{"id":1613,"date":"2022-02-27T12:55:07","date_gmt":"2022-02-27T18:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2022-02-27T12:55:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-27T18:55:07","slug":"do-you-believe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/27\/do-you-believe\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you Believe?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cHe that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.\u201d <\/strong>
John 3:18 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The many miracles Jesus did, and the many things Jesus taught were very\nimportant \u2013 for many people believed upon Him, becoming His followers. However,\nwe can understand that not all who saw and heard believed. Jesus explained how\none must come to Him \u2013 not with an educated mind, challenging the things of God\n(as the religious leaders continually did). After teaching some of the people,\nchildren were brought to Jesus. The disciples tried to keep the children from\nJesus. However, Jesus was displeased. He called for the children to come to\nHim. Jesus then explained to the people how to receive the kingdom\n of God (receive<\/strong> means \u201cto accept an\noffer deliberately and readily<\/em>\u201d).\nUnderstand the kingdom<\/strong> of <\/strong>God<\/strong> by\nthe following: When the Pharisees asked Jesus when it should come, read His\nreply. \u201cAnd when he was demanded of the Pharisees,\nwhen the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation<\/strong>\u201d (Luke\n17:20). Not with observation<\/strong> means, \u201cyou cannot see it with human eyes<\/em>.\u201d He\nwent on to say. \u201cNeither shall they say, Lo here! or,\nlo there! for, behold, the <\/strong>kingdom<\/strong> of <\/strong>God<\/strong> is within you<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 17:21). Within you<\/strong>\nmeans \u201cit is located in your heart and\naffections; not external<\/em>.\u201d That is one reason we refer to being saved as\n\u201casking Jesus into your heart.\u201d You cannot see it with your eyes. Jesus wanted\nthe people to understand this. To children, things are simpler, less\nconvoluted. The gospel message is very simple \u2013 one must only believe \u2013 just as\na child. In other words, simply believe and receive without question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd when he was gone forth into the way,\nthere came one running, and kneeled to him \u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 10:17a). The\nplacement of this event with this one that comes running to Jesus is\ninteresting. It follows the recording of Jesus explaining that one must come to\nHis kingdom as a child. Keep that thought in mind as we look at this \u201crich\nyoung ruler.\u201d He is called a \u201cyoung man\u201d in Matthew\u2019s accounting (see Matthew 19:16-22) and a \u201cruler\u201d in Luke\u2019s accounting\n(see Luke 18:18-27). He is often\ncalled The Rich Young Ruler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He asked Jesus, \u201cGood Master, what shall I\ndo that I may inherit eternal life?<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 10:17b). Read the events.\n\u201c18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is<\/em> none good but one, that\nis<\/em>, God. 19. Thou knowest the commandments,\nDo not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness,\nDefraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have\nI observed from my youth. 21. Then Jesus\nbeholding him loved him, and said unto him, One\nthing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the\npoor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and\nfollow me. 22.\nAnd he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great\npossessions<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 10:18-22).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this event, the first thing we notice is that the young ruler thought\nhe had to \u201cdo\u201d something to inherit eternal life (see Mark 10:17). He had already obeyed God\u2019s Word (the Law), but\nJesus told him what was lacking (see Mark 10:20).\nHis faith was in his earthly possessions \u2013 not in Jesus. Jesus wanted His\ndisciples to understand the difference. One cannot do anything to inherit\neternal life, but believe in Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith\nunto his disciples, How hardly shall they that\nhave riches enter into the <\/strong>kingdom<\/strong> of <\/strong>God<\/strong>! 24. And the disciples were\nastonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to\nenter into the <\/strong>kingdom<\/strong> of <\/strong>God<\/strong>! 25. It is easier for a camel\nto go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the <\/strong>kingdom<\/strong> of <\/strong>God<\/strong>. 26. And they were\nastonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is<\/em> impossible, but not with God: for with\nGod all things are possible<\/strong>\u201d (Mark 10:23-27).\nSee that Jesus called them \u201cchildren.\u201d He was talking to His disciples \u2013 those\nwho believed upon Him. Yet in that explanation, one can almost sense that Jesus\nwanted them to remember that one must come to Him as a child \u2013 not with\nanything they can bring. One must have faith just trusting and believing in\nJesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Peter acknowledged that they had given their all (see Mark 10:28), Jesus explained that they would be rewarded in heaven. While they lived on the earth, man may not see Jesus\u2019 followers as important, but in heaven, God will reward them according to their faithfulness to Him. The Rich Young Ruler chose unwisely, while Jesus\u2019 disciples chose wisely. For one must come to Jesus, simply with the heart and mind of a child, just believing in Jesus. One has to believe<\/em><\/strong> in the heart \u2013 not actually having to see the \u201ckingdom of God\u201d with the eyes. Then one must follow Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you come to Jesus, simply with the heart as a child in faith, just believing in Jesus?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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