THE KI NG ’ S BUSINESS regenerated by the Holy Spirit. “ Ye must be born again.” John 3:7. 2. Believing what God says about His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “ This is My Son, My Chosen: hear ye Him.” (Luke 9:35 R.V.) There is no saving faith apart from acceptance of the complete Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must also accept what God’s Word de clares Christ did for us by His death on the Cross. “ Christ died for our sins.” (1 Cor. 15:3.) Therefore “ God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that’ hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.” (1. John 5:11-12 R.V.) Christ delivers the believer now from the penalty, the pollution and the power of sin, and finally from the presence of sin. 3. Trusting Christ to save me. A lit tle lad met Blondin, the great tight-rope artist, after seeing Mr. Blondin perform. The lad said to Mr. Blondin, “ Why, I believe you could carry me across on that rope.” But when Mr. Blondin of fered to do it, the lad shrank back and refused. His supposed faith was a de lusion. Genuine faith means confidence. 4. Surrendering to Christ. If I was standing on the deck of a sinking ship, I would sink with it unless I got off into the life boat. Looking over the side at the life boat, believing that it was a life boat and would take me safely to shore would be of no avail unless I got into it. Believing that Christ can save me is of no value unless I personally commit myself to Him to save me. “ Be lieving is one person, a sinner, commit ting himself to Another Person, the Saviour.” I must surrender myself to Christ as I would surrender myself to the life boat. 5. Receiving Christ. The Apostle John wrote: “ As many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 R.V.) To “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” then, is to receive Him. It is
851 to open wide our heart’s door to Him, for the latch string is on the inside. 6 . Obeying Christ. Notice carefully the message of John 3:36 R.V., “ He that believeth' on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abid- eth on him.” The root of the words translated “ believe” and “ obey” is the same. According to God’s Word, the one who does not obey Christ does not truly believe on Christ. Are you trust ing Christ to save you? If so, are you obeying Him in regard to prayer, daily reading of God’s Word, living a godly life in all your relationships, joining a church, giving as God has prospered you, and in seeking to win others to Christ? Sad to say, many “ Christians” do not have the Scriptural view of what it means to “ Believe on the Lord Jesuo Christ.” If in any respect you are not obeying Christ, Christian friend, confess it specifically to Him this moment, and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. Then resolutely purpose that by His grace you will obey Him in all things from this day forward. “ Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5.) The extent of our obedience is the measure of our faith. “ Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.” (John 15:14 R.V.) 7. Being devoted to Christ. There is a kind of obedience that is slavish and rendered grudgingly, but such obedience is not acceptable to Jesus. The Apostle Paul showed by his life what it means to believe on Jesus. He wrote: “ I evon reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus, My Lord.” (Phil. 3:8— Weymouth’s Translation.) And Mary, the sister of Lazarus, believed in Jesus and proved her faith and love when she “ took a pound of ointment of pure nard very precious, and anointed the feet ol Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair.” (John 12:3 R.V.) True faith in Jesus means to be personally and pa#-
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