DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HEARING, BELIEVING, AND DOING

 DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HEARING, BELIEVING, AND DOING

" 'Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life.' " (John 5:24)

What joy and freedom there is when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus for eternal life. There is no cloud of judgment hanging over our heads because of sin. There is no condemnation because the price has been paid for our sins. There is no fear about the future because we have passed from death into life.

One of the great assurances as Christians is that "there is no therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (o 8:1).

But there is a caveat. There are several issues involved. One is hearing and the other is believing. It is not enough just to hear the Gospel. It is another thing to believe. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are many people who hear, but do not really believe. How do I know? Because they do not do what Jesus said. Our actions are motivated by what we believe, not by what we know.

Jesus put it this way. "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24). Even the words we read in Romans 8:1 involve a choice of action – to walk after the flesh or after the Spirit. The doing proves the believing.

Here's an illustration. Suppose I want to buy a new car. I hear that such and such a model is a good one, and I believe it. But until I put my money where my mouth is, I will not enjoy the car. I heard that Jesus died for my sins, and I believed it. Now I want to walk out the Christ-life to show my belief.

Love, Dad