0430. The Many Who Believed

The Many Who Believed

"And many * * believed" (Act_19:18).

For three months Paul preached in Ephesus, in the synagogue. Then, when many were hardened and began to resist his testimony, he withdrew the disciples and reasoned daily in the school of one, Tyrannus. This went on for the space of two years.

Now we begin to gather in the results of the work in Ephesus. First of all, we read: "Many believed."

1. Of course the first thing that comes to mind is the inference that many did not believe. It is always so. Some believe the things that are spoken and some believe not. Some consort with Christ, and some refuse Him. Some are saved and some are lost.

The Gospel is a two-edged sword; accepted, it imparts life, rejected, it means certain death.

2. The statement is clear–"Many believed." It is not that many felt good; or, that many understood all of the deep things of God; or, that many had some dream or vision, or heard some voices in the night–it is simply stated, "And many believed."

The testimony of God is sure–"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." "He that believeth the Son, hath everlasting life." "Thy faith hath made thee whole."

Faith is more than a mere assent to the claims of Christ. Faith is assent, but it is also affiance. That is, faith does more than intellectually acknowledge that there was a Christ Who died, and Who rose again, and Who is living at the Father’s right hand; faith also trusts that Christ; faith believes with the heart, with the affections. Faith receives the Lord Jesus Christ and implicitly trusts His saving power.

Faith may seem but a very simple matter, and, so it is. Yet, how few there are who really exert a saving faith in Christ! Certainly, Christ is worthy of such a faith, but there are many who say with their lips, "I believe," when all the time their mind is filled with doubt as to the reality of Christ’s saving grace.

"Can it be right for me to go,

On in this sinful doubting way,

Say, ‘I believe,’ and yet, not know

Whether my sins are washed away?"

When one is justified by faith they have peace, or else their faith is spurious. How can I wonder and worry over my salvation if I really believe in Christ as my Saviour?

If I deposit my money in the bank, and I have faith in the integrity of that bank, will I be forever worrying about the safety of my coin? Will I spend sleepless nights, tossing on my bed, in fear, lest my money be filched away from me?

If I believe that Christ saves, why then my worry and my fretting and my fear? Faith says "One thing I know, that whereas I was blind now I see."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR