This concept of believing in and believing on God and in the case of John 10: 42, “…and many believed on Him (Jesus/Yeshua) there.”
Belief, perception, faith—all fall within the purview of being a believer.
Greek—pisteuo—pe-styu-o—believe, commit unto, commit to one’s trust, be committed unto, believer
This is ever so important to grasp as a Christian and as a believer in Messiah
The modern day concept of believing in and having faith in Jesus and in God is central to the religion because salvation is attached to having belief or faith in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior.
Of belief, Don Koenig writes: I think over the many years that I have been a believer in Jesus Christ I have heard it all on what one has to do to get saved or stayed saved. Contrary to what some preachers say the way to salvation is not rocket science. A person is saved when He believes that Jesus is the Lord of Creation and that Jesus saved them from their sins when He died and rose again.
Salvation is not achieved by reciting some words or by the obedience of being baptized in water in the name of Jesus. It is achieved by believing that God is righteous and merciful and gracious to save. It is believing that God provided a Savior for all mankind who trust and believe in Him for their salvation. Believers by confessing Jesus Christ are confessing to the actual meaning of the name of the person that God sent to save them. The name “Jesus Christ” actually means “the anointed Savior of Jehovah” The gospel of John said that God came into the world in the form of a man (Jesus) and the world did not know Him but as many as received Jesus He has given the power to become sons of God (John 1:12). So John said salvation comes by receiving Jesus.
When people say they believe in Jesus but then they describe attributes that are not those of the holy anointed Savior from Jehovah they do not know God’s Savior even if they think they believe in the Jesus that Christians confess. On the other hand, someone not hearing the name Jesus but who understands that Jehovah is righteous to save may actually know Jesus even if they never actually heard His name in the common languages of Hebrew (Yeshua) or Greek (Jesus).
I defy anyone to show me from scripture where something besides belief in God’s Savior is required for salvation (God’s Savior as defined in the Bible). The Old and New Testament are full of passages that say we are saved by God’s grace through our belief in His Savior. The biblical truth is that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith (believing and trusting) in Jesus, God’s Savior.
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/How%20one%20is%20saved.htm
I believe Mr. Koenig’s exercise here on being a believer is an excellent example of the Traditionalists’/Fundamentalists’ understanding of what it means to believe in Jesus and in God.
There is a problem with traditionalists’/fundamentalists’ understanding or explanation of what it means to be a believer. The problem stems from their ability to understand what it means to believe and be a believer because they are looking at the whole equations through Westernized glasses and mindset.
To the Westerner, to believe in something is simply to have a confidence in the truth, existence, or reliability of a person or a thing—it is more of a cognitive process than anything else, although it may affect one’s actions that are connected to the thing or person in which the belief rests.
I am certainly amused by Mr. Koenig’s statement of “I defy anyone to show me from scripture where something besides belief in God’s Savior is required for salvation.” And it is this sentiment, thinking, belief, and mindset that drives the Christian grace doctrine and that is ultimately driving millions of Christians down a road to certain destruction.
The Apostle James, who was also the flesh and blood brother of Jesus, made a profound statement regarding this whole concept of belief:
James 2: 17-19—Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead. But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of your without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions! You believe that “God is one”? Good for you! The demons believe it too—the thought makes them shudder with fear!
These 3 verses hold so much meaning to them and it was these very verses that likely almost condemned the book of James from being thrown out of the canon.
A) True faith must be followed up by actions
B) Believing in Jesus and in God is a wonderful thing, but the demons believe in the Father and Jesus as well. According to Koenig, the demons are guaranteed salvation because the Bible says all that’s required for salvation is belief. Does that even make any common sense
If we look at John 10: 42 utilizing our Hebrew glasses, we should be able to see or rationalize what John was insinuating about those who turned to Jesus and began believing in him.
In the Asian culture, when one believes in the teachings or life of an eminent individuals such as a Rabbi, sage, scholar, or in this case John the Immerser and Jesus the Christ, their belief was manifested in their becoming disciples of that eminent individual. Becoming a disciple meant following in the ways of that eminent individual and that in and of itself constituted believing in that person.
There are many individuals on this planet who believe in Jesus Christ and God the Creator of all, yet they will be first to tell you that they are not Christians, some would even go so far as to resist being called a Christian. But does this mean that those who have knowledge of Jesus and of God and believe that they exist are by default saved? Please!
As James so eloquently spoke, Faith, belief, must be supported by actions.
How do I know so strongly that Mr. Koenig’s sentiments are off-base: because the Master revealed to the Apostle John in His Revelation the following:
Rev. 12:17—The dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God’s commands and bear witness to Yeshua.
I John 2: 3—The way we can be sure we know Him is if we are obeying His commands. Anyone who says, “I know Him but isn’t obeying His commands is a liar-the truth is not in him.
Revelation 14:12—This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe His commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness.
Revelation 22:14—Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates in to the holy city.
Over and over the first century saints taught that Faith and belief in Jesus and in God must be accompanied by commandment keeping and that it is only those who keep the commandments of the Master that will be saved in the end.
Those who teach that all you need to do in order to have salvation is have a cognitive understanding that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again—these individuals are equal to those who teach against commandment keeping by Christians.
The Master Himself warned against those who are foolish enough to venture in to this realm: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)
Thus, true Faith in the Master is NOT entirely easy, but it can be the absolute most fulfilling life endeavor ever imagined. It will require one in many cases to do opposite what others are doing:
Going to a restaurant and everyone is ordering a dish with bacon or shell-fish in it, the true believer must reject that dish; the true believer cannot engage in certain conversations that may go on around him or her; the true believer cannot celebrate Christmas and Easter for they are pagan holidays; the true believer celebrates and observes Saturday as the God-directed day of worship while all others observe Sunday as the day of worship; the true believer celebrates and observes the 7 mandated Feast Days of the Lord while all others around him or her scoffs that these are Jewish holidays; the true believer will search the scriptures daily for his or her spiritual substance while others will rely on pastors and teachers to disseminate doctrine to them; the true believer will raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Creator by teaching them God’s way of life.
Come out of Babylon oh weary one seeking Truth and rest for your soul.
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