{"id":1596,"date":"2022-02-20T12:53:16","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T18:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1596"},"modified":"2022-02-20T12:53:16","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T18:53:16","slug":"believe-by-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/20\/believe-by-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Believe, by Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cBut we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.<\/strong>\u201d
Acts 15:11 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 ministry began shortly after John the\nBaptist introduced Jesus saying, \u201cBehold\nthe Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world<\/strong>\u201d (John\n1:29b). Then \u201c\u2026 Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:\nfor the kingdom of heaven is at hand<\/strong>\u201d (Matthew 4:17). There were many facets of Jesus\u2019 ministry. Not\nonly did he preach repentance to the people, but he healed many as well. \u201c35.\nAnd Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues,\nand preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every\ndisease among the people. 36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with\ncompassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep\nhaving no shepherd<\/strong>\u201d (Matthew 9:35-36).\nThe words moved with compassion <\/strong>means\n\u201cfrom the bowels; to feel deeply; to\nyearn, have compassion, pity<\/em>.\u201d Jesus saw the need of the people. However, especially\nnotice that it took a decision on the part of the person, or persons, involved\n\u2013 to believe or not to believe. Remember: \u201cFor the Son of man is come to seek and to save\nthat which was lost<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 19:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes after Jesus healed someone, He would say to tell no one<\/em>. However, oftentimes the one\nhealed told everyone<\/em> \u2013 insomuch that\nJesus could not enter into the city for the crowds that wanted to see Him. This\nhindered Jesus\u2019 ability to preach. \u201c1. And again he entered into <\/strong>Capernaum<\/strong>\nafter some<\/em> days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2. And\nstraightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to\nreceive them<\/em>, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the\nword unto them<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 2:1-2). Soon the crowds heard He was in town and went\nto find Him. \u201c3. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy,\nwhich was borne of four. 4. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the\npress, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it<\/em>\nup, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5. When Jesus saw\ntheir faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 2:3-5). Four\nfriends brought a man sick of the palsy to Jesus to be healed. Palsy<\/strong> means \u201cthe loss of motor power in the muscles or the voluntary muscular\nmotion; equivalent to motor paralysis.<\/em>\u201d These friends lowered the sick man (who could not come on his\nown) through the roof because there were too many people in the house. Nevertheless,\nJesus saw their faith. Faith <\/strong>means \u201cfaith in Christ to be able to work miracles\nor to heal the sick.<\/em>\u201d Do you remember what Jesus went about preaching?\nRepent. Repent<\/strong> means \u201cto change the mind; regret or sorrow,\naccompanied by a true change of heart toward God; sorrow for unbelief and sin\nand turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ.<\/em>\u201d Jesus wanted the\npeople to turn from their sin. Therefore, he forgave<\/em><\/strong> those who\ncame to Him in faith.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut there were certain of the scribes\nsitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7. Why doth this man<\/em> thus\nspeak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 2:6). These\nscribes understood that it was only the Lord, \u201cWho forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases<\/strong>\u201d\n(Psalm 103:3). Yet, they witnessed Jesus declare this man\u2019s sins were forgiven.\n\u201c8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned\nwithin themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy<\/em>\nsins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth\nto forgive sins, (he saith to the sick\nof the palsy,) 11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way\ninto thine house. 12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and\nwent forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified\nGod, saying, We never saw it on this fashion<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 2:7-12). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus forgave that man\u2019s sins, the scribes\nwere \u201creasoning in their hearts.\u201d Amazingly, Jesus knew their thoughts<\/em> and answered their unspoken\nquestions. Remember: God knows all. In addition, to show these unbelieving\nreligious leaders He had the ability to not only heal but also forgive sins, Jesus\ntold the man to take up his bed and walk. And he did. All were amazed at this\nhealing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christians understand that sinners must be brought to Jesus. Just as these four friends brought their friend to meet Jesus, we, too, must bring our friends to Jesus. However, most importantly, we must understand that although the four friends brought this man with palsy to Jesus, this man had to decide for himself. He<\/em><\/strong> had to have faith in Jesus, believing His words. When the man obeyed, he was healed. It was not his friends\u2019 faith that saved him. It was incumbent upon that man to decide whether he believed Jesus\u2019 word or not. He had to act upon the word of Jesus. When he immediately arose, took up his bed, and went forth \u2013 that showed his faith in Jesus. No one had ever seen anything like that before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembering that Jesus came to provide salvation, if you do not tell your friends about Jesus, who will?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>