Tuesday: Believing and New Birth
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 26th of November 2024
Read John 1:12-13. What are the steps described here about becoming a Christian?
John wrote his Gospel so that we would believe in Jesus and that by believing we may have eternal life in His name (John 20:31). In John 1:12-13, this process is described in two steps. First, we receive Him, that is, believe in Him. Second, He gives us authority or power to become God’s children, described in verse 13 as being begotten by God. Thus, there is a human and divine aspect of becoming a Christian. We must act in belief, receive Him, and be open to the light, but He is the one who regenerates the heart.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
In fact, faith itself is a gift of God that comes by hearing His Word (Romans 10:17). “In order to have true, abiding faith in Christ, we must know Him as He is represented in the word.”—Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 433. “The Spirit operating upon and enlightening the human mind, creates faith in God.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 940.
Those who believe or accept the Son as the Messiah receive everlasting life. John also emphasizes accepting or believing the Word that Jesus spoke (John 5:24,38,47). It is the role of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction (John 16:7-8; compare with Romans 8:16).
Read Romans 8:16. What principle about salvation in Jesus is found here?
Faith, biblical faith, based on the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, is the foundation of our faith. “Faith is . . . the great blessing—the eye that sees, the ear that hears.”—Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 104. The humanistic approach to faith states that we must find a foundation, the criteria for faith, and then believe. In contrast, the biblical approach states that faith is the foundation, a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 1:17-24, 1 Corinthians 2:1-6). We start with the foundation of faith, and then from there we grow in understanding and grace.
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If someone were to ask you what your faith is based on, how would you respond? |
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As a background to today’s study we should explore the relationship between faith and reason. As most of you know by now, I have a background in science, but at the same time I am a person who has faith in Jesus. Obviously there are times when my faith and reason are in conflict with one another and I have had a lifetime to come to terms with that.
There are four models to choose from:
Faith is not some sort of transcendental meditative spiritual experience. It functions in the cut and thrust of the real world. Our experience with faith has to navigate between observation, education, reason, and personal interaction. It is a very personal journey.
Caroline Jones, a high profile journalist in Australia tells her own faith story. She was the anchor person for the “Four Courners” current affair program. She had a mid-life crisis which described as the enigma of being one of the most well-known/recognised people in Australia and yet one of the loneliest. In her recovery she found Jesus and became an eloquent Christian. She hosted a radio program called, “In Search of Meaning”; a series of conversations with people from all walks of life about how they came to understand meaning in their lives. The series was transcribed and made available in book form. I enjoyed reading these books because most of us face the same questions as we try to make sense of the world around us. It was informative to see why some people accepted, yet other’s rejected spiritual faith. One of the biggest influences in most of these people’s lives was the interaction they had with others.
We often cite prayer and Bible-study as important for building our faith. I don’t deny that, but we also need to understand that faith has to work in the real world. We do not build aeroplanes just to have them sit on the ground for people to admire their beautiful engineering. They have to fly, carry passengers, face storms, land and take off, and in the process be maintained. They have to work under stress. If our faith is something that sits in the hollow of our mind like a museum piece, it has lost is relevance. Faith needs to fly!
Whew, a lot about belief. What can I add to today's lesson? Again I turn to a devotional. The title for November 24 is 'Know Why You Believe, What You Believe' The book is Homeward Bound. Homeward bound has two fold signifance. I am homeward bound today, and I am homeward bound for eternity.
My Paraphrase and summary:
To be ready for home we must be knowledgeable of the truth, which we glean from the Bible.
1. It would behove us to understand the state of the dead. There may be a time when the spirits of the Devil or his cohorts may appear as 3d elusion of our dead friends or relitives. Who will tell thongs that are of false doctrines. They will be very cunning.
2. It would behove us to be ready to give an account of our hope, from the Bible. Study the Bible put it in your heart, it does not have to be theologicly complicated, just an account of your hope. As much as a theologian Thomas Shapard is, on It Is Written he has the ability to put the message in as plain teaching as needed and makes it digestible by even the baby Christian.
3. No, wait, is this true, I believe so? "If we do what we can on our part to be ready for the conflict that is just before us, God will do His part, and His all-powerful arm will protect us."
4. Woo, nearly the whole world stepped on the delusion train and the conductor was the devil who presented himself as the leader of light , conductor if you will imitating Christ.
5. Yes my friends believe also means action. Get ready
believe, prepare, be ready, guard your loins lest the advesary devices you.
Good day
When we believe in Jesus, we believe in what He has taught us. If we believe false doctrines that Jesus never taught us then we are really not believing in Jesus. Instead, we are believing lies Instead of be believing Jesus, who is the Truth.
Believing in Jesus or belief in Jesus is dynamic, transformative and tangible. Believing brings spiritual awakening causing heartfelt response and trust. Belief in Jesus is the foundation for spiritual transformation which extends beyond the physical to address eternal realities. The Roman centurion who believed Jesus could heal his servant from a distance is just one example of the dynamic, transformative and tangible nature of believing in Jesus. The Centurion said to Jesus "Just say the word, and my servant will be healed". The servant was healed at that very moment. The centurion’s belief demonstrated profound trust in Jesus' authority, even without visible proof. His faith led to healing (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10).
A belief in Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Lord of one’s life transforms one’s relationship with God, others, and oneself. Believing in Jesus has got tangible outcomes. Believers in Jesus exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Their behavior reflects their relationship with Jesus, such as forgiving others, serving the needy, and showing compassion. Believers in Jesus seek God through prayer, worship, and studying Scripture. This relationship shapes their decisions and responses to life’s challenges (Psalm 119:105). Believers find strength in Jesus to endure suffering, resist temptation, and persevere in faith (Philippians 4:13). Practically, believing in Jesus, empowers believers to live with hope, courage, and a focus on eternity while positively impacting those around them.
As believers place their total trust (faith) in Jesus the One through whom all things were made, power is automatically released from Him that makes things to happen. Miracles and great things happen because we have accepted (received) and believed Jesus (John 1:12-13). The greatest of all miracles is that we sinners are born again. We are made anew in Jesus. We are given power and the right to be children of God again. We who were separated from God are now reconciled with Him through Christ. This is dynamic nature of having faith in Jesus Christ. We who were spiritually dead, now we have spiritual vitality. We have now spiritual power to fight our spiritual battles, and Jesus gives victory because He has already overcome the world. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
There is no other answer. Faith comes from experience with the unseen. Without a relationship with the Invisible, faith does not exist. The question is, which "invisible" am I leaning my heart to? On the contrary, I have no faith if I spend all my efforts on what I see.
What is my faith based on? My faith is based on my conviction that the Word of God as demonstrated/revealed to me by His Son represents God’s never changing Truth on which I can build my life by/through trust and faith.
”But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” "…to have life in HIS name.”
John 1:12-13; John 20:31 - as children of God we have life in His Son’s Name. What is contained in one’s name? Is it not also inclusive of a 'reflection' of one’s parents? I met my husband's parents for the first time the day I arrived from Germany. I did not know anything about them, but my impression of them and their friends comments acknowledged that "Humphery" was a 'good' name; that I married into a 'good' family. This to me was a good sign as I agreed to marry someone I had known for only a short 8 month before he had to return to America.
I took on his name, and with this I became part of his family. The believer, though, comes 'alive and has his life' in Jesus’ name - His Spirit. It is in His name in which we live our new identity; to have hope, guidance, strength to remain faithful to Him who has called us out of darkness into His heavenly Light – John 14:6.
Gal. 3:26; John 17:21-22 – Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith and life!
As the hymn says, "faith is the victory that overcomes the world".
Look at Hebrews 11 and tell me that faith isn't powerful. It's powerful because it connects the believer to Omnipotence. Faith in God’s Word connects the believer to the Creative power of God. The power is there, it just needs to be plugged into through faith.
Sharing my testimony is the best way I have found to explain my faith.
My faith comes from hearing the Word of God & assimilating it into my life as the Spirit leads & convicts, and from experiencing God personally, on a daily basis.
I did not come into this world knowing God. I was not born into a Christian home, Jesus stepped into my life when I was 8 years old & changed it forever, leading me step by step, showing me grace & truth, revealing the deep things of God.
1 John 5:4: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
There was a lot I had to overcome, abuse, distorted thinking, alcoholism & drug addiction in the family, false theories, deception, anger, hurt.
What I learned:
I am born of God - Having been born once into this world, created by God (but not knowing this), and then born again (now I know, even as I am also known), therefore, my faith in this God that I now know, is what helps me in being an overcomer, and in sharing my faith.
It gives me peace that passes understanding, it walks with me in the valley of the shadow of death, it informs me when I don't understand, it teaches me how to wait, it encourages me and gives me hope, it gives me purpose, and it makes me happy, joyous, & free, it teaches me what love really is, not a feeling, but a decision, it does so much more than I can ask, think, or imagine. My faith has made me who I am today, and it will make me into who I will be for all eternity. I am so grateful for it today.