Is belief enough?
When are we going to get it right concerning belief and faith? In Wednesday's lesson (Oct 19) the subject arises and it begins by stating that they are basically the same thing, one being the verb form of the noun. Soon, too soon, it gets onto the time-worn path I've heard so often that "an interllectual assent to the gospel is not enough, for in that sense, 'even the demons believe'.
Deary, deary me. And what is it that they believe my friend? James 2.19: they believe that God is one. That's strange; so do I, and I suppose you do too. Then why aren't my knees and your's trembling? The answer is simply that the demons (and Satan) know that their fate is sealed. They have no hope; nothing to look forward to in the future. They know their time is short and that is why Satan rages about like a roaring lion.
An interllectual assent of the gospel IS sufficient, as Wednesday's lesson contradicts itself by proclaiming: "A careful examination of Scripture reveals that faith involves not only knowledge about God but a mental consent or acceptance of that knowledge." This is exactly how people who regurgitate this falsehood about belief not being sufficient end up tripping themselves in their own vomit. One moment belief and faith are the same; then, mere belief is not enough; and then they'll defend justification by faith alone.
After feeding the multitude, Jesus took himself off to have some time on his own. They eventually found him on the other side of the sea. After asking what he was doing and how he managed to get there, they asked him what should they be doing to put a smile on God's face (not those exact words but read John 6). Jesus answered their question: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom God has sent.
Compare "works of God" with "works of the law" discussed in Monday's lesson.
Blessings
Bruce, Australia.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kathleen E.F. on -
Well, it has to be an intellectual consent that's more than a nod. I am not sure how to put this, but you can say I know God is God and His people are special to Him and decide to oppose everything God loves! You can decide to hurt, maim, steal, etc. --not by accident, not because you slipped and banged your spiritual knee, but because you don't love God and you chose to love yourself. The results can be odd behavior like Saul son of Kish displayed. I'm not sure this is well put, it's a harder thing to put in words than it is to grasp! I think you and I are on the same page, in what you're expressing, it's just that "a mere assent" is different than a real and true assent with all the heart, mind, and soul! Maybe it's more like a "yeah, yeah, I know, I know," than it is "Oh Lord, I believe! Help Thou mine unbelief!"
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Permalink Reply by BrucePrince on -
Thanks, Kathleen. You're correct when you say that intellectual assent has to be more than a nod and that a "mere assent" is different than a real and true assent with all the heart, mind, and soul. What you express is precisely the difference between the meaning "belief" and "believe" had when the Bible authors penned their books, gospels, and apistles, and in today's world where their meanings have become wishy-washy so that we can believe something one day (such as Father Christmas), and something different at another time.
Back when the Bible authors were penning the word that today is translated as "believe", it referred to a genuine assent with all the heart, mind, and soul - to use your words. It was very personal, held close to the heart, even to love. In fact, if one was to go to Shakespeare's plays, and substitute "believe" wherever "love" appears, the sense is retained in nearly every case. From the time of Shakespeare, the meaning of "believe" changed gradually to the watered-down meanings it has today.
The Oxford dictionary points out that the word "believe" comes from a middle English word that is spelt a couple of different ways - "beleve" and "belieue", both of which mean "belove". The Christian doesn't just believe God and His Son; we belove them. Paul demonstartes the true meaning of "believe" when he writes in Romans 10.9: If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Thanks again for your comments, and I know you'll have a blessed Sabbath.
Bruce, Australia.
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Permalink Reply by Lee on -
Belief can come only from God. And what a miracle. What a blessing. And what God provides is most certainly ENOUGH.
Praise God we don't have to be in the business of knowing what is ENOUGH.
We need to give our all.
We need to give what we can give.
But the knowing of what is ENOUGH - is up to God.
I don't need to judge my neighbor. I don't need to judge myself for it will be faulty.
I just need to give my all.
© 2012 Created by Clark P.
