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BELIEF IN GOD
A great many lines of evidence point to the existence of God. In fact all creation points to His existence. Common sense if not blinded by prejudice tells us that every design must have a designer. The intricacies of living things, the cycles of weather, seasons, etc., all point to an Intelligent Designer: i.e. to God. People are naturally born with a prejudice against God. It is not their mind that first denies the existence of God. Such an idea springs from their hearts first. Lost sinners do not want there to be a God because if God exists they are accountable to Him for their sins. The Bible, as always, is exactly right when it says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God...” (Psalm 14:1). First man's wicked heart says “no God” and then he tries to come up with reasons he thinks will substantiate what he wants to believe. A considerable number of people believe in God. So we ask the question, is belief in God enough to save a sinner? What will belief in God do for a person? The Bible has the answer. It says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble,” (James 2:19). Belief in the one true God is a good thing, but it is something the demons also believe. There are no atheists among the demons! But such a belief will not save demons and it will not save lost sinners either! Believing in the existence of God is just believing facts about Him. So also is believing in Jesus Christ as an historical person. It is not enough just to believe that God exists or that Jesus Christ once walked upon the earth. Even believing about His teachings and miracles, His virgin birth or His resurrection – believing facts about Christ is not saving faith. Consider these words: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God,” (1 Peter 1:18-21). Saving faith involves believing in God not just about Him. In involves believing that Jesus Christ died as God's sinless Lamb: i.e. the Sacrifice provided by God who not only died, but who also raised from the dead. It involves believing that Christ was God's Substitute who suffered the wrath of God that we sinners justly deserved. Hope is faith toward the future. The true Christian's hope is in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – the great Three-in-one – who planned, provided, executed and consummates the salvation of Christ's spiritual sheep.
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