Believing in God vs. Believing God
This morning while I was reading the little mini book by Kenneth Hagin called, "In Him", a particular concept came into my mind that I thought was worthy of a blog.
If you have read the blogs on this site, you may recall that I have mentioned this little mini book, and the concept in it of finding the Scripture verses that tell you what the Bible says about you if you have received salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The following is what I was reading, when the idea for this blog entry came to mind:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created IN CHRIST Jesus. . .
"We didn't make ourselves new creatures - He did. We are His workmanship. And you'd better be careful about how you talk about His workmanship. Be careful to say the same thing about His workmanship that He says about it in His Word. Be careful not to slur or mock God by saying, 'Oh, I'm so poor and weak and unworthy. I'll never amount to anything.' He didn't make you that kind of new creature. He made you a worthy new creature. He made you a new creature who could stand in His presence as though you had never committed a sin. He made you a righteous new creature. Start telling who you actually are - instead of who think you are."
(Kenneth Hagin, "IN HIM" pg. 16)
After reading this, the thought came to my mind, that there is the difference between believing God, and believing IN God. Many surveys have been done in America in which something like 85% of Americans say they believe in God. If 85% of the people believe in God, then why is our nation in so much of a backsliding condition? I can tell you why. And it has to do with the difference between "believing IN God" vs. "believing God".
James 2:19 says, "You believe that God is one? Good for you! The demons believe it too - the thought makes them shudder with fear!"
The context of this statement in James is concerning putting action to your beliefs. Verse 20 goes on to say:
"But, foolish fellow, do you want to be shown that such 'faith' apart from actions is barren?"
Well, going back to what Kenneth Hagin wrote in His book, I wondered how many "Christians" truly believe God, versus how many simply believe IN God. The difference is this:
To believe IN God doesn't mean much at all! So what if you believe He exists, if there is no personal affect of this in your life. According to James, this simple belief causes the devils to tremble. Does it cause you to tremble? Does it cause you to change your behavior? How can people say they believe in God, and yet largely ignore this God in whom they say they believe?
To believe God means you believe what He says, as Kenneth Hagin points out. You can not believe God, unless you read the Bible to find out what it is He has done and said. When you read the Scriptures, you are showing that you believe God. When you receive what He has said, you are believing God. When you make a change in your life because of something you read in Scripture - in the way you think, in your words, and actions - you are believing God.
As a person, I prefer that someone would believe me, rather than believe in my existence. It is not worth a penny to say they believe I exist. Of course I exist. I believe George Washington existed too. That is what most people mean when they say they believe in God. They believe He exists. However, I prefer that a person would believe me. Believe me when I say something. Of course, since I am human, I may not always be correct. But the fact that a person will listen to what I say, take it into consideration, and esteem what I esteem as valuable, is the very basis upon which a relationship can be built. It is even more so in the case with God. You can not have a relationship with someone with whom you rarely talk. You can not have a good relationship with someone that you give no credence to. If you refuse to believe the majority of what someone has tells you is true over and over, how can you have a good relationship with that person? In a husband and wife relationship, if one or the other expresses a constant disregard for the thoughts and words of the other, that relationship will fall apart. It is the same in our relationship to God. That is the point Kenneth Hagin was making too. The Bible says that we:
"Have been delivered from the power of darkness, and have been translated into the kingdom of Jesus." (Col. 1:13)
"Have received an inheritance in union with Him, and were chosen in love before the creation of the universe to be holy (set apart) and without defect in His presence, so that we would bring Him praise commensurate with His glory." (Eph 1:4-12)
"Have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We are His ambassadors to tell the world that they can be reconciled to God - He is not holding their sins against them." (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
"We are the Temple of the Living God" (2 Cor. 6:16)
Believe Him. He does not lie.
With that in mind, I encourage you to look into the Scriptures again. Read the letters to the Churches (you). Find out who you are in Him, and dare to believe it. It is more than we think.
If you have read the blogs on this site, you may recall that I have mentioned this little mini book, and the concept in it of finding the Scripture verses that tell you what the Bible says about you if you have received salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The following is what I was reading, when the idea for this blog entry came to mind:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created IN CHRIST Jesus. . .
"We didn't make ourselves new creatures - He did. We are His workmanship. And you'd better be careful about how you talk about His workmanship. Be careful to say the same thing about His workmanship that He says about it in His Word. Be careful not to slur or mock God by saying, 'Oh, I'm so poor and weak and unworthy. I'll never amount to anything.' He didn't make you that kind of new creature. He made you a worthy new creature. He made you a new creature who could stand in His presence as though you had never committed a sin. He made you a righteous new creature. Start telling who you actually are - instead of who think you are."
(Kenneth Hagin, "IN HIM" pg. 16)
After reading this, the thought came to my mind, that there is the difference between believing God, and believing IN God. Many surveys have been done in America in which something like 85% of Americans say they believe in God. If 85% of the people believe in God, then why is our nation in so much of a backsliding condition? I can tell you why. And it has to do with the difference between "believing IN God" vs. "believing God".
James 2:19 says, "You believe that God is one? Good for you! The demons believe it too - the thought makes them shudder with fear!"
The context of this statement in James is concerning putting action to your beliefs. Verse 20 goes on to say:
"But, foolish fellow, do you want to be shown that such 'faith' apart from actions is barren?"
Well, going back to what Kenneth Hagin wrote in His book, I wondered how many "Christians" truly believe God, versus how many simply believe IN God. The difference is this:
To believe IN God doesn't mean much at all! So what if you believe He exists, if there is no personal affect of this in your life. According to James, this simple belief causes the devils to tremble. Does it cause you to tremble? Does it cause you to change your behavior? How can people say they believe in God, and yet largely ignore this God in whom they say they believe?
To believe God means you believe what He says, as Kenneth Hagin points out. You can not believe God, unless you read the Bible to find out what it is He has done and said. When you read the Scriptures, you are showing that you believe God. When you receive what He has said, you are believing God. When you make a change in your life because of something you read in Scripture - in the way you think, in your words, and actions - you are believing God.
As a person, I prefer that someone would believe me, rather than believe in my existence. It is not worth a penny to say they believe I exist. Of course I exist. I believe George Washington existed too. That is what most people mean when they say they believe in God. They believe He exists. However, I prefer that a person would believe me. Believe me when I say something. Of course, since I am human, I may not always be correct. But the fact that a person will listen to what I say, take it into consideration, and esteem what I esteem as valuable, is the very basis upon which a relationship can be built. It is even more so in the case with God. You can not have a relationship with someone with whom you rarely talk. You can not have a good relationship with someone that you give no credence to. If you refuse to believe the majority of what someone has tells you is true over and over, how can you have a good relationship with that person? In a husband and wife relationship, if one or the other expresses a constant disregard for the thoughts and words of the other, that relationship will fall apart. It is the same in our relationship to God. That is the point Kenneth Hagin was making too. The Bible says that we:
"Have been delivered from the power of darkness, and have been translated into the kingdom of Jesus." (Col. 1:13)
"Have received an inheritance in union with Him, and were chosen in love before the creation of the universe to be holy (set apart) and without defect in His presence, so that we would bring Him praise commensurate with His glory." (Eph 1:4-12)
"Have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We are His ambassadors to tell the world that they can be reconciled to God - He is not holding their sins against them." (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
"We are the Temple of the Living God" (2 Cor. 6:16)
Believe Him. He does not lie.
With that in mind, I encourage you to look into the Scriptures again. Read the letters to the Churches (you). Find out who you are in Him, and dare to believe it. It is more than we think.
posted by Laurie T at
11:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home