0314. We Must Believe

We Must Believe

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb_11:6).

When Nicodemus asked Christ, "How can these things be?" the answer was the must of regeneration. When the jailer asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" the answer was the "must" of belief. The first "must" God alone can work out; the second "must" is man’s. Faith is the imperative "must" that links the soul to God.

The table is set, the dinner is prepared, the bell has rung, but you must eat or else starve.

The street car stands fully equipped, the power is in the wire, but the trolley must touch the wire, or else the car will stand still on the track.

The engine is in full steam, the train is ready to go, the conductor is crying, "all aboard;" but you must get on, or else be left behind.

The Lord Jesus has died, the imperative must of the Cross has been fulfilled, yet you must believe or be lost.

But in whom must we believe? In Christ. We must believe that Christ died, this is essential unto justification; we must believe that Christ rose again, this is essential to sanctification; we must believe that Christ is coming, this is essential to glorification.

We must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: believe in Him as Jesus, Who died upon the Cross; believe in Him as the Lord, Who is exalted to the right hand of God; believe Him as Christ Who is the anointed of the Father, the Messiah, and the Coming King.

There is no use to quibble, salvation comes only to those who believe.

We are not saved by giving our hearts to God. What does God want with our vile and filthy hearts? We should be ashamed to even offer them to Him, before they have been washed in the Blood; we must believe.

We are not saved by cleaning up our life, and joining the church, and being baptized, and taking the Lord’s Supper. These are things that we do as Christians, but to be saved, we must believe.

We are not saved by some big experience, a wonderful dream or a startling voice–pay no attention to such things, they will take care of themselves–we must believe.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR