What Does It Really Mean To “Believe”
By Rev. Blake Hensley
1. Salvation Is By Faith
A. John 3:16-“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
B. Acts 16:3 1 – “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
2. The Concept Of “Faith” Includes In It Obedience.
A. Rom 10:16-“But they have not all OBEYED thegospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT?”
B. Obedience is required for salvation.
1. 2 Thess 1:7-8 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ’
2. Heb 5:9-“And being made perfect, he [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM”
3. Repentance Ls Part Of Believing.
A. Mark 1:15- “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand- REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.”
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Repentance Is Required For Salvation
A. Luke 13:3- “Except Ye Repent, Ye Shall All Likewise Perish.”
5. Belief Will Lead To Baptism.
A. Acts 8:12- *But WHEN THEY BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, both men and women.”
B. Acts 16:30-33 ‘And [be] brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.. -And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; AND WAS BAPTIZED< HE AND ALL HIS, STRAIGHTWAY.”
C. Acts 18:- “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house-, and many of the Corinthians hearing BELIEVED, AND WERE BAPTIZED.”
6. BAPTISM IS NOT CONSIDERED AS “WORKS” BY WHICH MAN TRIES TO SAVE HIMSELF
A. Titus 3:5,7 “NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY BE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION and renewing of the Holy Ghost ..THAT BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”
7. BAPTISM LS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION
A. John 3:5- “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
B. Acts 2:37-38 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
C. Acts 22:16- “And now why tarriest thou? ARISE, AND BE BAPTIZED, AND WASH AWAY THY SINS, calling on the name of the Lord.”
D. Titus 3:5- “NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY BE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
E. I Pet 3:21- “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
8. BAPTISM SHOULD BE DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS
A. Matt 28:19- “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”
1. Notice that the word ‘name’ is singular. This means that there is only one name. Let’s look further to see what that one name is.
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Zech. 14:9- “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth. in that day shall there be one LORD, AND HIS NAME ONE”
3. Acts 2:38- “Men Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”
4. Acts 8:16- “For as yet he [the Holy Ghost] was fallen upon none of them: ONLY THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS*
5. Acts 10:48- “And he [Peter] commanded them TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.”
a. The ‘name of the Lord’ is Jesus.
I. Acts 9:5- “And he [Saul] said, WHO ART THOU LORD? AND THE LORD SAID, I AM JESUS”
9. FAITH BRINGS RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST
A. John 7:38-39 “HE THAT BELIEVETH ON NE, as the scripture hath said, OUT OF HIS BELLY SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive”
B. Gal 3:14- “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ-, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH.”
10. BUT ONE DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE SPIRIT JUST BECAUSE HE BELIEVED.
A. Acts 8:12-16 “BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: WHO, WHEN THEY WERE CONE DOWN, PRAYED FOR THEM THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST: (FOR AS YET HE WAS FALLEN UPON NONE OF THEM: only they were baptized in the of the Lord Jesus.)”
D. Acts 19:1-2 ‘And it came to pass, that, while Apollos wasat Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED?”
11. THE EVIDENCE OF RECEIVING THE SPIRIT IS SPEAKING WITH OTHER TONGUES
A. Acts 2:14 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE.”
B. Acts 10:44-46 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of THE HOLY GHOST. FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES, AND MAGNIFY GOD”
C. Acts 19:6 “And when Paul laid his hands upon them, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; AND THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.”
12. THE HOLY GHOST IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION
A. John 3:5- “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
B. Rom 8:9- “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. NOW IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS.”
C. I Cor 12:13- “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body”13. IF A MAN DOES NOT REPENT, BE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME, AND RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST, HE CANNOT JUST -CONFESS- JESUS AS HIS PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR AND GO TO HEAVEN.
A. Matt 7:21- “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
B. Luke 6:46- “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
