses that teach the plan of salvation. We must read our Bibles to find them all, then we must follow them all.
Do you have a “Red Letter” Edition of the New Testament? If so, you’re not alone. They’ve been around since they were first published in 1899. The idea for the words of Christ being printed in red originated with a man named Louis Klopsch. He was, at the time, the editor of the Christian Herald Magazine. The color red is representative of Christ’s blood. You can read more about it at the source for this snippet of information at crossway.org, “The Origins of the Red-Letter Bible,” or just Google it to find out more. Whenever I see those red letters, they help guide me to the actual spoken words of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Yes, the whole Bible is inspired, is truth, and we must read it all and believe it all. But those red-letter words just seem a bit more special to me. We have what Jesus said —it’s there for all of us in red. We believe in Christ, but do we BELIEVE Christ?
Remember that there’s quite a difference in just believing in Christ and actually BELIEVING Christ and obeying His commandments for us today. To assure our salvation, we must aspire to do both.