Believing Matters

The study of faith establishes that believing absolutely matters and is incredibly important, defining the foundation of the Christian life. While behavior is recognized as important, believing trumps behavior. In fact, it is suggested that individuals cannot change their behavior until they change their belief system.

The importance of believing is so strong that the Bible states, “with the heart man believeth unto salvation”. The charge brought against those who do not embrace salvation is not based on their behavior, what they drank, or whom they slept with, but “because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only son”.

I. Belief as the Exclusive Gateway to God

The foundational scripture for this teaching is John 3:16, which emphasizes that “whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life”. God’s love for the world led Him to offer His Son so that salvation is contingent upon belief.

Intellectualism vs. Childlike Faith

Intellectualism and research are extremely important; individuals should be as smart as they can be, learning, reading, and evolving. However, believing is our only gateway to God—it is not achieved through intellectualism.

If intellectual knowledge were the path to God, then the illiterate would be at a severe disadvantage, babies would have no hope, and the senile would lose their way. God, therefore, had to reduce the requirement to something that all humans have in common: a belief system. God has fixed salvation so simply that a fool or a wayfaring man can enter, requiring that we “all must become like children and have childlike faith and dare to believe him”.

The Fight Between Knowing and Believing

Society is consistently engaged in a fight between knowing (intellectualism) and believing (faith). This conflict mirrors historical philosophies such as Gnosticism, which assumed that the more one knows, the closer one is to God, and Agnosticism (meaning not to know).

However, knowledge is always changing, and ideas are constantly evolving (for instance, Pluto was once a planet and is now considered a star). Therefore, a belief system must be built on something solid, stable, proven, and true, which is Jesus Christ and His righteousness—not church, denominations, or tele-evangelists.

II. The Enemy’s Focus: Attacking the Belief System

The enemy’s primary strategy is to attack what a person believes. Satan knows that it is with the mind that we serve the Lord.

The Original Sin of Unbelief

The original sin described in the Book of Genesis starts at the root with unbelief. The enemy did not try to physically move Adam and Eve out of the Garden; he tried to move them away from what they believed by questioning God’s integrity (“Has God said?”). If the enemy could alter their belief system, they would automatically move out of the Garden.

Today, Satan does not need a believer’s apartment, house, or car; he needs them worried, upset, and emotionally frustrated. The enemy attacks the body only to break down the belief system. God has given believers peace to guard their heart and mind, creating a defense against anything that tries to infiltrate the mind.

Building an Unshakable Foundation

To maintain fidelity, a believer cannot allow affection for an individual to override fidelity to what they believe. Faith has to be built on something solid as a rock so that the believer is defined simply as a “believer,” transcending labels like Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian.

III. Divine Evidence: Miracles and Prophecy Confirm Belief

Jesus performed miracles and gave prophecies so that people might believe. The purpose of divine intervention is not the physical outcome, but the spiritual conviction it produces.

The Illustration of Lazarus

Jesus intentionally waited and allowed Lazarus to die. Jesus was not sad about the death; He was using the event as an illustration. The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead did not stop him from eventually dying again. The true purpose was that people who witnessed the miracle might believe.

Prophecy as a Faith Strengthener

Jesus confirmed that He gave prophecies before they came to pass so that “when it has come to pass ye might believe”. The only reason Jesus told them what was going to happen was so that when the prophecy (His resurrection) was fulfilled, their faith would be strengthened and they would believe.

IV. Belief Over Emotion and Unnecessary Risk

True belief is a change to the mind (repentance), not merely a display of emotion.

Repentance is a Change of Mind

The Bible states that Esau “sought repentance with many tears and found it not”. He failed because he was seeking change through his emotions. Repentance (metanoia) means to change your mind. A sovereign, absolute belief system should govern all life decisions, choices, marriage, and habits.

Avoiding Crazy Faith

Faith does not require believers to take unnecessary risks to prove who they are. The devil tempted Jesus to cast Himself down from the mountain, but Jesus refused, demonstrating that just because one is a believer does not mean they should jump off a cliff, refuse to wear masks, ignore common sense, or neglect taking care of their health. When a person knows who they are, they never have to prove who they are.