At times in life, we need to stop or at least pause and get back to the basics. This upcoming series of devotions places our focus upon the “Basics of the Christian Life, Believe, Belong, Abide, and Bear Fruit.” Today we will begin by focusing on the role of belief in our Christian lives. Ask yourselves, “Who do we believe in?”
John 3:16-18 English Standard Version
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world, [a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen
At times in life, we need to stop or at least pause. Maybe my life has become too hurried, busy or stressful. Maybe we have over-committed or made things more complicated than they have to be. Maybe it is the covid virus, their variants, the upcoming snowstorm, or balancing work and home. It just becomes too much.
This can also apply to our spiritual lives. Perhaps we have gotten too distracted, apathetic, too rigid, or overzealous. Perhaps we are trying too hard to be to be too superficial or super-spiritual and at some point, our faith stopped being a blessing, stopped becoming relevant, lost its luster, and turned into a burden.
We need to get back to the basics. That is what we are going to try to do for the next four days or so. Today we are starting a new devotional series focusing on the “Basics of the Christian Life.” In the days ahead we will strive to keep focus on these four significant themes, “Believe, Belong, Abide, and Bear Fruit.”
Today we will begin by focusing on the role of “believe” in our Christians lives.
In Acts 16. the Apostle Paul and his companion Silas are unjustly beaten and thrown into a Philippi prison. The story continues in verse 25, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were physically shaken. And immediately all of the prisons’ doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”
The story then relates how the jailer saw the damage, and thinking that the prisoners had escaped, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But the apostle Paul cried out “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. And the jailer called for lights and rushed in and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and stunningly asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul responded with these words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Belief in John 3:16 is the doorway to salvation.
In John 6:47 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” From the very dark corners, talking in secret with Nicodemus in John 3:16; Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Throughout the length and breadth of scripture we see this same truth. Whether the biblical writer uses the word belief or faith we can see that we are saved by trusting in Jesus Christ.
Belief is what brings us into connection, into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the doorway. It is by grace through faith that we are saved. Without belief in John 3:16 no one will enter the kingdom of God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
With this in mind it puts away all other definitions.
Attending church regularly does not make a person a Christian. Giving money to the church or to people in need does not make a person a Christian. Being from a family or country that calls themselves Christian does not make a person a Christian. Praying, fasting and reading one’s Bible does not make a person a Christian. Being baptized does not make a person a Christian. Saying a prayer or even volunteering within our communities does not make a person a Christian.
All of these things are good and should flow out of the Christian life, but even trying to be a good person does not make one a Christian. We all have sinned against God in many ways and this sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2).
We are all deserving of death and condemnation (Romans 3:23; 6:23). The only way a person could earn salvation is if they had not committed one sin in their entire life, and none of us have done that. The only way one can become a Christian is by fully trusting in Jesus Christ. As one turns from their sin and believes in God their sins are forgiven and they are made righteous with God.
Some might legitimately ask these questions, why is it saving faith and not saving love or saving obedience or saving forgiveness?
Think about it. If salvation was through any of these it would have been earned, but there is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, did everything that was needed for us to be reconciled to God. We are saved by simply believing. God stirs in our hearts, He draws us to Himself, reveals the truth of the gospel, grants us faith and as we believe we are saved.
A saving faith or belief is more than just believing historical information. It is more than just believing that Napoleon lived or that World War II was a real event. It is putting 1000% full trust in Jesus Christ for today and for eternity.
It is a belief that puts one´s entire life into the hands of Jesus Christ. Forsaking all and making Jesus Christ our first love, only hope and our greatest treasure.
This type of saving belief always and forever starts with God. Scripture shows us time and again that we are not wise nor mature enough to believe in ourselves, we cannot of our own finite devices believe in anything or anyone on our own. Our criteria are too fallible. Without the Spirit’s leading, man will always view the gospel as foolishness. It is only through revelation that we come to believe.
Matthew 16:15-17 is an important passage as we seek to understand how one comes to salvation in Jesus Christ. At one point Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
This is God-given faith, saving faith, personal faith. Not just believing that mankind has sinned, but that I have sinned. Not just admitting that Christ has paid for sin, but Christ has paid for my sin. Not just believing that Christ is Lord but genuinely submitting to Christ as my Lord. Not just knowing that one can be saved by believing in Jesus, but genuinely believing in Jesus and being saved. A saving faith is made up of our knowing, agreeing, applying, experiencing John 3:16.
Biblical faith has the same components. One watches evidence of the love of Jesus Christ at work in the lives of others around them. Through God’s Word they then begin to learn about who the Jesus of John 3:16 is and what He has done. The Holy Spirit then comes and convicts us of our sin and convinces us of the truth of scripture’s claims that mankind can be saved through Jesus Christ.
We then personally apply the truths of salvation through Jesus to our life by putting 1000% of our faith in Him, not in ourselves. This is belief, knowing, agreeing, applying, experiencing who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Once one believes in Jesus Christ, the work of God takes over in one’s life and it cannot ever be revoked. Those who are believers are given the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). Their minds are renewed (Ephesians 4:17-24). The Holy Spirit now intercedes, intervenes, guides, ministers the believer into all truth.
In Christ they are saved. They are bought by His blood. They are forgiven of all sin (Colossians 2:13). They are declared righteous before God (Romans4; 5:1). They are redeemed and ransomed (1 Peter 1:18-19). They are justified by faith (Romans 5:1-11). By their faith and belief, they are promised eternal life (John 3:16-18). They are adopted as God’s children (Galatians 3:26-4:7). They are a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). They are born again (John 3:3).
They are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 8:1-4). They are sealed by His Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). They are given a new nature (Colossians 3:10). They are in Christ, and He is in them. They are renewed in the spirit of their minds and are created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24).
The Spirit of God dwells in them (1 Corinthians 3:16). They have been given direct, unlimited access to God (Hebrews 4:12-16). Their inner man is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). They have been granted repentance, a turning of their hearts away from sin and towards transformation thru Christ.
All of that happens when one believes in Jesus Christ John 3:16, but that is just the beginning. Belief is not only the doorway of salvation it is the pathway that carries us through every day of the Christian life. Faith brings grace at the point of salvation and at every other point of the John 3:16 Christian life that follows.
In the name of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, let us pray,
Dear God, thank you for sending your Son to come to Earth to live the life I could not live, be the example I could not achieve, and be the sacrifice for my sins. I believe in You. I ask for Jesus to be the Lord of my life and I commit my life to you. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 
Michael A sheeplywolves@wordpress.com — Holiness, by J C Ryle, SIN, Part 2. There he attempts to limit avoda zarah restricted to idolatry. He relies upon Isaiah 44:6 -28. My response:
Oral Torah logic, as opposed by ancient Greek logic format like Plato and Aristotle, hinges upon making דיוקים\inferences. In his introduction to the Chumash commentary, the Ramban refers to this logic by the kabbalah of ‘black fire on white fire’.
Jewish refugee populations spoke in a cryptic language to conceal Oral Torah logic from the Goyim barbarians of Europe. These barbarians had an addiction to oppression theft slander and murder. Almost every year around their Easter festival, they would make blood libel and host desecration slanders which resulted in entire Jewish communities, destroyed because some Goy did not want to pay his debts which he owed to Jewish money lenders. For some 2000 yrs Jewish refugee populations had to endure these criminal war crimes against humanity. Never did any European Court try the Church Popes and priests for War Crimes committed against humanity. Then in the middle of the 20th Century Xtian Europe committed the Shoah.
The tumah of avodah zarah carries the trademarks of theft oppression sexual perversion and judicial injustice. Just as all kosher animals, fit for consumption by the chosen Cohen nation have signs which distinguish tohor animals from tumah animals … so too human behavior develops signs, like fins and scales on a kosher fish, of tohor or tumah mental development.
The worship of avodah zarah, the 2nd Commandment of the revelation of the Torah at Sinai, this commandment: the Av\father/ of tumah, learns from Cain who brutally murdered his brother. Bloodshed, senseless violence, oppression, theft, sexual perversion, courtroom injustice — all “signs” of tumah human beings. Similar to all animal predators, who walk upon their paws.
The negative commandment which prohibits the worship of other Gods. דיוק … if no other Gods lived, then this commandment – a commandment in vain. Mohammad of Koran fame, failed to understand this key concept of the revelation of the Torah. So much for him being a prophet.
[[[“””Isaiah 44 and the surrounding chapters. “””]]] The Xtian bible, those alien translators of the bible, they created it in their own image. Meaning the natural ORDER which the Framers of the Hebrew T’NaCH established, the Xtian translators totally uprooted and expunged. The T’NaCH has no chapters and verses only sugiot. The biblical translations have no Name of HaShem (1st Commandment) nor have they any sugiot\sub-chapters.
Attempts to interpret and understand T’NaCH sources totally divorced from the Jewish culture customs and traditions which prevailed at the time of the writing of these Primary Sources of Faith… this basic and fundamental error places all biblical translations of the T’NaCH on par with how paleontologists study dinosaur bones. The Jewish people, despite the attempts made by the Nazis otherwise, do not compare to extinct dinosaurs. Jewish customs, culture, and ways have endured since HaShem swore an oath that the seed of Avraham would compare to the stars of the heavens. DESPITE the fact that at the time of that oath brit alliance Avram had no children what so ever!
Faith in HaShem qualifies as דיני נפשות. This term refers to a Sanhedrin Court which has the mandate to hear and try Capital Crimes cases wherein human life hangs in the balance; determined by the judicial decree reached by the justices of the Sanhedrin Court.
The Talmud mirrors the Torah. The ratio of Aggaditah to Halachah in both Primary sources – very similar, about 4:1. Torah teaches, it commands mussar. Torah does NOT teach history, an important distinction. This subtle but fundamental separation compares to the mitzvah of הבדלה which discerns between the holiness of Shabbat from Chol\6 days of the week. The Talmud defines “understanding” as the ability to discern between like and like. An artist, for example, his eye can distinguish different shades of the same color; comparable to a wine taster can discern wines from other wines. This ability to discern like from like defines Torah wisdom.
The Talmud exists as a Common law legal system. Common law learns by means of bringing close precedents to the case currently heard before the Court. The Oral Torah logic system which HaShem revealed, this revelation of logic ‘orally’ communicated to Moshe the prophet directly from HaShem, (after he fasted for the 2nd time 40 days and nights), on Yom Kippur. This unique logic format compares Cases with other Cases. Ancient Greek logic stood upon a mathematical foundation. At least that’s how an ancient Greek logic course at Texas A&M understood the logic system which Aristotle developed.
The lights of Hanukkah dedicate the dedication of holiness that Jews sanctify their Will to only interpret the Written Torah by and through the lights of Oral Torah logic. Hannakah lights serve as a metaphor משל. The נמשל, the דיוק learned from this משל, only the Oral Torah logic system does HaShem permit the generations to interpret the intent of the Framers of the Written Torah.
What does this mean in practice? The Torah issues a clear command, in all matters of Capital Crimes cases\דיני נפשות/ – specifically in issues touching the tumah of avodah zarah, no less than 2 witnesses, perhaps 3 witnesses, but never only 1 witness. Xtianity throughout the ages never accepted this Torah commandment. Their best and brightest scholars cherry picked this or that verse, taken totally out of its surrounding context, and created their own religion in the process.
This new religion worships other Gods. The Name of HaShem, never once brought in any Xtian biblical translation. This fundamental error duplicates the error made by Aaron, the elder brother of Moshe the prophet, when at the golden calf, he translated the Spirit Name of HaShem unto a word אלהים\Gods (plural).
The “revelation” of tumah avodah zarah, sandwiched between Sinai & Horev. Sinai the revelation of the Written Torah & Horev the revelation of the Oral Torah. The Church placed their trust in Creeds, Theologies, and Dogmatism above the revelation of the Oral Torah logic format — which to this day the Church denies.
Idols, only a small, tiny specific of the general term avodah zarah\strange worship. Avodah zarah most fundamentally defined by the Torah negative commandment: do not follow the ways practiced in Egypt or Canaan. Meaning: this commandment forbids assimilation; it forbid Jews to embrace other cultures and customs practiced by any people who do not accept the Torah revelation at Sinai. The Xtian church never accepted the revelation of the Torah at Sinai. Jesus, their false messiah God, has no portion in the revelation of the Torah at Sinai.
611 Commandments, Moshe the Prophet commanded Israel; they serve as the primary commentary made by: the greatest of all prophets — to explain the meaning and intent of the first 2 Commandments which all Israel heard at the Sinai revelation of the Written Torah.
What about the 10 Commandments! The Torah, like the Talmud, both highly edited texts. All T’NaCH prophets command mussar. Mussar: the Torah definition for prophesy. The “prophet” Mohammad did not know this basic fundamental of Torah faith. The 10 plagues of Egypt serve as a mussar precedent to understand the 10 Commandment editorial of the revelation of the Torah at Sinai.
3 sugiot contain all the verses you quoted in your bible translation. מד:ו-כ, מד:כא-כג, מד:כד- כח. You brought these p’sukim\verses as one witness. Therefore I shall likewise do the same. English literature (minored in English at Texas A&M) refers to the study of literature by means of “Comparison and Contrast”. Jewish Common Law learns by means of bringing precedents.
Avodah zarah does not limit itself only to physical idols. Jesus did not take Israel out of Egypt. Yet the Church requires a physical historical Jesus, just as and comparable to a Catholic who bows down to a physical image of man hanging on a stock of wood.
First precedent: ישעיה ט:ז- י:כג. Translated as 9:7-10:23. By the rebuke which the prophet Natan rebuked king David … HaShem never commanded to any leader of the chosen Cohen nation to build for Him a House of wood and stone. Rather — Justice Justice pursue. The last mitzvah Moshe the prophet did before he passed from this world, he built 3 of the 6 Cities of Refuge. Can a man build 3 cities in one day? No. Moshe established the small Sanhedrin Federal Courts in those designated cities of refuge! Just as the young king Shlomo ignored the advice and council by which Natan the prophet advised the young king. So too did the young king Rehovoam ignore the advise which the elders of Shlomo counciled – to reduce the burden of taxation upon the people. Justice does not depend upon any House constructed of wood and stone; just as HaShem does not require the worship of idols made of wood and stone.
2nd witness\precedent. ישעיה כב:טו-כג:יד. Translated – 22:15- 23:14. The mussar instruction clear: A warning to all nations, [[Eliakim, in charge of the king’s house in the days of Hezekiah – king of Yechudah.]], All kingdoms which rule through slavery, similar to that which Par’o unjustly imposed upon Israel, shall suffer destruction and exile. Herein defines how the prophet ישעיה understood the 2nd Commandment of the revelation of the Written Torah at Sinai.
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Michael A sheeplywolves@wordpress.com — Holiness, by J C Ryle, SIN, Part 2. There he attempts to limit avoda zarah restricted to idolatry. He relies upon Isaiah 44:6 -28. My response:
Oral Torah logic, as opposed by ancient Greek logic format like Plato and Aristotle, hinges upon making דיוקים\inferences. In his introduction to the Chumash commentary, the Ramban refers to this logic by the kabbalah of ‘black fire on white fire’.
Jewish refugee populations spoke in a cryptic language to conceal Oral Torah logic from the Goyim barbarians of Europe. These barbarians had an addiction to oppression theft slander and murder. Almost every year around their Easter festival, they would make blood libel and host desecration slanders which resulted in entire Jewish communities, destroyed because some Goy did not want to pay his debts which he owed to Jewish money lenders. For some 2000 yrs Jewish refugee populations had to endure these criminal war crimes against humanity. Never did any European Court try the Church Popes and priests for War Crimes committed against humanity. Then in the middle of the 20th Century Xtian Europe committed the Shoah.
The tumah of avodah zarah carries the trademarks of theft oppression sexual perversion and judicial injustice. Just as all kosher animals, fit for consumption by the chosen Cohen nation have signs which distinguish tohor animals from tumah animals … so too human behavior develops signs, like fins and scales on a kosher fish, of tohor or tumah mental development.
The worship of avodah zarah, the 2nd Commandment of the revelation of the Torah at Sinai, this commandment: the Av\father/ of tumah, learns from Cain who brutally murdered his brother. Bloodshed, senseless violence, oppression, theft, sexual perversion, courtroom injustice — all “signs” of tumah human beings. Similar to all animal predators, who walk upon their paws.
The negative commandment which prohibits the worship of other Gods. דיוק … if no other Gods lived, then this commandment – a commandment in vain. Mohammad of Koran fame, failed to understand this key concept of the revelation of the Torah. So much for him being a prophet.
[[[“””Isaiah 44 and the surrounding chapters. “””]]] The Xtian bible, those alien translators of the bible, they created it in their own image. Meaning the natural ORDER which the Framers of the Hebrew T’NaCH established, the Xtian translators totally uprooted and expunged. The T’NaCH has no chapters and verses only sugiot. The biblical translations have no Name of HaShem (1st Commandment) nor have they any sugiot\sub-chapters.
Attempts to interpret and understand T’NaCH sources totally divorced from the Jewish culture customs and traditions which prevailed at the time of the writing of these Primary Sources of Faith… this basic and fundamental error places all biblical translations of the T’NaCH on par with how paleontologists study dinosaur bones. The Jewish people, despite the attempts made by the Nazis otherwise, do not compare to extinct dinosaurs. Jewish customs, culture, and ways have endured since HaShem swore an oath that the seed of Avraham would compare to the stars of the heavens. DESPITE the fact that at the time of that oath brit alliance Avram had no children what so ever!
Faith in HaShem qualifies as דיני נפשות. This term refers to a Sanhedrin Court which has the mandate to hear and try Capital Crimes cases wherein human life hangs in the balance; determined by the judicial decree reached by the justices of the Sanhedrin Court.
The Talmud mirrors the Torah. The ratio of Aggaditah to Halachah in both Primary sources – very similar, about 4:1. Torah teaches, it commands mussar. Torah does NOT teach history, an important distinction. This subtle but fundamental separation compares to the mitzvah of הבדלה which discerns between the holiness of Shabbat from Chol\6 days of the week. The Talmud defines “understanding” as the ability to discern between like and like. An artist, for example, his eye can distinguish different shades of the same color; comparable to a wine taster can discern wines from other wines. This ability to discern like from like defines Torah wisdom.
The Talmud exists as a Common law legal system. Common law learns by means of bringing close precedents to the case currently heard before the Court. The Oral Torah logic system which HaShem revealed, this revelation of logic ‘orally’ communicated to Moshe the prophet directly from HaShem, (after he fasted for the 2nd time 40 days and nights), on Yom Kippur. This unique logic format compares Cases with other Cases. Ancient Greek logic stood upon a mathematical foundation. At least that’s how an ancient Greek logic course at Texas A&M understood the logic system which Aristotle developed.
The lights of Hanukkah dedicate the dedication of holiness that Jews sanctify their Will to only interpret the Written Torah by and through the lights of Oral Torah logic. Hannakah lights serve as a metaphor משל. The נמשל, the דיוק learned from this משל, only the Oral Torah logic system does HaShem permit the generations to interpret the intent of the Framers of the Written Torah.
What does this mean in practice? The Torah issues a clear command, in all matters of Capital Crimes cases\דיני נפשות/ – specifically in issues touching the tumah of avodah zarah, no less than 2 witnesses, perhaps 3 witnesses, but never only 1 witness. Xtianity throughout the ages never accepted this Torah commandment. Their best and brightest scholars cherry picked this or that verse, taken totally out of its surrounding context, and created their own religion in the process.
This new religion worships other Gods. The Name of HaShem, never once brought in any Xtian biblical translation. This fundamental error duplicates the error made by Aaron, the elder brother of Moshe the prophet, when at the golden calf, he translated the Spirit Name of HaShem unto a word אלהים\Gods (plural).
The “revelation” of tumah avodah zarah, sandwiched between Sinai & Horev. Sinai the revelation of the Written Torah & Horev the revelation of the Oral Torah. The Church placed their trust in Creeds, Theologies, and Dogmatism above the revelation of the Oral Torah logic format — which to this day the Church denies.
Idols, only a small, tiny specific of the general term avodah zarah\strange worship. Avodah zarah most fundamentally defined by the Torah negative commandment: do not follow the ways practiced in Egypt or Canaan. Meaning: this commandment forbids assimilation; it forbid Jews to embrace other cultures and customs practiced by any people who do not accept the Torah revelation at Sinai. The Xtian church never accepted the revelation of the Torah at Sinai. Jesus, their false messiah God, has no portion in the revelation of the Torah at Sinai.
611 Commandments, Moshe the Prophet commanded Israel; they serve as the primary commentary made by: the greatest of all prophets — to explain the meaning and intent of the first 2 Commandments which all Israel heard at the Sinai revelation of the Written Torah.
What about the 10 Commandments! The Torah, like the Talmud, both highly edited texts. All T’NaCH prophets command mussar. Mussar: the Torah definition for prophesy. The “prophet” Mohammad did not know this basic fundamental of Torah faith. The 10 plagues of Egypt serve as a mussar precedent to understand the 10 Commandment editorial of the revelation of the Torah at Sinai.
3 sugiot contain all the verses you quoted in your bible translation. מד:ו-כ, מד:כא-כג, מד:כד- כח. You brought these p’sukim\verses as one witness. Therefore I shall likewise do the same. English literature (minored in English at Texas A&M) refers to the study of literature by means of “Comparison and Contrast”. Jewish Common Law learns by means of bringing precedents.
Avodah zarah does not limit itself only to physical idols. Jesus did not take Israel out of Egypt. Yet the Church requires a physical historical Jesus, just as and comparable to a Catholic who bows down to a physical image of man hanging on a stock of wood.
First precedent: ישעיה ט:ז- י:כג. Translated as 9:7-10:23. By the rebuke which the prophet Natan rebuked king David … HaShem never commanded to any leader of the chosen Cohen nation to build for Him a House of wood and stone. Rather — Justice Justice pursue. The last mitzvah Moshe the prophet did before he passed from this world, he built 3 of the 6 Cities of Refuge. Can a man build 3 cities in one day? No. Moshe established the small Sanhedrin Federal Courts in those designated cities of refuge! Just as the young king Shlomo ignored the advice and council by which Natan the prophet advised the young king. So too did the young king Rehovoam ignore the advise which the elders of Shlomo counciled – to reduce the burden of taxation upon the people. Justice does not depend upon any House constructed of wood and stone; just as HaShem does not require the worship of idols made of wood and stone.
2nd witness\precedent. ישעיה כב:טו-כג:יד. Translated – 22:15- 23:14. The mussar instruction clear: A warning to all nations, [[Eliakim, in charge of the king’s house in the days of Hezekiah – king of Yechudah.]], All kingdoms which rule through slavery, similar to that which Par’o unjustly imposed upon Israel, shall suffer destruction and exile. Herein defines how the prophet ישעיה understood the 2nd Commandment of the revelation of the Written Torah at Sinai.
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