10/01/17 READING AIN'T ALWAYS STUDYING

10/01/17 READING AIN'T ALWAYS STUDYING

My previous post made me think about witnessing recently to a self avowed agnostic, as I was fishing with one of my granddaughters.

During our discussion he parroted the same popular false narrative that belief in God (or in Christ in particular) is a "head thing" rather than a heart (spiritual) reality. He obviously did not know what the word of God says. He only knows the natural, not the spiritual facts of life.

I asked him if he had ever studied the Bible.

He told me he had read it through.
(which I seriously doubt).

I said, "That is not what I asked you. I asked you if you have studied the Bible." I then went on to explain that he has been misinformed about the Bible and salvation.

This man named some well known people who claim to be Christians (Joel Osteen, Al Sharpton, Donald Trump), but their lives are not praiseworthy.

I agreed with his observation, and then pointed out that none of those people are Christian.

He responded with a definite "but they believe."
I said, "No they don't."

I then reminded this agnostic that he had told me he had read the Bible, but had not actually studied it, and as a result he was building his beliefs and his rejection of belief on a false narrative.

I explained that the Bible says we must,
CONFESS WITH OUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD.
and
BELIEVE IN OUR HEART (the inner man, not just the natural mind) that God has RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.
Here is the problem.

First, it is one thing to say you have faith in Christ, it is another to believe that Jesus is LORD (King, Ruler, Master, God), which is the actual meaning of "Lord" in this passage.

Second, True believers, people with saving faith, believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world and that Jesus was raised from the dead physically.

Biblical faith, Christian faith is Saving faith, it is faith that Transforms us into new creations, that changes us from the old life to the new life, the eternal life, the holy life of Christ in us.

Romans 10:9-11
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

(dlg note... the KJV is weak in this passage Instead of saying "the Lord Jesus" in verse nine, it should say either, "Jesus is Lord" or "Jesus as Lord."

As I think of it, there are a lot of people who really do not accept Jesus as their Lord, and they do not live by the faith of the risen Son of God, Who loves them, and gave Himself for them.