Faith

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Let's think about the difference between belief and trust. With reference to the matter of assurance and salvation we are told if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved. Acts 16:31 and I John says these things have I written unto you that you may hope that you have eternal life. NO! That's NOT what it says. Read it again. That's not the word of God BUT RATHER that you may know that you have eternal life.

Only a true child of God can say with certainty I know that I am saved. I know that I will be in heaven. So why these doubts then? Why do we experience unbelief? Can God lie? No! God can not lie. Your parents may lie and men may lie but God can not lie. (Numbers 23:19) We receive the witness of men don't we? Since we receive the witness of men let us be certain of this fact that THE WITNESS OF GOD IS GREATER.

As the late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse once explained while teaching on this subject we believe that the bus schedule is correct. We go to catch the bus ten minutes before the hour instead of ten minutes after the hour. Why? Because we believe the train or bus will go at the hour that is printed on the schedule.

You go to church on Sunday morning not on Tuesday morning. Why? Because you believe that the services are announced for Sunday and not Tuesday and you believe the announcement and God says if you believe what men say you should believe even more what God says because He can not lie. His word and His Spirit are the infallible witnesses. This is taken upon faith.

Suppose a little child was to say, "I believe you mother. I trust you."

"Do you?" replied the mother. Let us put this to the test.

So the mother or parent sends their child to the store to buy a loaf of bread. It is night and the child says "Well, mother it's night. I'm afraid of the dark. I can't go."

But the parent assures the child that all is well and that she can go to the store if she will but carry this big powerful flashlight provided for her.

"Now, Johnny or Mary" says the mother. Go down to the store, carry this flashlight, shine it in the pathway. If you do then you will be able to see clearly and not stumble. If you see a stranger that tries to harm you or keep you from yo9ur duty then I want you to scream and cry out and run bvack home as fast as you can."

Now the child has to decide and make a decision. Is she going to trust her parents?
The parents have never lied before so there's no reason to doubt them. If they doubt then the problem is not with the parents but with the unbelieving child. So the child goes through with her mission successfuly walking in the light and Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." We walk in His light and in His light we shall see light and see that Jesus is who he says he is for he said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6

Do we believe this? Then let us show our belief by our trust and obedience to His word as demonstrated by faithful keeping of his commandments which is walking in His light.

You see the devils believe in God and know Him to be right. On one occasion they said, "We know who you are Jesus" but they do not trust and obey. If we say we believe Him but do not trust Him then we do not really have a saving belief because faith without works is dead. James 2:14-26.
Belief without trust is dead. Hereby we know that we have a true belief or faith because we trust what our Lord says and we obey Him.





Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member)and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See his videos on www.YouTube.com. Type in LAStreetPreacher in the search bar. CONTACT at [email protected]

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