There are many different aspects to the Christian faith. Many deep and passionate truths that convey so much more than just simple words upon a page, yet this is not a new thought to Christians, as a matter of fact we pride ourselves in finding the "diamond in the rough." We know that our God is great and powerful and that to serve him we must seek out the smallest things of him to make sure and get it right. The only trouble is, this isn't true. We don't have to know everything about God, we don't have to know what every action is and the reason behind every turning leaf. As Christians we are told to do nothing more than simply believe. "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (I John 3:23) That is our duty, verily "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29)
Seems too simple doesn't it? Seems like such a infinite God would have some complex method of redemption, some rigorous test that we must first complete to prove ourselves worthy. Yet, we often forget that "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." (I Cor. 1:27) It is litterally the "simplicity that is in Christ" (II Cor. 11:3) that we must cling to. Simply put: We are saved by faith not of works; we are sanctified through his glorious death and resurrection; and we are born again by the spirit of God infilling and abiding within us. We were saved before the world began, we must simply believe on him who died and rose for us.
Here in is the mystery of God. It takes more than just saying we believe to actually believe. I can say I believe that the parachute will open and save me, but if I never jump because of fear I don't actually believe what I am claiming. The same is true of Christ. We can declare from sun-up to sun-down that we believe in the name of Jesus Christ, but if God is not manifested in our flesh, and if we do not esteem his will greater than our own, then we do not honestly believe he is our saviour; the Lord and master of our lives. It is impossible to put half trust in God, we must put all trust. We must realize that our holiness, our righteousness, our everything is as filthy rags before him. We must know that he alone is our salvation and there is salvation in none other; "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) This is believing: to daily commit every thought, every imagination, every want, and every desire to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. And thanks be to the God and father of all things, that when we falter and stumble we have an advocate: Even Jesus Christ our blessed and glorious God. Covering us with his cleansing-unto-forgiving blood.
So let us go forth and truly believe. |
