Do You Believe In the Lord Jesus Christ?

Q: What does the Bible say about belief in Jesus Christ?

The Bible emphasizes that belief in Jesus Christ is essential for salvation, offering righteousness and justification to those who believe. According to Romans 3:19-26, the law reveals our guilt and cannot justify us; instead, it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we receive God's righteousness. Belief is not merely an intellectual assent or acknowledgment of facts; it involves a deep, personal trust and commitment to Christ as our Savior. The Scriptures affirm that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), yet through faith in Christ, we are justified freely by His grace (Romans 3:24). This belief leads to a transformative relationship with God, ensuring that believers are declared innocent of all charges before Him.

Q: How do we know justification by faith is true?

Justification by faith is established in Scripture, defining our righteousness in Christ rather than through our works. Justification by faith is substantiated in Romans 3, where Paul asserts that the law can only reveal sin and cannot save (Romans 3:20). The righteousness of God is revealed as a gift received by faith in Christ Jesus for all who believe (Romans 3:22). Thus, believers are justified not by their own deeds but through faith in the work of Christ. This doctrine is fundamental within Reformed theology, emphasizing that God, in His mercy, justifies the ungodly through faith (Romans 4:5) and declares us innocent, as if we have never sinned. This assurance stems from God's immutability and the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Q: Why is the concept of saving faith important for Christians?

Saving faith is crucial as it involves a complete reliance on Jesus Christ for salvation and righteousness. Saving faith is a vital concept in Christianity as it distinguishes true belief from mere acknowledgment of facts about Jesus. James 2:19 points out that even the demons believe in God, highlighting that authentic faith requires a personal relationship with Christ, who is the object of our faith (John 1:12). It is coming to Christ for mercy, accepting Him as Lord and Savior, and committing our souls to Him (2 Timothy 1:12). This faith signifies a total surrender and trust in Christ's redemptive work, ensuring that believers are justified and receive eternal life. Without this genuine faith, Christians risk misunderstanding the nature of their relationship with God.

Q: What does it mean to receive Christ?

To receive Christ means to accept Him personally as Lord and Savior, inviting Him into one's life. Receiving Christ is an act of faith that encompasses acknowledging Him not only as a historical figure but as the living Savior. As stated in John 1:12, those who receive Him are granted the privilege to become children of God. This involves a conscious decision to invite Christ into our lives, committing to follow Him regardless of the challenges that may arise. As Martha received Jesus into her home (Luke 10:38), so we are called to receive Him into our hearts and lives, embracing Him wholly, while also letting go of anything that would hinder our relationship with Him. This acceptance is fundamental to experiencing the fullness of salvation.

Now my subject is, do you believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ? Many people do not like direct
questions about their relationship with God. They do not like to
be asked questions like this. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ? I suppose it's like a dishonest
accountant having his books examined. He's not comfortable when he's
exposed to that type of investigation. Or perhaps it's like a thief
having his house searched. He's not comfortable because
there's stolen goods there. The questions about our relationship
with God are useful to the sincere seeker. They're useful to the
man who desires to really know God. Our Lord Jesus Christ used
direct questions frequently. He wasn't backward at all about
asking people direct questions. He said to the disciples, whom
do you say that I am? Who am I? What are your thoughts
concerning me? Another time he asked the multitude,
What think ye of Christ? That's a direct question. What
think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? Then once he
said to Mary and Martha, Whosoever believeth in me shall never die.
Do you believe this? Do you believe this? Again he
said, what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and
lose his soul? What about that? If you gain
all the wealth and possessions and fame of this world and lose
your soul, what shall it profit you? I know a few questions more
important than the one that I'm asking today. Do you believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ? Let's turn to Romans chapter
3. and look at a few verses here that show us the importance of
this question. In Romans chapter 3 verse 19,
now here's the question, do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? And these verses show us the
importance of your answer to this question. In Romans 3, 19,
now listen to this verse, now we know that what thing soever
the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that's
all of us, we're all born under the law, we're all subjects of
God's kingdom, we're all responsible to obey God's commandments, what
the law saith, it saith to every son of Adam, that every mouth
may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
The holy law of God stops our mouths. It doesn't matter whether
you're a preacher in the pulpit or whether you're a person in
the pew. It doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor, old or young,
white or black. The law stops our mouths. The
law of God concludes that every son of Adam is guilty. Guilty
is written in bold letters on every forehead. We're guilty.
We've broken God's law. To offend in one part is to be
guilty of the whole law. So the law of God concludes that
every son of Adam is guilty. Therefore, verse 20, therefore
the law cannot save you. The law cannot deliver you. Therefore
by the deeds of the law, by good deeds, by religious deeds, by
kind deeds, by moral works, by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh, religious or unbelieving flesh, no flesh, be justified
innocent in God's sight. For by the law is the knowledge
of sin. The law can't save, the law can't
deliver, the law can only reveal sin. The law reveals our guilt
and the law reveals that even our righteousnesses are filthy
rags. So there are two things established
here. Number one, the law of God comes to all who are under
the law and writes guilty on our record, guilty. And the law
cannot deliver, the law cannot save us, the law cannot help
us, the law can only reveal our sin. Now watch verse 21. But
now there is a righteousness of God without the law, and it's
manifested, it's revealed. It's here taught a righteousness
for the guilty. a righteousness without obedience
to the law. That's exactly what he's saying
here. Now there is revealed a righteousness and it's not a self-righteousness.
It's not a human righteousness. It's God's righteousness. It
is pure and perfect. It is holy and complete. It is
God's righteousness and it can be ours without the law, without
obedience to the law, without perfection, without total perfect
obedience to this law. And it's manifest and it's witnessed
by the Word of God and by the prophets. It's right here written
by the evangelists and by the apostles and by the prophets.
It's revealed. What is it? Verse 22. It is even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ and
it's unto all Jew or Gentile It is upon all that believe,
for there's no difference. This holy righteousness, this
perfect righteousness, is given to all who believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ. There's no difference. Verse
23, all have sinned, all have come short of the glory of God,
and all who are redeemed must be redeemed, must be justified
freely, by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus. Now look at verse 25. Whom God
hath set forth, God gave His Son to be a man, to be robed
in human flesh, to obey the perfect law, to be a propitiation, to
be a mercy seat, to be a sacrifice through faith in His blood, to
declare God's righteousness for the remission of sins that have
passed, all sins. through the long suffering of
God, to declare, I say it this time, His righteousness, God's
righteousness, God's holiness, that God might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus Christ. That God might
be holy, that God might be righteous, and still justify you and justify
me. This is what Paul is saying.
The believer in Christ. is innocent of all charges. The
believer in Christ is delivered from all guilt. The believer
in Christ is justified before God. The believer in Christ has
a perfect righteousness. The believer in Christ has complete
forgiveness of all his sins. The believer in Christ, whether
in Old Testament days or in New Testament days, is delivered
accepted in the Beloved, all who believe on Christ." Back
at verse 22, underline this, watch it, verse 22, "...even
the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all, and upon all them that believe." The righteousness of God unto
all that believe. Do you believe? Do you believe? The righteousness of God, the
holiness of God, the perfection of God is unto all and upon all
that believe in Christ. That's what the Word says. Now
look at verse 26. He is the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus. God is the justifier of him that
believeth in Jesus. Now do you see the importance
of my question? The law has concluded that the
whole world is under wrath and judgment. We're all guilty. There
is no salvation, no deliverance, no righteousness by the law.
It reveals sin. There is no justification in
any way for us through the deeds of the law. But God has declared
a righteousness His righteousness without the law, apart from the
law. And that righteousness is in
Christ. And it's upon all and it's unto all who believe on
Christ. And Christ came down here and
worked out that perfect righteousness and died on the cross that God
might be holy and just and still justified, declare innocent without
guilt all who believe on Christ. So to believe on Christ gives
me a perfect righteousness before God and puts away my sins to
the extent that as far as God is concerned, I have never sinned. And that's to him who believes
on Christ. Now then, believing on Christ
is more. Now listen to this, turn to James
chapter 2. Believing on Christ, I say, do
you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, it's more, believing
on Christ is more than intellectual assent to some truth. It's more
than belief of the head, in other words. This is no more than the
faith of devils. Look at James chapter 2, verse
19. You say, well, I've always believed
that Jesus Christ lived on the earth and died on the cross.
Is that what you're talking about? Is that what constitutes saving
faith? No, sir. In James 2, verse 19,
the Scripture said, Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest
well. The devils also believe and tremble.
We may believe that a person named Jesus Christ lived on this
earth 1,900 years ago, and that he died on the cross, and that
he was even raised from the dead, and not be saved, not have saving
faith. That's not what it is to believe
on Christ. When I ask do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and in believing have righteousness and justification, I don't mean
mental assent or agreement with a system of doctrine or a statement
of fact. It's more than that. And then
believing in Jesus Christ is more than just believing in the
power of Christ to work miracles. Now this seems to be very important
in this day. Seems like a lot of people are
on television and radio and special meetings emphasizing the power
of Christ to heal. Well, Nicodemus believed in his
power to heal. He said, we know that you're
a teacher come from God. No man could do the miracles
you do except God be with him. And then in John chapter 2 verse
23, let me read you this. Now, when he was in Jerusalem
at the Passover in the feast day, many believed in his name
when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit
himself unto them. He commits himself to all who
believe. And these people believe. But
these people believed in the power of Christ. Not in the person
of Christ. There's a difference. So saving
faith is not just believing in Christ's power to work miracles. Many believed when they saw the
miracles, but he didn't commit himself to them. And then believing
in Christ is more than being associated with religious ordinances
and religious organization. Well, of course I believe on
Jesus. I'm a church member. Judas was a church member. Judas
was an apostle. Of course, I believe on Jesus.
I'm a preacher. Judas was a preacher. Of course,
I believe on Jesus. I'm a deacon. Judas was an apostle. Of course, I believe on Jesus.
I serve the Lord. I work for my church. Judas was
treasurer of the church. Of course, I believe on Jesus.
I've been baptized. Simon Magus was too, but Peter
said, your heart's not right. with God. True belief in Christ,
this belief we're talking about, now listen to me, this is the
most vital, important question that I can ask you. And the answer
to this question is a difference in heaven and hell, life and
death, salvation, damnation. The Word of God says by the law
we're not going to be justified. By the deeds of religion or the
works of the law, we're not going to be saved. It's by faith in
Christ. And through faith in Christ,
we have the righteousness of God, a perfect righteousness.
Through faith in Christ, we are justified, just as if I had never
seen. That's what justification is.
It's more than pardon. It's more than parole. It's more
than forgiveness. Justification is a clean record,
as if I had never seen. That's what it means to be justified.
And I have that by faith in Christ. So the question that is important
to know is not do I give mental assent to some truth the devil
believes and trembles. He knows that Christ lived on
the earth, was born of the virgin, died on the cross, was bared
and rose again. He was there when it happened. And saving
faith is more than mental agreement with facts. And it's more than
being associated with a religious organization. It's more than
holding office in the church. True belief in Christ, now listen
to this, is so immensely important that the Spirit of the living
God, in writing the Word of God, has used many figures in the
Bible in describing saving faith. And the man who cannot understand
what it is to believe in Christ in one form of words may understand
it in another. The Holy Spirit gives us many
illustrations. I'm going to give you four. What
is it to believe? And when I get through, I want
myself and you, I want all of us to answer this question. Do
I really believe? If I do, I have a righteousness. that will admit me into glory.
I have a justification before God. First of all, believing
in Christ. Matthew chapter 11. Believing
in Christ. The Holy Spirit of God says He
is coming to Christ. Coming to Christ. As I said,
it's more than mental agreement. It's more than association with
religious ordinances and organizations. It's more than just believing
in Christ's power. It's coming to him. Our Lord
said, verse 28 of Matthew 11, Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. Come unto me. Christ said again, He that cometh
to me shall never hunger. He that cometh to me shall never
thirst. In John 6.37 he says, All that
my Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out. What is it to come to Christ?
To believe on Christ is to come to Christ. What is it to come
to Christ? It is coming to Christ as the
Canaanite woman came to him seeking mercy. Seeking mercy, not justice, mercy. She came to him and said, Lord,
have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. It's mercy
that we need. It's mercy that we seek. It is
mercy that Christ gives. Sinners have only one plea. Lord,
have mercy, the publican said. Have mercy on me, the sinner. Coming to Christ is coming as
the Canaanite woman came. Seeking mercy. The proud can
stay away. The self-righteous can stay away.
The bargainer with God can stay away. Christ came to seek and
to save the lost. He came into the world to save
sinners. If you're a sinner and you need mercy, you come to Christ
as a sinner seeking mercy. What is it to come to Christ?
It's coming to Christ as the woman with the issue of blood
came. after everything else has failed. She tried many physicians, and
the scripture says she was only worse. She said, if I can but
get to Him, I shall be made whole. After church membership has failed,
and reformation has failed, and sacraments have failed, and ministers
have failed, and we have failed, turn to Christ. He's not a physician. He's the physician. Christ is
not a Redeemer, He's the Redeemer. Christ is not a way, He said,
I am the way. Other foundation can no man lay,
than that which is laid, Christ the Lord. And when we've tried
everything else, and everything else has failed, that's the way
we come to Christ. As the disciples said, when Christ
told them, will you go away? They said, to whom shall we go? Everything else has failed. There
is no other hope. My only hope, my only plea, is
that when Christ died, He died for me. Have you come that way?
Saving faith is coming to Christ. Christ said, All that the Father
giveth me shall come, and him that cometh I will not cast out. You come to me and I'll give
you rest. And it's coming to Christ for mercy. It's coming
to Christ after everything else is pale. Now, turn to Matthew
8. What is it to come to Christ? It's coming to Christ as the
leper came to Him in Matthew 8. Coming to Him as Lord and
Master. When He was come down from the
mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, there came a
leper, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make
me clean. If you will. This man came to
Christ as the Lord, not as a fire escape from hell. Poor little
Jesus. That's about all I hear preached
in this day, is poor little Jesus. Won't you let Jesus have his
way? Won't you let Jesus save you? Won't you feel sorry for
Jesus and kind of honor him by giving him your heart? That's
not the Bible Jesus. The Christ of this Bible is Lord
who said, I'll have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I'll
be gracious to whom I will be gracious. The Christ of this
Bible is the one who said to the women on the way to the cross,
who wept and lamented him, don't weep for me, weep for yourselves
and for your children. The Christ of the Bible is one
who cannot fail, who shall not fail. The Christ of the Bible
is the one who sees the travail of his soul and is satisfied.
The Christ of the Bible is Lord of life and death. The Christ
of the Bible is the one who says, I have all authority in heaven
and earth. The Christ of the Bible is the
one who said, Father, thou hast given me authority over all flesh
that I should give eternal life to all that thou hast given to
me. The Christ of the Bible is the
one who said, I pray not for this world, I pray for them which
thou hast given me. So coming to Christ is coming
to him for mercy. Coming to Christ is coming to
him when nothing else can help, when all else has failed. He's
the only source of mercy. Coming to Christ is coming to
him humbly. as Lord and Master. As the thief on the cross said,
Lord, you're not going to stay dead. Lord, you're coming into
our kingdom. Lord, if you will remember me. That's what it is to come to
Christ. Have you come? It is coming to
Christ. For mercy, it is coming to Christ. Empty-handed, it is coming to
Christ as the Lord. Every knee shall bow and every
tongue shall confess that He's Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. It's not, will you confess Him
as Lord? It's, when will you confess Him?
Then the second thing, what is it to believe on Christ? Turn
to John 1. John chapter 1. All men have
not this faith. All men know not this Christ.
He must be revealed. Paul said, it pleased God to
reveal His Son in me. Paul knew the law, but he didn't
know Christ. Paul knew the Bible, but he didn't know Christ. I
hear people say, well, he knows the Bible. He may, but he may
not know Christ. The Apostle Paul was an authority
on Scripture and doctrine and theology, but he didn't know
Christ. until it pleased the Father to reveal His Son to me,"
Paul said, or in me. Believing on Christ is to receive
Him. Look at John 1, 12. But as many
as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name. Now, it doesn't
say as many as received His doctrine. He does not say as many as received
his preachers, although to reject his servant is to reject him.
Christ said that to the disciples, I send you forth as sheep among
wolves. He that rejected you rejected
me. He that will not receive your
word will not receive my word. The people of Acts chapter 2
verse 41 gladly received his word. He doesn't say as many
as received his law. To them gave he the right to
become the sons of God. If you'll just straighten up
your life and turn over a new leaf and quit your meanness,
God will take you to heaven. That's not what it says. It says,
as many as receive him. Him. When the Lord Jesus Christ
sat down by the seashore and talked to the Apostle Peter,
he said, Peter, do you love me? He didn't say, do you love theology,
do you love the church, do you love the Bible, do you love the
Word, do you love the Lord, do you love people? He said, do
you love me? And this scripture says, as many as receive Him,
H-I-M, Him. It's personally to receive Him. I like this verse over here in
Luke 10. Turn over there a moment. Just
look at this for a moment. In Luke 10, verse 38. Luke 10,
38, it says here in Luke 10, 38, now it came to pass, now
it came to pass, as they went, that He, Jesus Christ, entered
into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received Him
into her house. Oh boy, I like that. She received
Him into her house. Not just his disciples, not just
his servants, not just his word, not just his law. Him. She opened the door and she said,
Lord, my house is your house. Come in. Him. We receive him as that prophet
who teaches us the Father. We receive him as that priest
and advocate who atones for our sins and pleads for our acceptance. We receive him as Lord and Master. We receive him as friend and
brother. We receive him as constant companion. Lord, come into my house. That's
what it is to believe, is to receive him. Consciously, intelligently,
willingly receive him. A lot of people know the doctrine
of salvation who do not know the way of salvation. Christ
is the way. A lot of people know how God
can be just and justify the ungodly who do not know Him who justifies
the ungodly. It's to receive Him. And if some
other folks have to leave so that he'll abide, it's to receive
him. If some other things have to
go in order to have him, it's to receive him. If it's to bear
conflict and persecution in order to keep him, it's to receive
him. He's coming in, and all that
oppose him can go out. And whatever cost, whatever conflict,
whatever trial, whatever tribulation he may bring with him, he's still
coming in, him, him. The third thing to believe is
to come to Christ empty-handed for mercy. Come to the Lord. Lord, you don't owe me anything.
You don't have to save me. But I come to you as a sinner.
All else has failed. I've got no one to turn to, nothing
to turn to. I have no hope. I come to you,
Lord. If you will, you can make me whole." It's to receive Him
into your heart. It's to receive Him into your
person. It's to receive Christ and all
that goes with it, whatever cost, whatever conflict, it's to receive
Him, whatever cross. Christ hadn't promised us an
easy road here. God hath not promised skies always
blue. flower-strewn pathways all your
life through. God has not promised clouds without
rain. God has not promised peace without
a cross, life without pain. You'll have it. All that would
live godly in Christ Jesus are going to suffer persecution.
I cannot always have my way. I cannot always have an easy
time. God hasn't promised me that.
He's promised me the opposite. conflict, trial, a cross. But he that taketh not up his
cross and followeth after me cannot be my disciple." We want
a life of rest here on this earth. You're not going to have it.
Rest is reserved for later. We want a life of comfort here
on this earth. It's not here, it's later. We
want a life free from trial and free from conflict and free from
tribulation here on this earth. You're not going to have it.
If you do have it, if you're without chastisement, you're
a bastard, you're not a son. That's what the scripture says.
You've got to have trial and conflict and a cross in order
to walk with Christ. When you receive him, you receive
his conflicts. He said, Marvel not, my brethren,
the world hate you, it hates me. If the world loved you, the
world loves its own, it hates Christ. The third thing, believing
in Christ is looking to Christ. In Isaiah 45, 22, he said, Look
unto me, look unto me, and be ye saved. All the ends of the
earth, for I am God, look to me. And there's none else. Hebrews 12, 1 and 2 says, Let's
run with patience the race that's set before us, looking to Christ. Looking to Christ. Now, when
we talk about looking to Christ, The author and finisher of our
faith. We can't improve on the illustration he used. He said, as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up. Now what happened in the wilderness?
Israel, the people of Israel, were bitten by the fiery serpents.
They were dying. They'd been murmuring and complaining
and griping. And God sent the fiery serpents
in the camp that bit the people. They were dying. There was no
cure. And God told Moses to make a serpent of brass in the likeness
of the serpents that had bitten the people, a brazen serpent,
and lift it up on a pole between heaven and earth. And everybody
who looked to that serpent of brass would be made whole. Now
Christ said, as that took place, even so must Christ, the Son
of Man, be lifted up. We're in the same shape. We've
been bitten by the serpents of sin. Christ came down here and
God made him in the likeness of the serpent of sin that had
bitten us. He was made in the likeness of
flesh, sinful flesh. And he was raised on a cross
between heaven and earth. Now, if you want to be saved,
you look to Him. That's what Moses said to the
people in the camp. You want to be cured, you want
to be healed, look to the serpent of brass. If you want to be saved,
look to Christ. Not to this water, not to this
man, not to this altar, not even to this Bible, not even to the
Holy Spirit. You look to Him who's lifted
up on a cross. There on that cross you see very
God of very God and very man of very man. Look to Calvary. There's our substitute. There's
our representative. Look to Calvary. There our sins
were laid on Him. Look to Calvary. There the debt
was paid. Look to Calvary. Look to Christ. Other foundation can no man that
lay than that which is laid, Christ the Lord. If I be lifted
up from the earth, I'll draw men to me." Look to Christ! I've never traveled far around
the world. I've never seen the many thrills
and sights unfurled, but I've taken a journey of journeys for
me up Calvary's Mountain. There my Savior is seated. I've
been to Calvary. I can say, I've seen the Lord.
I've been to Calvary through the witness of his word. Each
day at Calvary, what a thrill of love divine, just to think,
just to feel, just to know that that Savior is mine. What is
it to believe? To believe is to be justified. To believe is to have the righteousness
of God. Well, what is it? It's coming
to Christ, to a person. It's intelligently, willingly
coming to Him. Deliberately coming to Him. It's
turning your back on everything else and coming to Him. Coming
to Christ. Coming to Him for mercy. Coming
to Him as the Lord and the Master. It's to receive Him. It's to
receive Christ. I receive Christ as my Lord. And whatever comes with Him.
pay the price, I'll bear the cost, but Lord, you come in and
take over." It's looking to Him. Every day along the way, looking
to Christ. Never taking my eyes off Him.
Not looking in here. I didn't start in the Spirit
and I made perfect in the flesh. It's not looking to others and
seeing their failings and quitting. It's not looking at the road
and seeing that it's going to get a little rough ahead now,
so I better get out of this race. It's looking to Christ, and wherever
my feet walk, and whatever cold or winds or storms my body goes
through, it's still looking to Christ. Moving on, looking to
Him. Whatever the conflict, whatever
the pain, looking to Christ. Keeping my eyes on Him. And then
it's a committal to Christ. The last verse, turn to 2 Timothy
1. 2 Timothy 1, verse 12. What is it to believe? Paul says
in 2 Corinthians 1, 12, for the which cause I also suffer these
things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed.
I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed, committed unto him
against that day. The word here is paratheka. I looked it up in the concordance.
It's the Greek word paratheka. And it means, committed, means
to deposit as a trust for keeping and protection. to deposit as
a trust for keeping and protection. My soul is my only real possession. My body is already dying. It's
already getting weak. My body is dying. My body is
going to return to the dust from whence it came, but my soul is
going to live on. Everything I own, my family relationship
will be gone, but my soul lives on. All that I've accumulated
in this world is going to be wasted and burned, but my soul
lives on. I've got to commit my soul to
somebody. Now, I bring it down here and
say I commit my soul to the church, but these churches, I hope God
will keep us faithful for a while, but this church, like all the
rest of them, will be apostate someday. It will be a place of
heresy. It always is. The strongest churches
in the world were in Africa in the first century. Thessalonica,
Ephesus, all these churches, they're gone now. The church
of Corinth is gone now. The church of Rome is gone now.
And if I bring my soul and commit it to the church for keeping,
the Baptist church, it's It's apostate, just like the Methodist,
Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and all the rest of them. They're
all apostate. They've all departed from the faith of their fathers,
and they know it. They're just keeping up a show like everybody
else. We've run out of capital. We're at the bottom of the hill
rocking back and forth now, a little movement, a little motion, a
little noise, but no progress. If I commit my soul to the church,
it's going to fail. If I commit it to any human being,
any man, Well, I've lost confidence in so-and-so. Good! The sooner
the better. The sooner you lose confidence
in every son of Adam, and the sooner you lose confidence in
your rotten self, the better off you'll be. Where am I going to commit my
soul for keeping? I've got to commit it to one
who changes not. That's Christ, the Immutable
One. I am the Lord, I change not. I've got to commit my soul
to one who's willing to receive it." He says, come, I'll give
you rest. I've got to commit my soul to
one who's able to keep it, who's able to keep it. The book of
Jude says, "...unto him who is able to present you faultless
before his throne with exceeding glory." So I'm telling you this,
I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe Jesus Christ
is the Messiah. I believe Jesus Christ is their
God of their God. I believe Jesus Christ is the
only Savior of sinners. That's what Paul is saying here,
I know whom I have believed. And I believe Jesus Christ is
willing and able to keep my soul against the day of judgment.
And I hereby, in this last will and testament, give my soul to
Jesus Christ. I hereby now, with whatever confidence
I can muster, and with whatever committal I can present, I give
my soul to Christ to keep. How about you? He is able to
save to the uttermost them that come to God by That soul that
on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert
to his fold. That soul, though all hell should
endeavor to shake, I'll never, never, never forsake. He will keep me till the river
rolls its waters at my feet. And then he'll bear me safely
over there, my Savior, I shall meet. That's believing on Christ. Do you believe? Do you believe? It's coming to Christ. It's receiving
Christ. It's looking every moment. Not just today and not looking
any longer. It's a continual gazing into
his face. It's looking to Christ, and it's
committing my soul to him. That's all I have as a soul.
That's all I am as a soul. And Lord, I commit it to you. I commit it to you. Our Father in heaven, give us
saving faith. Every person in this building,
every boy and girl, man and woman, give us saving faith. May we
be able to say, we have come to Christ. We have
come as sinners. We have received him. We look
nowhere but to him, to him who died on the cross, who rose again
for our justification, who is at the right hand of the power
of majesty on high. We look to him, and consciously,
intelligently, knowing what we're doing, we commit our souls to
Christ, to keep against that day. In his name we pray.

Do You Believe In the Lord Jesus Christ?

What does the Bible say about belief in Jesus Christ?

How do we know justification by faith is true?

Why is the concept of saving faith important for Christians?

What does it mean to receive Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

Joshua

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

Do You Believe In the Lord Jesus Christ?

What does the Bible say about belief in Jesus Christ?

How do we know justification by faith is true?

Why is the concept of saving faith important for Christians?

What does it mean to receive Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

More from Henry Mahan

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Articles by Henry Mahan

Books by Henry Mahan

Joshua

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book