The subject
of faith is a running theme throughout the bible. For many people who attend
church, faith is a passive ascent in mental knowledge about who Jesus Christ
is. The bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews
11:6).
What kind of
faith are we supposed to have in order to please God? Let’s look at what scripture says:
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith.
The bible says we are to have overcoming faith. This type of faith
overcomes the world and inherits eternal life. This is what we call victorious
faith. The next verse in 1 John 5 gives us the answer in what this victorious
faith is to be based on:
“Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
The overcoming faith that one must have to overcome the world and obtain
eternal life is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This faith is not just an acknowledgment that
Jesus is God’s Son for even the demons confessed this. This overcoming faith is
in believing in His authority as the Son of God:
1 John 4:13
These things have I written unto you
that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
A name in
the Israelite culture represents someone’s character, identity and authority.
To believe on the name of Jesus Christ is not just to believe that He existed
and is God’s Son but rather to believe that has the authority to be the Lord of
your life and give you commandments which to obey. Many today would say they love Jesus Christ
yet they deny His right to rule their life. How does Jesus determine if you
really love Him? Let’s read what He had to say about this:
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
The name that we are to believe on has nothing to do with the
pronunciation of Jesus name but rather the name we are to believe on is the
title of “Son of God”. The name “Son of God” is a Messianic title given to the Kings
of Israel. As Jehovah’s anointed King, Jesus is authorized to give us
commandments. In fact, the prophets said that the islands would wait for the
law of the then future Davidic King (Read Isaiah 42:4). The famous Sermon on
the Mount is where King Jesus gave His law, which is the constitution of His
Kingdom. Jesus said that if we follow His teachings, which are His commandments,
then we will be like a house built on a rock.
No comments:
Post a Comment