Pondering His Holy Word

Previously, I discussed how although works is the evidence of faith, faith, alone, can save through Jesus Christ. I want to dive a little deeper into the concept of faith. Previously, I discussed how the author of Hebrew describes faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen” (Hebrew 11:1). 

During Jesus’s ministry, he asked the disciples who do the people say that he is. They reported that some called him Elijah, John the Baptist, or the prophet Jeremiah. Then Jesus asked the disciples “Who you say that I am?” Peter replied that he is the Christ “the song of the living God.” This account is repeated in all of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). 

However, why is Peter’s confession important? Well, in Romans, Paul explains, ““The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Roman 10:8-9).

What does Jesus require us to do with that confession of faith?  In the Great Commission, Jesus tells his disciples, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father, of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Having faith is confessing with your mouth and believing with your heart that Jesus is the Messiah sent to save the world. Evidence of such faith is speaking and teaching the Gospel throughout the world. 

On the surface level, the Great Commission seems fairly straight forward at least until you remember Jesus’s warning about the world. “If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world the world would love you as its own; but, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18-20). So, this warning makes having faith all the more heavier because his disciples (ourselves included) are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a world that is hostile toward God. 

Most of the Apostles (except John) were killed for professing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and baptizing people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Throughout history, those confessing Jesus as their Lord and savior were killed even by those who claimed to Christian. 
So what does that mean to us? Does God want us to die? Well no; he doesn’t want us to walk on to the expressway and shout the Gospel at cars moving 60-70 miles per hour. He doesn’t expect us to be reckless. That is not good-sense, nor is it helpful for bringing people to Christ. However, like Paul the disciple faced continuous imprisonment and eventual death because he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, his last letter, (2 Timothy) was written shortly before his death. He kept the faith until the very end. 

Whether or not we are aware of this, Christians are killed across the world for confessing the Gospel. People are imprisoned, right now, because they are smuggling bibles in countries that are hostile to Jesus Christ. Most western countries are “tolerant” and do not outright persecute Christians. Nevertheless, western civilization is hostile to the true Gospel.  Simply saying “Yes, I am Christian”, can get you dirty looks. Perhaps you are seen as backward and crazy or hateful. I know this because I experienced it around me. 

Following Christ is not simply assenting that he is Christ. “Even demons believe and shudder” (James 2:19). Following Christ is doing everything possible to bring people to faith in this secular world that hates God. Faith is the assurance that you are following the narrow path to the Kingdom of Heaven. Having faith means that you are convicted enough to lose everything for a promise that God made to us. 

Following Christ can make you very unpopular in the world because the world has a way of making evil look pleasing and seductive while making the Gospel undesirable. 

This is the challenge that Jesus placed before us. Having faith is obeying him enough to do his Will even if it cost you everything and everybody you love. It means letting go of the world. Spreading the Gospel will make you a target in the world. Just think about this. Even with all of the miracles and fulfilled prophecies, look at what they did to Christ. Are you willing to pick up your cross and follow him?