I am sure that most people would agree that a Christian is someone who believes. On more than one occasion in scripture they are actually referred to as "believers". But what is it that a believer believes? I'm not concerned about what different denominations believe. What does a true believer believe? The answer is Christ. It is not a what, but a Who. Paul said in II Tim. 1:12, "I know Whom I have believed. What we believe is determined by Who we believe. What does one have to know to be saved? He has to know Christ. What does one have to believe to be saved? Everything God says! He may not comprehend it all. But believers believe! Here are four statements that summarize what all believers believe. Once again, these are not denominational distinctives, but Christian distinctives. Every Christian will be at agreement on these things.
Believers believe the Scriptures alone. I realize some claim to be believers who do not believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God. But that sounds more like an unbeliever than a believer! Believers believe the Bible. Our only rule of faith and practice is the Scriptures! While we can know things about God without the Scriptures, we cannot know Him without this book. The Bible is God's revelation of Himself to man. We don't go to the Bible to prove what we already believe, but to find out what to believe. But realize this. It will do us no good to say we believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures, and then pay no attention to what they say. The Lord said to the Sadducees, "You do err, not knowing the scriptures". They believed in them. They could quote them. But they didn't know what they meant. Again, Christ said to the Pharisees, "Ye search the Scriptures, and in them ye think ye have eternal life. And they are they that testify of Me ." They searched the scriptures, yet didn't know their meaning. They testify of Christ! Believers believe the Scriptures alone!
Believers believe Christ alone. They look to the person and wok of Christ as their only grounds of acceptance before God. All of the blessings of God's salvation are in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). We do not look to Christ and our faith, Christ and our good works, Christ and our experience, or Christ and anything else! We look to Christ alone as everything in salvation. His blood is our only sin payment. His righteousness imputed is the only righteousness we are justified by. He is our salvation. We believe Him!
Believers believe grace alone. Not grace and, but grace alone! God's grace is what He does for the sinner. He saves by His grace (Ephesians 2:8). His grace does not make salvation available. His grace saves! Salvation is not what you do for God, but what He does for you. Every aspect of salvation from the beginning to the end is 100% grace. He elected us before time began by His grace (II Timothy 1:9). He redeemed and justified us by His grace (Romans 3:24). He called us by His grace (Galatians 1:15). The reason we persevere is because we are "kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation" (I Peter 1:5). To ascribe any part of salvation to the works, worth, or free will of man, is a denial of grace altogether! (Romans 11:6). Believers believe grace alone!
Believers believe faith alone. Salvation is not received by doing, but believing. But not only is Christ and His salvation received by faith. It is carried on through faith. To say "we believe faith alone" is not to exclude the importance of good works or a holy life. It is saying that insofar as our experience goes, faith is everything. When we are born again, it is evidenced by believing Him. We are justified when we trust Him, and not until then. We repent when we look to Him. As we believe on Him, we can't help but be filled with joy and love! We persevere by looking to Him alone! "The just shall live by faith."
Actually, these four things cannot be separated. Someone who believes, believes the Scriptures alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, and Faith alone. If someone replies, "I don't believe that"......how can you be said to be a believer? Believers believe!
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