Do Believe God or Just Believe in Him? Part 1

There are a lot of people in the world who believe in God. We assume most of those sitting in the pews of our churches are part of that group. But to simply believe in God is not enough. Hear the words of the Book of James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.”

That, my friends, is a very scathing remark. You see as Christians we have a greater call than to simply believe in God. Turn to the Book of Romans, chapter 4, verse 3, “For what does the Scripture say?”Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."

Did you catch that? Do you hear and see the difference? Even the demons believe in God but all that really does is to remind them to be afraid. But Abraham? He believed God and do you see what happens when he believes God? “It was counted to him as righteousness.”

Why is that important, you ask? It is important because without righteousness and holiness we cannot and will not spend eternity with God. The Scriptures are clear on this.

Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The teachings of scripture are clear that we are born sinners. Jesus explains in John 3, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

But since the beginning of man he has tried to work his way to heaven. But Isaiah 64:6-7 shows us the folly of this saying that, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.”

The Book of Romans expands on the theme of our wickedness.  Hear the inspired Word of God as it describes our state in Romans 3:10-18, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

But God has not forsaken us to die in our sins and to perish forever in the lake of fire. He has provided a way out.

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 God sent His Son, Jesus to die in our place and in that we can become righteous. John 3:16-18 explains, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

But you have to believe God. You have to believe His Word is true. You have to believe when He says Jesus is the only way, then Jesus is the only way. If you believe God, then you will believe “in” Jesus. Then you become righteous in God’s eyes.

"Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Do you?