"What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus Christ?"
Introduction To The Bible Study
Many times as Christians we talk about believeing in Jesus Christ however, do otheres know what we mean? Do we really understand what we are saying when we declare that "I believe in Christ Jesus."
At times, we may recite biblical phrases religiously, without fully understanding what we are saying. Our salvation is the foundation of our Christian faith; therefore, we should fully understand what we mean when we say that we believe in Christ Jesus.
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A. 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." Act 16:30-31
1. Three things we believe when we say we believe in Jesus Christ:
a. We believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and personal Savior who died for our sins of The Cross at Calvary.
b. We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
c. We believe our past, present, and future sins are forgiven once we believe on Him.
* Colossians 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."
B. In the New Covenant, god says He will be merciful and graciouos to us. Our part of the New Covenant is to believe. Hebrews 8:6-13
1. The first covenant is referring to the Law of Moses, which was perfect.
a. The New Covenant was established because the Old Covenant was so perfect that one one could keep it.
* Hebrews 8:8-9 "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that i made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord."
b. God did not want to make another covenant in which our faithfulness would determine is His faithfulness.
c. He promised to write His commandments on our hearts. These commandments would be The Law of Love and Liberty given to us by The Holy Spirit, not The Ten Commandments.
d. In The New Covenant, God helps us to know Him intimately through our relationship with Christ Jesus.
e. It is by this New Covenant that through our knowledge of Him through our relationship with Christ Jesus, God has promised to forgive and forget our sins.
* Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
2. If the enemy can keep us "sin-conscious," he can keep us defeated.
a. If we believe that God has not forgiven us of our sins, we will be on an emotional roller coaster ride all the days of our lives.
b. However, when we accept God's forgiveness, our lives will be changed.
c. Our lives change when we position ourselves to receive (by faith) all the benefits that Jesus Christ has given to us through The New Covenant.
Scripture References
Acts 16:30-31
Hebrews 8:6-13
Colossians 2:13
"Reference Notes: Dr. Creflo Dollar"
