A paradigm of unbelief grips much of society. Daily worries often suppress the faith of individuals who hear God’s call but fail to respond. The high cost of living, widespread corruption, injustice, and the deceitfulness of wealth has led to the loss of hope for many. Jesus illustrated this tragic reality in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:22). The resulting disconnect becomes a barrier to knowing Christ.
Since finite minds have difficulty comprehending an infinite God, people try to explain the supernatural using natural rationale. The question of God’s existence is both metaphysical and empirical in nature. While God is outside of the laws of nature, He in fact created them and controls them; He is also interacting with them.
This panentheistic view is illogical for skeptics who either view God as a creator/spectator or an immaterial force which is part of all things. At the same time however, God exercises extreme restraint from infringing on the freedom of choice bestowed on mankind, allowing us to fully experience our freedom, even to the point of denying His existence.
Atheists will often surmise, that if evil and suffering exist, God must not exist. However, in order to distinguish between good and evil, some moral standard must exist; therefore, we are forced to consider the source of the moral standard. The Judeo-Christian values that form the foundation of western culture’s sense of morality and laws attribute this moral standard to God’s revelation, beginning with the ten commandments.
Evil is a reflection of the heart of man, not the heart of God. In order to be perfect and just, God created man with the freedom of choice. If He didn’t, mankind would be enslaved and would never be able to love freely, have compassion freely, honor God freely, and recognize evil thereby freely choosing to do good.
By giving man freedom to choose and freedom to fail, God allows us to experience guilt and seek repentance. Through Jesus Christ, God is able to reconcile us to Himself and forgive our sins because of His atoning sacrifice on the cross. The eternal life that God gives through salvation enables us to enter heaven with a deeper, richer appreciation of God’s grace than would ever be possible if evil was never present on earth for us to experience.
BELIEF IN CHRIST
Is belief simply acknowledging the historicity of Jesus Christ and having the same appreciation for Him as for other historic figures, such as Albert Einstein, Plato or Isaac Newton? Or does belief in Christ constitute embracing Him and everything He said as truth and living differently from unbelievers? Faith as asserted in the New Testament is so much more than intellectual assent.
Pisteuō is the Greek word that is translated as faith and belief (pistis), meaning to rely on, to cling to, or to trust in, with an implication that actions based on that trust will follow. The word pistis is derived from the word peithō, which means to persuade or to be persuaded. The word pisteuō implies deep trust and confidence. Trust is understood as a firm belief in the reliability or truth of someone or something.
This concept challenges the notion of saying one believes and assuming that eternal life is granted based on this confession, whether there is evidence of repentance or not. Satan believes in Jesus, as do his hierarchy of demons, yet they are not saved. James 2:19 declares, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.”
The disciples followed Jesus. They said they believed in Him, yet when He was crucified, they scattered in fear and even denied Him. Judas betrayed Him. It wasn’t until He resurrected that they entered a state of trusting Him and being willing to die for Him. Thomas doubted Jesus’s resurrection until he was able to see and touch Him (John 20:24–29).
This comprehension of what it means to believe reconciles faith and works. If faith without deeds is dead (James 2:17–26), then those who claim to believe in Christ yet fail to exhibit evidence of their faith by the way they live are still dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1–10). We are saved for the purpose of doing good works and our deeds signify that our faith is authentic.
Authentic belief is transforming, radical belief. Faith is the impetus that compels us to follow Jesus and not simply to watch Him from a distance. Our faith is derived from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit within us. We are saved by grace–through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
In the epistle to the Hebrews, the writer defines faith this way: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see,” (Hebrews 11:1). This passage conveys a powerful conviction that transcends what is proven and tangible; however, it is not associated with gullibility or credulity. The writer expounds on the concept of faith throughout the chapter, adding, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him,” (Hebrews 11:6).
TRUE FAITH
True faith goes far beyond simple belief as the English language portrays it. Pisteuō is active, intuitive, and intentional. Authentic faith cannot be stagnant. James 2:26 reads, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” The gospel is a message of repentance. in Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, he declares, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness,” (2 Timothy 2:19).
Many churchgoers have been lulled into the complacent delusion that they will be welcomed at the gates of heaven simply by saying they believe in Jesus. However, Matthew 25:31–46 clearly teaches this will not be the case. Their faith will not be a saving faith. It will not be a pisteuō type of conviction. Those who lack the conviction of the Holy Spirit will not remain faithful because their faith is feigned and their Christianity is counterfeit.
A shallow faith that is not deeply rooted in Christ will not provide the perseverance to stand firm through life’s trials and tribulations (Matthew 13:5–6). Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 24:13, “but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” It may be the end of the age or the end of your life; it doesn’t matter. One cannot remain rooted in worldly values and grow in Christ.
Revelation 3:14–17, offers a stiff reprimand to the lukewarm church of Laodicea. Jesus warns “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He continues, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me,” (Revelation 3:18–20). This is a wakeup call to many Christians today!
For those who are focused on earthly values and are unaware that they are spiritually poor, naked, and blind, Jesus offers spiritual refinement. The spiritual gold here is faith, the white garment is the righteousness of Christ, and spiritual blindness refers to the inability to see their own wretchedness. They have been deceived into believing their religion will save them and deceived into storing up earthly riches rather than heavenly treasures.
Saying you believe and living your belief aren’t necessarily synonymous. Because incomprehension is a stumbling block for accepting the evidence for Jesus, many people disconnect from truth and Christ becomes unbelievable; and they become bogged down, in a paradigm of unbelief.
Mark 1:15 states that Jesus preached in Galilee. “‘The time has come,’ He said, ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’”
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