Sunday, July 23, 2023

The Necessity of Believing in Jesus

By Jeff Arnette
 
    One of the key teachings of the Bible is that faith is essential to pleasing God. In Hebrews 11:6, we read: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This verse shows us two important aspects of faith: belief and action.
    Belief means trusting that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he promises. It is not enough to have a vague or general idea of God; we need to know him personally and intimately through his word and his Spirit. We need to believe that he is the creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, and the judge of all things. We need to believe that he loves us, cares for us, and has a plan for us. As Romans 10:9 says: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
    Action means living in obedience and submission to God’s will and commands. It is not enough to have a mental assent to God’s existence; we need to demonstrate our faith by our deeds. We need to seek him earnestly, meaning with sincerity, diligence, and perseverance. We need to follow his guidance, obey his instructions, and fulfill his purposes. We need to worship him, serve him, and honor him. As James 2:17 says: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
    Faith is essential to pleasing God because it shows that we love him, trust him, and depend on him. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God and the source of our spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Faith is not something we have once and for all; it is something we need to cultivate and nurture every day. Faith is the key to unlocking God’s blessings and promises in our lives. As Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/



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