Drollinger: Put Your Faith to the Biblical Test

You Are Not Married to Your Spouse Until You Say “I Do”

Marriage is not just about being ⁢in love or agreeing ⁤intellectually that someone is a good match for you. It ⁢is a deliberate act of volition, a willful commitment that establishes the ⁢bond between two people. This concept can also be applied to our relationship with ‌Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus⁢ makes ‌a ​powerful statement about the importance of action in our faith:

“Not everyone who says to⁢ Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter ⁤the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say ⁢to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, ⁣did we not prophesy in Your ​name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in ‍Your name perform many miracles?’ And then ⁤I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'”

This passage challenges the popular notion of “easy believism,” which suggests that⁢ simply‌ believing in Jesus without truly understanding who ⁣He is can ‌lead to salvation. Romans 10:9 tells us that true belief involves confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection.

Believing in Jesus with⁤ our hearts means making a volitional commitment to Him, just as Jesus pointed out in Matthew 7.‍ It goes beyond ⁢intellectual assent and requires us to submit to His ⁢lordship. This is emphasized by‌ the frequent use of⁢ the term “kurios”⁢ (Lord) to describe Jesus in the New Testament.

James ​2:19 further ‍illustrates the significance of genuine ‍belief: “You believe that God is one. You⁤ do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” Even demons ‌possess the correct intellectual understanding of who Jesus​ is, but their rebellion against His lordship shows that mere ⁢belief is not enough.

So, what are the signs of false belief? Ephesians 5:5-7 ‍provides valuable insight into true salvation:

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive​ you with empty words, for because of​ these‍ things the wrath of⁤ God comes upon the sons of disobedience.​ Therefore do not be partakers with them.”

This passage⁢ warns against immorality, impurity, and covetousness as indicators of false belief. True believers,‍ on the other hand, are ⁤characterized ⁣by selflessness and a ‌desire to serve others.

God wants us to have assurance of our salvation‍ and the ability to discern true saving faith. When we combine the indicators mentioned in Ephesians 5 with those in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, it⁤ becomes clear who will inherit the kingdom of God.

While persistent, unrepentant sinners will not inherit⁤ the kingdom, believers can have confidence in their secure hope of eternal life. It is important to examine ourselves and test our faith to ensure that we are truly in the ⁣faith.

To read the full Bible ​study on this topic, click here.

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