Why we believe

I recall a situation regarding the publication of a letter in a magazine that a company I used to work at produced for its client. I was quite sure that the item had been published. A mental picture of the page in which the letter was published repeatedly flashed across my mind as my former boss tried to help me see the folly of my position🙃, but I was so sure of myself. I offered to get evidence to show everyone at the meeting that I knew the truth 100%. To cut a long story short, I re-entered the meeting sheepishly clutching a copy of the said magazine; I was 100% alright; 100% wrong! The item was not in the magazine. Left unchecked, the result of my wrong believing could have been disastrous.

Try as my former boss did to persuade me out of my wrong believing, I held on to my version of the truth and nothing could have convinced me to think another way. I even doubted the magazine for a bit with the truth staring me in the face.

What does this have to do with our life in Christ today? Sometimes, we wonder why some people (even people in the church who are still under law) just won't believe Jesus, Grace personified, despite "overwhelming evidence." Believers, this is why you and I believe right: John 6:44-

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day."

See the MSG version: John 6:43-46 "Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End...."

Our believing is a gift without which we would never come to Christ. Our ability to live right is a result of Christ's work of "putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End." We would be no different from the lost souls out there that are "just sinning anyhow and have no heart for Christ" if He didn't give us the desire to come to Him. We didn't just "decide" to follow Jesus because of our high moral values. We were called to know the Truth (Christ Himself, Grace personified) that sets free.

Realising this truth brings us down from any pedestal of morality that we might have erected for ourselves and makes it difficult for us to condemn those who are still living in sin or tell them things like "stop sinning and come to Christ, or else..!"

Instead, like Christ in Matt. 9:36, we have compassion on them; we see harassed and helpless people, like sheep without a shepherd; and we point them not to a righteous taskmaster that continually demands payment for sins and will not let a single sin go unpunished (the law) but to the One who saves from sins (Grace,) as it is written in Matthew 1:21-

"She will have a son, and you will name Him Jesus—because He will save His people from their sins.”

If we could stop sinning on our own, Jesus would not have needed to come and save us from our sins. Plus why would our Saviour use the very sins that He came to save us from as an excuse for not saving us? Let's take our blessed brains to church.

By God's grace, let's have these things in mind while telling the world about our Saviour Jesus and before wondering why they just won't believe Him or threatening them with hell fire because they are living in sin. God hears the prayers of His children. If we really want someone to see the Light and live right, let's pray to our Abba Father in Christ to touch their hearts and by His grace, tell them about His love and His saving power. He does it all.

Telling people things like "accept Jesus before it is too late and you go to hell" or "God will punish you when you sin" or "do your best to keep the law and stop sinning or burn in hell" or "God will not bless you unless you play your part by keeping the Ten Commandments" and then wondering why they just won't put some effort into doing so cannot help anybody. This is not of Christ. Threats of judgment for breaking the law cannot save or make people stop sinning. Christ does it all, even saving all who believe from their sins according to Matthew 1:21.

It is the knowledge of the Truth that sets free. Jesus told the Jews in John 8:32- "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Remember Jesus was talking to the Jews who had had and lived by the law of Moses for more than 1500 years. They believed in God but not in Christ, just like many in the church today who feel that it is their own obedience that makes them righteous before God and not Christ's (see Romans 5:19.) They needed setting free from the law of sin and death.

Remember John 1:17- "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Believer, Grace (Christ Himself) is the Truth that sets free. See Him in Titus 2:11-14

"11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

With Christ, Grace is our teacher, not the law, you or I. In Him, we get to look forward to the blessed hope and His glorious appearing (Rapture.) Teachings on the Rapture don't make us afraid but comfort us as they should (1 Thess. 4.) Unveil the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ - the Way, the Truth and the Life- and He will redeem from sin, purify and transform His people by His awesome power.

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.