The Third Step Toward God

03 The Third Step Toward God Is To Believe

The Bible says, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:8. But how can you draw nigh unto that which you do not believe in.

The first step in moving toward God is to repent. The second step is to confess. The third step is to believe.

Acts 16:25-34

Believe what?

While the doctrinal answer is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, I want to point out that God so loved you that He began to draw you unto Himself long before you ever got to the act of repentance, let alone confession and belief.

Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Without the drawing of God none of these (repentance, confession, believing) would ever take place.

Jesus said, “Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44.

Jesus said, Well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Matthew 15:7-8 This is because they do not truly believe in GOD.

They may be drawn by the idea of being a Christian or living a moral life like Jesus did or just believing the facts of Christianity or being a Christian because Momma and Daddy were – BUT their heart if far from GOD.

Let’s focus on the Believing part. Believing for Salvation and for moving closer to GOD.

· What does it mean to believe on/in Jesus?

· What is it that we are supposed to believe?

What does it mean to believe on/in Jesus? Many would say you have to believe Jesus was the Son of God who died on a cross for the sins of the world and rose from the dead on the third day.

But those are just facts as we know them.

The Bible testifies that demons proclaimed Him to be the Son of God. Clearly a person can believe all those facts and still not receive salvation. James reminds us “the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19.

According to Jesus, “to believe on” Him is equated to trusting in, abiding in, and resting in Him, all of which equal having Faith In Him. Jesus put it this way:

1. Trusting in – John 3:14-15

o And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

o Numbers 21:9 “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” Trusting in what Moses had told them God said would lead to life.

2. Abiding in – John 15:4 (1-8)

o Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

o Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

3. Resting in – Matthew 11:28-29

o Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

o 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

To “believe on Jesus” is to believe in and trust in all the promises of the Bible.

To believe on Jesus is to believe the truths of the Bible. Remember, the truth shall make you free.

What is it that we are supposed to believe? There is no particular order to what you must believe. It must all be set before you – then you must receive it ALL. (Sin, God, Cross, Faith)

1. Believe that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour. All have sinned…

2. Believe that sin separates us from GOD – Adam and Eve were cast out from the presence of the GOD.

3. Believe that God hates sin

a. Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

4. Believe that you and you alone owe the sin debt – The wages of sin is death.

a. Psalm 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: No man can save another! No man!

5. Must believe that ONLY GOD can save you.

a. Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.

6. Must believe that Jesus is GOD!

a. If no man can save you and only God will save you, and yet Jesus died for you – Then Jesus must be GOD!

7. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

a. John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

b. He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. John 9:36-37.

8. Believe Jesus was/is sinless.

a. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

9. We must believe that salvation comes by faith in the work of God, and not of our own works.

a. John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Remembering that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. God is working to bring you to faith.

10. We must believe “on” God.

a. Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Paul is saying we need to believe on GOD.

11. We must believe that Jesus is God, therefore He must also be Lord.

a. When we believe on Jesus, we make Him Lord of our life.

b. The Philippian jailer asked, “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.” Acts 16:30-31

12. We must believe GOD!

a. Believe that GOD is who He says He is.

b. That God can do what He says He can do.

c. That I am who God says that I am.

d. That I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

13. We must believe that we are blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed.

Conclusion:

It all boils down to Romans 10:9 and Philippians 2:11. It’s not enough to just believe the facts concerning Jesus; Jesus must be Lord.

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You believe in God, believe also in me…

Jesus prayed:

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

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Chasing a rabbit that does not exist. DROP ALL OF THIS.

What is it that we are supposed to believe? I don’t know that I can make a clear differentiation between “Believing in” and “Believing On” but I’m going to try. I’m not going to try. KJV uses “on”, others use “in”. I. certain they are synonymous.

1. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God

2. Believe “on” the Son of God. “On” is S#1909, epi, also used as “unto”, “upon”, “at”,

a. John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

b. To believe “in” something is the believe it or they exist/ed. Or, to have faith in… I believe you can.

i. I believe in Jesus is to say, I believe He is real; He once lived.

c. To believe “on” someone is the believe what they say and do is true and thereby worthy to be emulated. Where my faith is placed.. I believe He is who He said He is and I believe He will do what He has said He will do.

d. Think of a horse race. I believe in this particular horse. He’s fast… / I am placing all my money on this particular horse, for I am certain he will win.

e. Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

3. We are to believe “on” God.

a. Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Paul is saying we need to believe on GOD.

4. Jesus is God therefore He must also be Lord

a. When we believe on Jesus, we make Him Lord of our life.

It all boils down to Romans 10:9 and Philippians 2:11. It’s not enough to just believe, Jesus must be Lord.

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You believe in God, believe also in me…

Variations of the word “believe” appears 241 time in the KJV New Testament.

“Believe on” 15 times in 14 verses.

1. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

2. John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

3. John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

4. John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

5. John 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

6. John 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

7. John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

8. Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

9. Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

10. Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Paul is saying we need to believe on GOD.

11. Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

12. 1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

13. 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

14. 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

15 more times, “believeth on” – The benefits of believing.

1. 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (Last one)

2. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

3. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

4. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

In these 4 lie the condemnation of mankind. ^

5. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

6. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

7. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

8. John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

9. John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

10. John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

11. John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

12. Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

13. Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

14. Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

15. 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

“Believe in” appears 10 times in the KJV:

1. Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

2. Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

3. John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

4. John 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

5. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

6. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

7. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

8. Romans 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

9. 1 Thessalonians 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

10. 1 Peter 1:21 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.