Would you turn back to Acts chapter
five, verse 14. And believers were the more added
to the Lord. multitudes, both of men and women. I've entitled this message, Are
You a Believer? Now, that's a question that can
be answered. It can be answered this morning. Are you a believer? Now, the word here describes
What we are and what we do. If we're believers, if we are
believers, we believe that's what we are. That's what we do. And inherent in this word is
more than believing in the truthfulness of a proposition in this thing
of being a believer. Now, I believe. I always enjoyed
geometry, believe it or not, and I believe in the Pythagorean
theorem. I believe that a squared plus
b squared does indeed equal c squared. That's the way you find out the
length of the longest line in a right-hand triangle. I believe
that, don't you? It works. I've seen it. I believe
pi r squared. Somebody said, you're a fool.
Pi is a round. Well, maybe, but I believe pi r squared. I believe
you can find the circumference of a circle. by multiplying the
radius of the circle times 3.14 or 22 sevens. I've always been
enamored with that. I believe those things, I do.
I believe those things. But that's not believing. Because
when you believe, there is not only believing in the truthfulness
of something, but there is a complete reliance upon the truthfulness
of what you believe. That's what faith is. That's
what belief is. There is a complete reliance
upon the truthfulness of what you believe. Now let's go back
to verse 12 in Acts chapter 5. And by the hands of the apostles
were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. Now these men
raised the dead. These men had some kind of authority
where they could punish people. or in Acts chapter 13 where Paul
struck somebody blind. Well, I wouldn't want to cross
Paul, would you? Peter, he could read Ananias and Sapphira's minds. He knew they were being dishonest.
We considered that last Sunday night, the story of Ananias and
Sapphira. And I'm sure after that event,
I think I probably would have been afraid to join that church.
Look in verse 13, and the rest durst no man join himself to
them, but the people magnified them. They highly viewed them,
but if you don't give everything, and we saw what that meant, but
you're gonna fall dead. I imagine people were afraid
to join this church. And believers, verse 14, believers,
are you a believer? Believers were the more added
to the Lord, and we know who added them. Acts chapter two,
verse 47, and the Lord added to the church daily, such as
should be saved. This is the Lord's work. And
believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes, both
of men and women, insomuch. And you know, this happens. Let
a man be used by God and people start worshiping him. It's so
unfortunate, but it's recorded. They thought if even a shadow
If Peter's shadow could touch somebody, they'd be healed. And
that's pure superstition. And whenever you got men, you
got superstition going on. Got superstition going on here.
No doubt about it. wrong views of things, superstitious
views. It's always that way. They thought
even if a shadow would touch. You see, when you've got men,
you've got weakness, you've got sinfulness, you've got ignorance,
you've got all kinds of things. And this was wrong. Nobody, when
Peter's shadow touched somebody, it didn't heal them. There's
nothing in the scriptures about that, but this is where they
took it. But verse 16, there came also a multitude out of
the cities round about into Jerusalem, bringing sick folks. and them
which were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed
every one. 100% success rate. You know,
these faith healers that claim to heal, but you've got to have
faith to heal, they're phonies. Anyone who's true, everybody
they heal, they're healed. And they had 100% success rate
of everybody they healed. But let's go back to this verse
14. And believers, were added to
the Lord, both men and women, multitudes. Are you a believer? Are you a believer? Do you know this is the only
time that this particular word is translated this way in the
scriptures? Are you a believer? Now, most people, I believe,
would answer, yes. I'm a believer. I believe in
God. I believe in the miracles of
Jesus Christ. I might not believe every word in the Bible exactly
as it's stated, but I believe. I would call myself a believer.
But in a statement like that, there's no reliance. There's
no trust. There's simply an agreement with
the truthfulness of propositions. And that is not being a believer. What is it to be a believer? Why am I asking this question? What is a believer? It's a very
important question. And so I think the best way I
could begin this message is by considering what I'm not asking
you. I'm not asking you if you know
that you're saved. And you can know the answer to
those questions if you can answer this question about being a believer.
But I'm not asking you if you know right now for sure that
you're saved. And I'm not asking you that if you know that if
you died this moment you for sure would go to heaven. I'm
not asking you that. I'm not asking you if you know
for sure that Jesus Christ died for your sins personally. I'm
not asking you if you know you're one of God's elect. I'm not asking
you if you know you've been born again and regenerated. I'm not
asking you if you can look back to some experience you had in
the past that created some kind of change in your life. And you
think of that experience and say, I must be saved. I'm not
asking you if you presently see evidences in your life that tell
you that you're a Christian. I'm not asking any of those questions.
I'm asking this one question. Are you a believer? Are you a believer? That question can be answered. Now, let me give you some scriptures
to show the significance of this. I'm gonna quote these. When I
get to the body of this message, I want you to look up the scriptures
with me so you can see them yourself. But listen to this scripture.
John 6, 29, they asked, what must we do that we might work
the works of God? Now, what is it? Give me something.
What is it that we must do that we might work the works of God? And our Lord replied, this is
the work of God, that you believe on him whom he hath sent. You believe God sent him. and you believe he did what God
sent him to do, and that's what you're relying on. God sent Christ,
why? Thou shalt call his name Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sins. And you're relying
on the fact that that's what he did. He saved his people from
their sins. Acts chapter 13, verse 48 says,
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. This is the evidence
of being one of God's elect. What did those who were ordained
to eternal life do? They believed. Romans 1, 16,
Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is
the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Not to everyone, but to everyone
that believeth. Romans 10, 4 says, Christ is
the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe it. 1 Corinthians 1, 21, it pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching. What's going on right now to
save them that believe. When Paul spoke of the great
mystery of godliness, in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, he said, God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels,
preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world. That's the great
mystery of godliness. Are you a believer? Now, I'd like you to turn to
2 Timothy 1, 12. I'm gonna look at six or seven scriptures. For the which cause, verse 12,
2 Timothy 1, verse 12, for the which cause I also suffer these
things, Nevertheless, I am not ashamed for I know whom I have
believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which
I've committed to him against that day. Do you believe what Paul believes? Are you persuaded that he is
able to save you without your help
or contribution? You're persuaded that he is able
to keep that which you've committed to him. What have you committed
to Him, Paul? The entire salvation of my soul. If what He did is not enough,
I will not be saved. That's what Paul is saying. I
have committed the entire salvation of my soul to Him. I know it
doesn't have anything to do with me. I'm persuaded in His ability. to keep that which I've committed
to him against that day. Now Hebrews 1.3, let me back
this up with some scriptures. I'm just going to quote these.
Hebrews 1.3 says, when he by himself purged our sins. You know what that means? That means you had nothing to
do with it. He took your sins, but you didn't
help or contribute in this matter. By himself, with no help, he
purged our sins. Romans chapter 5 verse 10, if
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, not when we
accepted him, not when we received him, when we were enemies, we
were reconciled to God by the death of his son. Now that speaks
of a salvation brought out and accomplished when I was still
an enemy. I couldn't contribute. Hebrews
10, 14 says, by one offering, he hath perfected forever them
that are sanctified. Paul says, I'm fully persuaded
in his ability to keep what I've committed to him. This is full
commitment. You know what that means? That
means you're depending on him only. If you believe in works in any
way, you failed to commit. If you look to yourself in any
way, you failed to commit. Your entire salvation rests in
His ability to save. That's 100% what I'm relying
on. And I think of that passage of scripture. It's one of our
favorites. Whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom
he did predestinate, them he also called. Whom he called,
them he also justified. Whom he justified, them he also
glorified. What should we say to these things? If God be for
us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It's God that justified them. Who is he
that condemns? It's Christ that died, yea, rather
that's risen again, who's even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. Now that sounds like salvation
to the Lord. Is this what you believe? Turn to John chapter 8. Are you a believer? You believe
what I just said? Look at John chapter eight, verse
24. I said, therefore unto you that
you shall die in your sins for if you believe not that I am. Notice he is placed in italics.
It was put there by the translators. and really doesn't do anything
to help this verse. If you believe not that I am,
you shall die in your sins. Now, I am is the same one who
spoke to Moses from the burning bush when he said, who am I going
to tell the children of Israel sent me? What's your name? And
had any answer. I am that I am. With regard to any creature, I was, would be, want to be,
could be, should be, will be, on and on. Any creature. There's only one who can say
I am that I am. And if you do not believe that
Jesus Christ is the eternal I am that I am, you'll die in your
sins. Do you believe I am? I read once where that statement,
I am, I am, has within it this statement, I save in the manner
which I save. The character of God is known
in his salvation. Every attribute is manifest in
the cross. Now, do you believe, here's the
only question I'm asking you, do you believe that Jesus Christ
is the great I am? You believe that? You believe
that He's the eternal, uncreated, I am that I am, the second person
of the blessed Trinity, the Son of God. I am that I am. 1 John chapter 5. Do you believe
that He's able? I'm not asking if you believe
you're saved right now. Do you believe He's able to keep
that which you've committed to Him? Do you believe that He is? I am. Do you believe that? Remember,
believers, this is what I'm asking you. Do you believe? I'm not
asking you if you've grown. I'm not asking you how holy you
are. I'm asking you if you believe. 1 John chapter 5, verse 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God. Somebody once said to me, everybody
believes that, there's not enough in that. Oh no, oh no. And what is meant by the Christ?
The Christ is His offices as prophet, priest, and king. Do you believe that He's God's
prophet? That He is the Word of God? That
He is the expression of God? This is my beloved Son in whom
I'm well pleased. Hear ye Him. He's the Word of
God. He's God's prophet. All I'm ever
going to know of God is Jesus Christ. He's God's priest. He's the priest after the order
of Melchizedek. A priest is someone who represents
men to God. If he represents you to God,
you must be saved. You're completely dependent upon
his word as God's prophet. You're completely dependent upon
him being priest to bring you into God's presence. You can't
come on your own. You believe that? He's God's king. He's the
one who rules and reigns. And you're depending upon him
as being king, whose will must be done, that he would cause
you to believe, that he would cause you to repent, that he
would cause you to be preserved, that he represents you. You are
utterly dependent. It's not that you just believe
that he's Christ, but you must have him as the Christ. That's
what you're dependent on. Now, let me ask you a question.
Do you believe? that Jesus is the Christ. I do. I'm completely dependent
upon His ability. No doubt about that. I believe
that He's the great I Am, and I believe that He is the Christ. Now turn with me to Acts chapter
8. This is about the Ethiopian eunuch
hearing Philip preach the gospel. We read beginning in verse 35.
Then Philip opened his mouth and began at that same scripture
and preached unto him, Jesus. Oh, what a gospel message he
must have heard. And as they went on their way,
they came under certain water. a pool of water, a pond, a lake,
a stream, I'm not sure which. And no doubt Philip had spoken
to the eunuch about baptism because the eunuch said, see, here is
water. What does hinder me to be baptized? If there's a reason why I should
not be baptized, I want to know. Now that's a question everybody
here ought to be asking. Baptism. Every believer is commanded
to confess Christ in believer's baptism. This is an issue. There are some of you who would
say you believe, but you've never confessed Christ in believer's
baptism. Now, here the question, what
hinders me from being baptized? And I'm sure there's all kinds
of, do I know enough? Am I sincere enough? Do I believe
enough? Is my experience enough? What
hinders me? It makes me nervous. Do I have
the courage to get up in front of people? What hinders me from
being baptized? Verse 37, and Philip said, if
thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. Now let me settle
something. Somebody says, well, this seems
like ooey gooey, sentimental. What's this thing of believing
with the heart? What do we mean by that? Well, the heart simply
means the whole man. That's all it means. It means
the understanding. It means the affections. It means the will. You understand. It's the way you want it, with
your will. You love it this way. This is what it is to believe
with the heart. With the heart man believeth
under righteousness, Paul said in Romans 10. That means with
the understanding, you understand that Jesus Christ is the only
righteousness there is. You understand that? Not only
do you understand it, you love it that way. That's the way you
want it to be. And it's what you want. It's what your will. If I'm given the choice between
being saved by Christ's righteousness or my own, guess which one I'm
picking out? That is every believer, with
the heart. Now look what he says. And Philip
says, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. I'm asking you this question.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? I'm not asking
you if you believe you're saved or if you believe you've repented
or if you believe you've been born again or you believe your
experience. No. Do you believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God? I was talking to someone recently
who was struggling with assurance. They had no assurance that they
were saved. And I said, why are you struggling
with assurance? And they said, well, I get no
joy. I got no peace. I get no comfort from the gospel.
And I said, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
Yes. Quit thinking about the feelings.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? I do. I do. I believe. Turn to Romans chapter four.
It's already been read for us. Verse five. Well, let's begin
reading in verse four. Now, to him that worketh is the
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. If you believe in
salvation by works in any measure to any degree, if you think salvation
is dependent upon you doing anything, you're God's debtor. He owes
you. He owes you. Now, any believer
knows that that's utterly repugnant. God owes me, God, a sense of
needing to pay me for the good works that I have or the effort. You know better than that. Verse
five, but to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly. His faith is counted
for righteousness. Now, let me ask you a question.
Are you somebody who works not? You are convinced that salvation
by works is impossible for you. All you are is sin. All you do is sin. And you really believe that about
yourself. You know that salvation by and works for you is unattainable. It's not going to happen to him
that worketh not. Would that be you? Let's go on
reading. But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly. Now you know you
can't be saved by your works, but you do believe on Him who
justifies the ungodly. I'm ungodly. That's what I am
in myself. I'm ungodly. And I believe that by what Christ
did on the cross, God actually justified the ungodly. He made
a way for Himself to be just and yet justify that one who
believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what I'm relying on.
This is my belief. I'm a believer. I believe on
Him. I believe, first of all, that
I can't be saved by my works. I flat believe that. I know that
to be so. I can't be saved by what I do.
And I believe on Him that justified the ungodly. All my hope is right
there, that when Christ said, it is finished, the ungodly were
justified by what He did. I believe. on Him that justifies
the ungodly. Do you? Do you believe you can't
be saved by works? And your complete reliance is
upon Him who justifies the ungodly. Acts chapter 15, verse 11. But we, you all love the we's
in the scripture. We know, we believe. The we is
talking about every believer, every believer. This is every
believer's confession of faith. We, this is Peter speaking. We believe that through the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. Do you believe in saving grace? Not grace that's offered that
you need to do something with it in order to make it work. You believe in saving grace. That's what Peter is speaking
of. We believe that through the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved. Now, do you believe in saving
grace? A salvation that really is all of grace. Do you believe in saving grace?
I'm not, I repeat, I'm not asking you right now if you believe
you're saved. I'm asking you if you believe in saving grace.
Grace that actually saves. Now, in order to believe in saving
grace, you know you've got to believe in electing grace. Somebody doesn't
believe in election, doesn't believe in grace. Now, just write
that down. I have a hard time with election.
Well, you're going to, what your problem is, you've got a hard
time with God, and you've got a hard time with your own sinfulness
and you don't believe. The only kind of saving grace there is,
is electing grace. Redeeming grace. the redemption
that's in Christ Jesus where Christ paid for all your sins. Justifying grace that actually
justifies you. Life-giving grace that actually
regenerates you. Preserving grace that actually
keeps you. Glorifying grace that makes you
safe from the very presence of sin where you don't sin anymore.
What a glorious time that will be. I won't be sinning anymore.
Do you believe in saving grace? Yes. I do. I'm a believer. I believe in
saving grace. By grace you are saved. And listen
to this, what I believe, I'm relying on this 100% for my salvation. That salvation really is all
of grace, not of works, lest any man should boast. I turn
to 1 Peter chapter 1. It's got a couple more. 1 Peter
1. Verse 8. Whom having not seen you love, Now, I'm not asking you how much
you love right now. Forget that part. Do you love
him? Would you be willing for him
to be changed in any way? You love him just as he is. The
great I am. Though now you seem not yet believing. Do you believe him whom you have
never seen? You know, in the paper today, I saw
one of those pictures of Christ, and I thought, I've never seen
him. I hate seeing those pictures
because it just, whatever it is, it's bad. Whatever it is,
it's bad. He's an idol, and I just, when
you look down, you think, what? I've never seen him. I have no
idea what he looks like. But I love him. Though now I
see not, in my experience, yet believing. Do you believe one
that you have never seen? I do. I'm a believer. Look in 1 Peter 2. Verse 7. Unto you therefore which believe
he is precious. Unto you which believe what?
All of the above. Everything I've said up to this
point. You believe that he is the great
I am. You believe that you can't work
for salvation and that your only hope is in him that justified
the ungodly. You believe in saving grace. You believe he is the Christ.
You believe he is the son of God. You believe these things
concerning him. That's what a believer is. I'm
asking you, do you believe? Are you a believer? Yes, I am. Now, here's what it is. Here's
how it is with every believer. Verse 7. And to you, therefore,
which believe, he is precious. You see, you've committed all
the salvation of your soul to him, and you really believe.
You believe this. He is precious. He's precious to God. All of
God's salvation is in Him. He's precious to the believer.
To you, therefore, which believe, He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is
precious. And let me remind you of this,
this thing of believing, it's in the present active voice in
the original. That means don't even think about
yesterday and don't even think about tomorrow. Right now. Right now. Are you a believer? You can answer that. You can
answer that. Are you a believer? I hope you are. And if you're
not, I pray that God makes you one. But I don't even know why
I'm saying but, but there are not a whole lot of things that
I can say with absolute certain confidence. I'm always second
guessing myself. This thing of preaching. Yes,
I believe what I preach is the truth, and I believe I preach
the gospel, but I'm 58 years old, and I have more anxiety
about it than I've ever had. I don't want to misrepresent
the Lord. I want to tell the truth. I always want to come with fear
and trembling lest I misrepresent the truth, and I don't want to
have some kind of cocksure, arrogant attitude. I can't stand an arrogant
preacher. I want to come with fear and
trembling, yet I want to come with confidence in what I say.
I don't want to come preaching doubts. I want to come preaching
sureties. But you know, there's not a whole lot of things I can
say with absolute confidence. But I can say with Peter, when
the Lord said, will you also go away? He said, Lord, to whom
shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life. And we believe and are sure that
thou art that Christ, the son of the living God. I believe and I'm sure that he
is that Christ, the son of the living God. Yes, I am. believer. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's holy
glorious name that you would cause by your grace everybody
in this room to be a believer. Lord, what a glorious gospel
we have to believe How glorious your son is. Lord, we know that
we can't work, that salvation can't come by works, but Lord,
we believe on you who justifies the ungodly through the work
of thy son on Calvary's tree. Oh, Lord, cause us to believe. We cry out with the man of old,
Lord, I believe. Help thou. mine unbelief." When the Lord was speaking to
that man in John chapter 9, he said, Does thou believe on the
Son of God? He said, Who is he, Lord, that
I might believe? And the Lord said, Thou art both
speaking with him, and it's he that talketh with thee. I'm him. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he fell down at his feet
and worshipped him. Duane Leeson closing in.