Transformative Belief: Embracing Christ as Savior
Summary
Belief in Jesus Christ is not a mere intellectual assent to a set of propositions or an acknowledgment of His historical existence and teachings. True belief, as defined by Jesus Himself, involves a comprehensive transformation of one's entire attitude and life. It is not enough to admire Jesus as a great teacher or moral leader; belief requires a deep acknowledgment of our own sinful nature and the realization that we are in a perishing condition without Him. This belief is not abstract but is rooted in the understanding that Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins, and it demands a total commitment to Him as our Savior.
To believe in Jesus means to accept His teachings about humanity's sinful state and the necessity of His sacrificial death for our salvation. It involves recognizing that we cannot save ourselves through good deeds or moral living. Instead, we must trust entirely in Jesus' work on the cross, acknowledging that He bore our sins and their punishment. This belief transforms our view of life, making our relationship with God and our eternal destiny the central focus of our existence. It compels us to forsake our old ways and follow Him wholeheartedly.
The enormity of unbelief lies in its rejection of God's revelation and the testimony of His Son. Unbelief is not merely a passive state but an active defiance against God's truth. It places human opinions above divine revelation, dismissing the profound reality of Jesus' incarnation and His redemptive work. Rejecting this gospel is not just a denial of religious teachings but a rejection of the very testimony of God and His Son, which carries grave consequences.
Key Takeaways:
- True belief in Jesus Christ is not just intellectual agreement but involves a comprehensive transformation of one's life and attitude, acknowledging our sinful nature and need for a Savior. [19:28]
- Belief in Jesus requires accepting His teachings about humanity's sinful state and the necessity of His sacrificial death for our salvation, leading to a total commitment to Him. [23:18]
- The enormity of unbelief is its rejection of God's revelation and the testimony of His Son, placing human opinions above divine truth. [30:25]
- Rejecting the gospel is not just a denial of religious teachings but a rejection of the testimony of God and His Son, which carries grave consequences. [35:16]
- Belief in Jesus transforms our view of life, making our relationship with God and our eternal destiny the central focus of our existence, compelling us to forsake our old ways and follow Him wholeheartedly. [25:49]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [17:15] - Misconceptions of Belief
- [18:11] - Comprehensive Nature of Belief
- [19:28] - Belief Defined by Jesus
- [20:39] - The Necessity of Acknowledging Sin
- [21:19] - The Purpose of Jesus' Coming
- [23:18] - Belief as Total Commitment
- [24:15] - Eternal Perspective of Belief
- [25:49] - Transformation Through Belief
- [27:14] - The Significance of Belief
- [28:32] - The Enormity of Unbelief
- [30:25] - Unbelief as Defiance Against God
- [32:08] - Rejecting God's Law
- [35:16] - Rejecting the Testimony of the Son
- [39:09] - The Consequences of Rejecting Revelation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 3:16-18
2. John 3:14-15
3. 1 John 5:19-20
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 3:16-18, what is the consequence of not believing in the name of the only begotten Son of God? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on the enormity of unbelief? [29:11]
2. In John 3:14-15, Jesus refers to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. How does this Old Testament event illustrate the necessity of Jesus' sacrificial death? [21:19]
3. How does 1 John 5:19-20 describe the relationship between believers and the world? How does this passage support the sermon’s message about the transformation belief in Jesus brings? [26:52]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the difference between merely acknowledging Jesus as a historical figure and truly believing in Him as Savior? [19:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon states that true belief involves a comprehensive transformation of one's life and attitude. How does this transformation manifest in a believer's daily life? [26:20]
2. According to the sermon, why is unbelief considered an active defiance against God's truth rather than a passive state? [30:25]
3. How does the sermon explain the significance of acknowledging our sinful nature in the context of believing in Jesus? Why is this acknowledgment crucial for salvation? [21:19]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting entirely in Jesus' work on the cross. What does this trust look like in practical terms for a believer? [23:53]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of belief in Jesus. How does it align with the sermon’s definition of true belief as a comprehensive transformation? What changes might you need to make? [19:28]
2. The sermon highlights the necessity of acknowledging our sinful nature. How comfortable are you with admitting your own shortcomings? How can you cultivate a more honest self-assessment in your spiritual life? [21:19]
3. Consider the areas of your life where you might be placing human opinions above divine truth. How can you realign your priorities to reflect a commitment to God's revelation? [30:25]
4. The sermon describes unbelief as rejecting the testimony of God and His Son. Are there aspects of the gospel that you struggle to fully accept? How can you address these doubts or questions? [35:16]
5. How does your relationship with God influence your view of your eternal destiny? What steps can you take to make this relationship the central focus of your existence? [25:49]
6. The sermon calls for a total commitment to Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your commitment and follow Him more wholeheartedly? [23:18]
7. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own efforts rather than trusting in Jesus' work on the cross. How can you shift your reliance from self to Savior in similar situations in the future? [23:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation Through True Belief
True belief in Jesus Christ is not just intellectual agreement but involves a comprehensive transformation of one's life and attitude, acknowledging our sinful nature and need for a Savior. This transformation is not a superficial change but a deep, internal shift that affects every aspect of our being. It requires us to confront our own shortcomings and recognize our dependence on Jesus for salvation. This belief is not passive; it actively reshapes our priorities, values, and actions, aligning them with the teachings and example of Christ. As we embrace this transformation, we begin to see the world through the lens of God's love and grace, leading us to live in a way that reflects His character. [19:28]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What specific area of your life needs transformation through belief in Jesus, and how can you begin to surrender it to Him today?
Day 2: Total Commitment to Jesus
Belief in Jesus requires accepting His teachings about humanity's sinful state and the necessity of His sacrificial death for our salvation, leading to a total commitment to Him. This commitment is not a one-time decision but a daily choice to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. It involves trusting in His work on the cross and acknowledging that we cannot earn our salvation through our efforts. Instead, we rely entirely on His grace and mercy. This commitment calls us to live in a way that honors Him, prioritizing our relationship with God above all else and seeking to align our lives with His will. [23:18]
Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from fully committing to Jesus, and what steps can you take to change that today?
Day 3: The Enormity of Unbelief
The enormity of unbelief lies in its rejection of God's revelation and the testimony of His Son, placing human opinions above divine truth. Unbelief is not a passive state but an active defiance against God's truth. It dismisses the profound reality of Jesus' incarnation and His redemptive work, choosing instead to rely on human wisdom and understanding. This rejection of the gospel is not just a denial of religious teachings but a rejection of the very testimony of God and His Son, which carries grave consequences. It is a serious matter that affects our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. [30:25]
Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling with unbelief? How can you seek God's truth and guidance to overcome it?
Day 4: Rejecting the Testimony of God
Rejecting the gospel is not just a denial of religious teachings but a rejection of the testimony of God and His Son, which carries grave consequences. This rejection is a serious matter that affects our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. It is an act of defiance against the truth that God has revealed through Jesus Christ. By dismissing the gospel, we are choosing to ignore the profound reality of Jesus' incarnation and His redemptive work. This decision has significant implications for our lives, both now and in eternity. [35:16]
1 John 5:10-11 (ESV): "Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you have rejected God's testimony in your life. What steps can you take to embrace His truth and live in alignment with it?
Day 5: A Transformed View of Life
Belief in Jesus transforms our view of life, making our relationship with God and our eternal destiny the central focus of our existence, compelling us to forsake our old ways and follow Him wholeheartedly. This transformation is not just about changing our behavior but about reorienting our entire perspective on life. It involves recognizing the eternal significance of our relationship with God and allowing it to shape our decisions, priorities, and actions. As we embrace this new perspective, we are empowered to live in a way that reflects God's love and grace, impacting the world around us for His glory. [25:49]
Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from earthly concerns to your relationship with God and your eternal destiny today? What practical steps can you take to live with an eternal perspective?
Quotes
belief must be defined as he defined it himself and he has defined it here for us perfectly plainly and clearly now let me remind you of it again let me sum it up for you what is to believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God well it means that we believe the specific teaching that he here gave Nicodemus it involves a total attitude what do you mean by your total attitude says someone well I mean things like this to believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means in the first place that we accept his teaching about Mankind as it is in and of itself in sin [00:19:28]
belief in the Lord Jesus Christ includes that you can't talk about believing in him without this because if you don't talk of this belief in terms of that your belief is inadequate and incomplete that therefore must be the starting point here it's not enough for a men to say to me ah yes I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God and I believe that he worked miracles and that he gave a certain teaching I believe all that but the vital question is this do you believe that you yourself are perishing [00:20:39]
mankind every one of us by nature is in a lost and in a perishing condition have we believed that it isn't enough to admire his person and to say that you think his life was beautiful and his teaching was beautiful that's not difficult what's difficult is to admit the truth about ourselves ah mankind is always objected to this it's still objecting to it I've often reminded you of a man who wrote A criticism of Charles Wesley's great hymn Jesus Lover of My Soul he took up those phrases vile and full of sin I am Thou Art full of Truth and Grace [00:21:19]
you don't just believe in the Son of God in the Lord Jesus Christ as a friend or a helper an aid you believe in him as a savior you believe in him as one who came and whose Soul was made an offering for sin you believe this must of his you believe when he says that if he doesn't do it you're done and you're doomed belief in him includes that so I say that it means also that you include in its content that you know why he came into the world and what he has done by coming into this world [00:23:18]
if I say that I believe on the name of the only begotten son of God what I'm really saying is this that I realize that I'm just passing through this world and that I'm always under the eye of God and that I know when I come to die that I and all others will have to stand before God in the judgment and that I see clearly that I'm condemned that I'm lost that nothing that I can do can save me and that I'm going going inevitably in the direction of that judgment [00:24:15]
therefore having seen that I forsake the Life I Lived the world I belong to and I go after him believing includes all that it means you see your total view of life it means that we've come to see that the biggest and the most important thing in this life and in this world is that we realize this business of this eternal Destiny and that we become and desperate and that we've seen the truth and we've clung to him and are trusting to him [00:25:49]
belief I say is not just saying that you believe it's not just saying that you accept certain things it's the coming home to you of this truth that he preached to Nicodemus it's the significance of the word perishing it's the realization that we're all involved in this and that at any moment the end may come and we are face to face with him it's the realization of all this and the flying to Christ and the committal of ourselves to him and our whole life in turn is modeled according to that conception [00:27:14]
there is no sin that is greater than the sin of unbelief there is no sin to which the word enormity is so applicable as this particular sin you see how sadly we go astray we classify sins don't we and there are some people in their ignorance who think they've never sinned at all because they haven't done certain things I am asserting that there is no greater sin than the sin of unbelief that's what our Lord says to Nicodemus [00:30:25]
unbelief just means this that we put up and assert our opinions over and against God's truth and God's revelation now that is the principle you see every one of us in this Chapel at this moment is in one of two positions we either accept the teaching of this book about God and about man about our souls about our life in this world about death about what happens after death about what happens in eternity we either accept this Revelation or else and it's the only alternative we set up our own idea and our own opinions [00:32:08]
not to believe this gospel means that we are guilty of rejecting the testimony of God's only begotten son that's what he's saying here to Nicodemus isn't it he is condemned already because Heath not believed in the name of the only begotten son Son of God oh that the Holy Spirit might enable me to make this point plain and clear you see what mankind doesn't realize tonight is this that something unique has happened in the history of the whole human race nearly 2,000 years ago it happened there was a birth in Bethlehem [00:35:16]
in rejecting this gospel we are rejecting the testimony of the only begotten Son of God that's our claim this is not a religion the religions have been produced by men this is the Son of God this is revelation God who at Sury times and in diverse manners spake in time passed unto the fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us in his son the one who is the brightness of his image of his glory and the express image the effulgence of his glory the one who has made all things and who sustains all things [00:39:09]
if we reject him and his message if we stand up and say I'm not interested I'm not concerned that's what a man says who isn't a Christian he says I'm not interested in what happened 2,000 years ago I don't believe in your Incarnation very well you see he's denying the most momentous event in history but he's doing something even worse he is not only rejecting the testimony of the Son of God he is re rejecting the testimony of God himself to his own [00:40:39]
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