I’m going to throw some verses at you:
“12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12)
“16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
Belief is integral to the Gospel. There is a lot on offer if you believe. It doesn’t cost anything to believe. It is a pretty easy thing to do right? Just do it. Just believe. Right?
Well, I’m not sure. I’ve always wrestled with the thought of what it means to truly believe. Like what even is belief? How do I know if I believe? Like there is believing. And then there is believing in. So… research time.
Believe (pisteuo from pistis; pistos) means to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. To accept as true, genuine, or real. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something or someone. To consider to be true. To accept the word or evidence of.
Okay, we’ve got a foundation. In secular Greek literature, as well as in some areas of the New Testament, pisteuo (pistis, pistos) has a basic meaning of an intellectual assent or a belief that something is true. I say some areas because the other secular Greek meaning that is the more common use in the New Testament is the transitive or active use which means to “put faith in” or “rely upon” someone or something.
This is a little confusing though. We’ve got two possible meanings. One person will tell you the use of the word “conveys the idea of to be sure or be persuaded that something is a fact. This kind of faith does not require any action on the part of the believer but only an intellectual acceptance.” However, another would argue Pisteuo can refer to a “heart belief“ (saving faith, genuine belief that leads to salvation. This believing involves not only the consent of the mind, but an act of the heart and will of the subject).
So, we’ve got two options, but I don’t think we have to choose.
Take a look at John 11:26, and we see both definitions in action.
Everyone who lives and believes (refers to genuine saving faith) in Me shall never die. Do you believe (intellectually) this? [John 11:26]
Actually, here’s a better example.
You believe (pisteuo) that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe (pisteuo), and shudder. [James 2:19]
Same word. Two different types of belief. Two different outcomes.
In this passage, James explains that not all believing will result in salvation. Shocking stuff. The non-saving belief he is describing in this passage is a mental or intellectual belief that is not associated in a change in your heart and thus in your behaviour or actions. The demons believe but they are clearly not saved. This isn’t to say that genuine belief does not involve an intellectual approval and consent of your mind. It does. But it also includes an act of your heart and will.
Nice, that gives us the answer. We know what kind of belief we need. The saving kind. Biblical saving faith is not a passive nod but an active staking of your life on the claims of God.
Okay, but what is this saving faith? And does this mean there’s faith that does not save? There is more to unpack.
Saving Faith. It’s interesting. So interesting that I cannot do it justice.
POSB gives an excellent picture of saving faith:
1. Saving faith is not head knowledge, and not just a mental conviction and intellectual assent. It is not just believing the fact that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. It is not just believing history, that Jesus Christ lived upon earth as the Saviour just as George Washington lived upon earth as the President of America. It is not just believing the words and claims of Jesus in the same way that a person would believe the words of George Washington.
2. Saving faith is believing in Jesus, who and what He is, that He is the Saviour and Lord of life. It is giving and turning your life over to Jesus. It is casting yourself upon Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
3. Saving faith is commitment—the commitment of a man’s total being and life to Jesus Christ. It is a commitment of all you are and have to Jesus. It gives Jesus everything; therefore, it involves all your affairs. You follow Jesus in every area and in every detail of life, seeking His instructions and leaving your welfare up to Him. It is simply commitment of your whole being, all you are and have, to Jesus.
It will not save me to know that Christ is a Saviour; but it will save me to trust him to be my Saviour. I shall not be delivered from the wrath to come by believing that his atonement is sufficient; but I shall be saved by making that atonement my trust, my refuge, and my all. The pith, the essence of faith lies in this—a casting oneself on the promise. (C H Spurgeon)
So, what if I’m not sure? Like what if I don’t know for sure whether the belief, I have is the right kind? On a 2 Peter 1:10 vibe, how would I confirm it? Where would I even start when it comes to this genuine belief?
Well, we can all accept the fact that we must agree that the message of Christ is true, that the facts of the case are also so. But as we have established, this is not enough. Mere agreement does not lead to action. So many of us know that something is true, but never change our behaviour to match this knowledge.
Little example. A man, let’s call him Reginald, knows that eating too much harms his body, but he still continues to eat too much. He agrees to the truth and knows the truth, but he does nothing about it.
Now let’s look at Jesus. A person may believe and know that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world and yet do nothing about it, and never truly commit to following Christ. This person, let’s call them Regina, still does not have faith, at least not the kind of faith that the Bible urges us to have.
So, when the New Testament speaks of faith, it speaks of commitment. A personal commitment to the truth. Regina should hear the truth, agree that it is true, and do something about it. Faith without action, without commitment, one that does not lead to works, is simply acknowledgment of the truth without submission to it.
That kind may be more comparable to the belief the demons have.
And we’ll end there. Maybe we’ll continue next week. I don’t know. Reality is unscripted.
My Sunday Skl 