More Than Simply Believing

Believing in God is not enough.

Satan and all of his demons believe in God and Jesus.

God has revealed Himself to all men.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:Romans 1:20

General revelation: God’s revelation of himself to all humankind through creation; More specifically, general revelation is manifest in physical nature, human nature, and history. In each case God has disclosed something specific about himself and his relation to his creation.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)Romans 2:14-15

Specific revelation: God’s revelation in Scripture of humanity’s plight and his plan of salvation.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Hebrews 1:1-2

False Views of God

Atheism: The philosophical position that denies the reality of the God of theism or other divine beings.

Agnosticism: The position that neither affirms belief in God (theism) nor denies the existence of God (atheism) but instead suspends judgment. It is helpful to distinguish the “modest agnostic,” who merely claims to be unable to decide the question of God’s reality, from the “aggressive agnostic,” who claims that no one can decide the question and that suspension of judgment is the only reasonable stance.

Pantheism: The view that “all” (pan) is “God” (theos). Pantheism draws no distinction between Creator and creation.

Polytheism: Belief in and veneration of more than one god or divine being.

Deism: The belief that God created the world but is not sustaining it providentially. In other words, though God exists, he has no interaction with the created world.

Open Theism: A view on the nature of God that rejects classical attributes like omniscience or immutability in favor of positing a God who learns, adapts, takes risks, and modifies his plans in response to human actions. In this view, God’s foreknowledge is limited by the uncertainties inherent in creating humanity with truly free will where even he does not know what free human agents will choose to do.

Since the beginning of time man has sought to develop a belief system that explains the world apart from God.

If God truly is God, then we must obey Him.

Do you believe in God? Which one?

The only appropriate response is “The God of the Bible.”

You must believe that you have sinned against a holy God.

You must believe that Jesus is the only possible payment for your sin.

You must call out to God in faith and repentance to save you and deliver you from your sin.

You must trust in the grace of God alone.

If you are truly saved, your life and the lives of those around you will change.