Christian Living

Believe, Then Open Faiths Door

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
11/08/21
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“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.” (John 14:11)

In less than twenty-four hours, Jesus will be taken away to face the horrors of crucifixion, and He is preparing His disciples with comfort and counsel. He has told them many times He must die at the hands of His enemies. They were not willing to believe, as they thought Jesus had come to remove His people from the bondage of the Roman Empire. The disciples did not understand He must die on the cross to free their spirits from the bondage of sin, and their belief in this truth would make them free. Throughout Jesus’ time, He had spent teaching His disciples with words of life and should have known He was God in the flesh.

Thomas had said they do not know where He is going and the way. Jesus answered that He was the way, and the truth, and the life, to come to the Father. (John 14:6)Jesus again made it clear to them that He and the Father are one in His response. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” (John 14:7) Perhaps Phillip wants further proof and said this to Jesus. “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (John 14:8) Again Jesus made it clear that He and the Father are one, that Phillip and the rest of the disciples would again hear that truth. “Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’”?(John 14:9). Jesus is pointing to the Father's truth, and He has the same imprint of nature between them.

Many people say that they believe Jesus is the Son of God, and He died on the cross to pay their sin debt. They have accepted Him as Lord and Savior and try to live a righteous life in His example. Many think this is enough to be forgiven and have admission into the Kingdom of God. These people have confused belief with faith. Belief and faith are essential, but they do not have the same meaning. Let us examine belief and faith closer.

Faith includes belief, as one cannot say they have faith the sun will rise in the morning unless they believe it will. People believe in a lot of things that have no consequence in their lives. I believe there is the Kingdom of God, but I have never gone there and have not experienced it. When praying the Lord’s Prayer, I have said, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” I believe God’s Kingdom will come, and I believe His will shall be done, but I have never experienced it.

One cannot experience God’s Kingdom or His will be done without faith. What is faith? Faith is the employment of your belief in the trust that God’s Word is truth. When you exercise faith in God’s Word, His truth becomes the reality of your life. A believer in God’s Word can’t please God without faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Without faith, one cannot see or experience the vision of God’s Word beyond the emotional effect, as, without faith, you cannot experience His life in your life. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Through faith, belief in Jesus will change everything in our life here in this temporary world we presently live. Faith is the spiritual side of what we believe. People cannot fully comprehend the truth of God’s Word without faith. His Word is a spiritual word speaking to spiritual truth. It does and should create a conflict between our fleshly desires for this world against our desires of spiritual righteousness. Therefore, faith should change the way we live our lives and react to the world around us. “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5)

Priorities are changed when we place faith in what we are taught through the Scriptures. The Christian cannot be the same person they were but become a new person conformed to the standard placed before them by their Lord and Master Jesus. If there is no change, then there is no repentance from the evil way of the past. How can a Holy Spirit dwell within an evil soul? “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) If we are to say we believe in God means very little if it comes only from the lips and not the heart with faith.

Some reject a life following Jesus, as they are pleased with the life they have now. They are short-sighted and only think of the day, week, or lifetime. Death always seems beyond the morrow, and they have no concern about it. The day of departure will come to all some over time and for some instantly. They had no time to invest in their eternal spiritual life and will end with no good option of a Heavenly outcome. As hard as it is to live in opposition to the worldly way, the Christian life is much easier. My faith is in the only eternal belief that leads to eternal life in the house of God’s Kingdom. “He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Psalm 62:2)

Some say it is too many rules to follow, and they cannot even keep the Ten Commandments. Jesus did say, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) We strive to be as He is but will always fall short of His glory. When we stumble along the way, we confess, and He is quick to forgive. Jesus went to the cross for our sins of the past, present, and future. Acknowledging our missteps is an aid in keeping us faithful. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The priorities of our life change, and it affects all we do. We spend our time, talent, and treasure in ways that bring honor to the Kingdom of our home. The Christian is no longer a part of the kingdom of the world. As a child of God, we are a part of His Kingdom. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13)

The world cries for and searches for love. As the saying goes, most never find it, “searching for love in all the wrong places.” God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of God’s love, as the world was in the beginning. As it was of old and is today, this is the command of our Lord. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) Jesus promised if we place His Kingdom first in all we do in this life. If our goal is to work our labors as for the Kingdom of God, then through our faith in His Word, then His Kingdom will be seen through our faith. The world will marvel at it, and desire it, and prayerfully seek it. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

If you desire the joy seen in the children of God, the power they have to overcome the evil of this world, and want a fellowship of love, then this is the belief you must acquire God’s Word. If you believe it and want it in your life with all your heart, then employ faith in your belief in trusting God’s Word is truth. Jesus stands at the door of your heart, and if you hear Him knocking, then open the door in faith, and He will come in as Lord and Savior of your life. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, September 24, 2020