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One night many years ago, I ran into a young woman “witnessing” on a street corner. She told me Jesus loved me, but that I needed “to believe in Him in order to be saved.” I asked her why. She seemed uncertain how to answer, so I continued, “I believe there’s a God-force or something out there. So, if he/she/it loves me, why isn’t that enough?”
Here’s how she might have answered:
James 2:19 tells us demons believe in the existence of God (how could they not? He’s “the enemy!”). But he doesn’t tell us they believe in God. Which may seem insignificant, but that missing word is everything.
Believing someone means believing they’re stating facts correctly, even though you may take no action in response to that belief.
But believing in someone means trusting in that person themself, and acting in accord with that trust. In fact, the more literal translation of Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Why? Because, while there are numerous in words in the biblical Greek, this specific in word indicates an active response, an action taken.
It’s like the difference between believing a particular plane is leaving Afghanistan, and believing you must get on that plane to be saved!*
A year after that young woman spoke with me, I took a life-changing leap of faith. I’d begun reading the words of Jesus and come to believe that, as the Apostle Peter said, He had “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68), that He himself, and not just His words, was Life. And so I took action. I leaped.
Have you?
*Not to trivialize the life-threatening circumstances many are currently facing in Afghanistan. Quite the opposite. Please pray for them!
†
Mitch Teemley 
Amen.Praise the Lord.🙏🌹
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Believe IN the triune God/Jesus/Spirit is a first step, as you know. It’s the more difficult part – for all of us – to ACT on that belief, to study, and commit every thought, word, and action to what the LORD expects of us. It’s the “hard teachings” of Jesus that we work on the rest of our earthly existence. And leave the rest to God’s Grace. Thanks for this reminder, Mitch.
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Amen!!
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The Airplane message is amazingly true. Sad. But true. 🙏🏻
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Well-said. Believing in something or someone means following and often other actions.
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Amen.
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james 2:44
acts 41:56 fear not
john 6:93
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Amen on all counts in your post.
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Thank you for sharing as you do Mitch. I just want you to know that I appreciate and learn from your posts. God’s blessings to you and yours. – Bruce
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Thank you, Bruce, and likewise.
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AMEN, brother! Belief IN Christ means Christ is now the basis of your thoughts, words, and deeds.
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Exactly!
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Mitch, it’s so refreshing to read your words. Belief is indeed a strange bird. As you said, we can believe an idea, but believing “in” something relates to interaction with that thing. In this case, it is better to “know” Jesus than to know things about Him. There is an adage I live by today: I must get God out of my head and into my heart, for it is with the mind that I know things about Jesus, but it is in my HEART that I know Him, have a relationship with Him. My graduate studies have provided deeper knowledge about the Doctrines of Christianity (about Christian theology) but this must be a lived theology, otherwise it is merely collecting information. I don’t always respond to your posts but I do appreciate them. Blessings! Steven Barto.
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Thank you, Steven. I greatly appreciate you reflections on the subject here.
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The trick is to have God in your head and your heart. Bear in mind that Jesus said that we are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, and minds (Matt. 22:34-40). There is a need of balance, and that is what Jesus was teaching there.
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Yes, I have leapt.
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One of the most rewarding things I’ve done recently was to delve into the true meaning of faith. Well written, Mitch. Faith is an amazing journey that we must all embark on if we are to find even a glimmer of hope.
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I have most definitely leapt (in my late teens) and it was the best thing I have ever done in my life. My niece has now leapt too, just recently. I was so relieved and excited when my sister shared the news. ^_^
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