I follow a daily Bible reading plan every year. In most years I read through the Bible from beginning to end, but this year I am focusing on the New Testament only. Today, I came across this rather innocuous verse that prompts my thoughts:
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.
John 2:23-24 ESV
Though I was raised Catholic, a combination of evangelical people who shared the Gospel with me led me to a real, authentic belief in God and surrender to Jesus “as my Lord and Savior” (as the saying goes). I can’t say that I didn’t believe in God before that time (intellectually), but God didn’t mean anything to me before then. I had no relationship to God, and the existence of God carried no relevance in my life.
As a young Christian, I put great weight on simply believing in Jesus, which was what was emphasized to me. It seemed to me that believing in Jesus was all a person needed to do to be saved, and everyone who believed in Jesus was OK. I think that is still fundamentally true, but it is not the whole truth.
I was grateful, of course. Belief in Jesus changed my life! I recognized the changes deep within me, which I believe is indicative of being born again. My eyes were opened, and now I could see!
Many years later, however, it doesn’t seem quite so simple. Examples of people who go to church, and claim to be Christian, but who don’t act anything like Jesus, are legion. This hypocrisy among the people who call themselves Christian is a common reason why people say they don’t go to church any more. Many people don’t live what they believe.
Of course, we are all hypocrites to some extent. None of us live up to God’s standard. (Nor do we even live up to our own, lower standards, if we are being completely honest.)
There are differences in degrees. Some people are more like Jesus than others. The Bible acknowledges that we must all grow in our knowledge of God, and the Bible recognizes that sanctification is a process.
In my own life, I experienced some relatively instantaneous changes in me, especially in my attitudes, in what I was drawn to, and in my understanding (like a light bulb turning on). I also continued to struggle with habits of thought and action, some of which dog me still to this day.
We want simple formulas. Romans 10:9 says, “[I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ( ESV) This literally says that believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord is all that is necessary for salvation.
I believe in that “formula” with all my heart. BUT – at the same time – it is is not quite so simple. Jesus said, “Many will say to me, “Lord! Lord!”
We might have a tendency to view the “Romans Road” as a kind of magic formula that makes a person a Christian, but it doesn’t exactly work like that. Anyone can mouth those words with no change in their inner reality. It’s not enough to confess with your mouth, a person must believe in his/her heart.
Anyone can confess that “Jesus is Lord”. The confession must come from a real and authentic belief in the heart that results in a change to be assured it has real substance.
This change is not something we can manufacture. It occurs organically from the inside out. The change may not even be immediately noticeable. This is because the change results from God working inside us, not by our efforts to conform, but by His regenerative work in us. It may take a while to bear fruit on the outside.
People look at the outward appearance (confession), but God judges the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) People may claim to be Christian, especially in the United States where being Christian can provide social, political, or other capital, but that doesn’t mean everyone who claims to be a Christian is an authentic believer and follower of Jesus.
Jesus said that many people will say to him on the day of judgment, “Lord, Lord”, but he will tell them that he never knew them. (Matt. 7:22) Jesus said that some of these people will even prophesy, cast out demons, and perform miracles in his name, but, they are not true believers. (Matt. 7:23) (If you want to hear the personal stories of people who recognize that they were once “false converts”, I am providing a link to their stories here.)
As an aside, we tend to think that powerful displays of the miraculous signify God’s great blessing, and the performance of such great acts is God’s stamp of approval, but the Bible reveals that is not necessarily true. “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.” (Mark 13:22)
We tend to think that highly talented people are more spiritual than others, but that also is not true. The real measure of spirituality and authenticity is the fruit of the Spirit.
“[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23) Jesus said that we will recognize people by their fruit. (Matt. 7:16) James spoke with clarity when he said,
Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that–and tremble with fear.
James 2:18-19 (NET)
We want simple formulas. We also want faith to be easy. “Just believe” and confess with your mouth” is the formula.
But, God isn’t looking for “mere belief”. God wants our hearts, our minds, our souls, and all of our lives. God doesn’t just want people who squeak by into heaven; God wants to transform us!
We emphasize Paul’s statement in Romans that Abraham was not justified by his works; rather, his faith was credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 4) James acknowledges that truth (James 2:23), but James says that faith without deeds is dead (useless). (James 2:20)
These things may seem contradictory, but they are not. We are not made righteous by anything that we do. We are saved by grace through faith alone, but faith that bears no fruit is not real faith.
My daily reading includes a separate Bible verse (or verses) each day that I receive in a group text from a friend. The verses in the group text yesterday and today are in keeping with this theme. Jesus said:
“If you love me, keep my commands…. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.”
John 14:15, 21
We don’t do this in our own strength. We don’t keep the commands of Jesus (or love him) to gain salvation. We love him because he first loved us! Our love for God and neighbor grows from the soil of His love for us.
Our love is the response of a grateful heart to the love of Jesus for us that is demonstrated by him giving up his life for all people on a Roman cross. When we love him, we naturally want to be with him, to be like him, and to let him have his way in us – to transform us into the kind of people he desires for us to be.
The people who saw Jesus perform miracles when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast believed in him because of those signs, but John tells us that Jesus “did not entrust himself” to them because he knew their hearts. (John 2:23-24)
I am not exactly sure what it means that Jesus “did not entrust himself” to them. Maybe it means that he didn’t develop a relationship with them, like he did with the disciples and others who followed him closely. All these things make it very clear, though, that belief alone is not sufficient to save us.
Mental ascent is not the kind of belief that leads to salvation. Confessing to be a Christian is not a magic formula that we can recite and be ok. Real belief is evidenced by a real heart change and fruit in keeping with that change. That transformation is the hallmark of real, authentic faith, and such a faith grows out of relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Navigating by Faith 
Most Christians view Jesus as their private genie. One fellow in my men’s groups proudly proclaimed their relationship with Jesus was the most important thing in their life. When Jesus asked Peter “do you love me?”, Jesus’s response was “then feed my sheep” (i.e. help your fellow man). What Jesus DIDN’T say was “then worship me… tell me how great and powerful I am”. Jesus’ “commandments” starting in Matt 5:21 ALL talk about how to treat your fellow man. THAT is what it means to “follow Jesus”. Most Christians I know treat them as “suggestions”.
At my church, we say the Apostle’s Creed… thinking THAT is what is required… or at least a “minimal requirement”… it is not. I just got done reading in Matt where a daemon says “oh Jesus, son of God, spare us”… so even daemons would agree with the Apostle’s Creed. Actually KNOWING Jesus is the son of God and STILL not following Him is worse than not knowing who Jesus is at all… for then there are no excuses for not following.
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Well said, Tom. Love God, and love your neighbor. Love is an action. When we welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give to the poor, and give water to the thirsty, we do it so those things unto Jesus.
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Mankind generally tries to take the easiest paths in life. Consider salvation. What are the paths to heaven? Here are 2 potential paths back in the times of Moses
It turns out #1 doesn’t work. Why??? Because Moses has no power. Worshiping him can’t do anything for us.
Now fast forward to post-Jesus. What are 2 potential paths to heaven?
Which path is “easier”? Clearly #1 requires MUCH less effort… and Jesus DOES have power to potentially do ANYTHING for us (i.e. our “personal genie”). The “commandments” outlined by Jesus are MUCH more difficult to follow.
What does the church emphasize? What I’m about to say sounds blasphemous and I apologize in advance. What the church promotes is what i call “Jesus lite”… like “Miller lite… tastes good, less filling”. The emphasis is worshiping… helping your fellow man is secondary. The church will suggest things like “helping the poor”…. a really good thing, but a watered-down “lite” version of the much more difficult “commandments of Jesus (e.g. don’t expect repayment of loans… if a thief steals your outer garments, give away your inner garments as well). Moses’ commandments describe giving a tithe (i.e. 10%)… Jesus says give away EVERYTHING… and follow Him.
Again, I’ll point out that when Jesus asked Peter “do you love me?”, Jesus responds to Peter… sayIng “then feed my sheep”… (i.e. help your fellow man). What Jesus DIDN’T say was ”then worship me and tell me how great and powerful I am”.
.
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Then it’s not a free gift. It’s not by grace alone. Either one can earn it, or they can’t. I get confused with the whole, yeah yer saved, now you gotta prove it, oh I guess my definition of free and by grace alone differs from others, ones always in a state of ambiguity about ones redemption and whether they can count on it. Seems sketchy.
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It’s not a get out of jail free card. You must be born again. I believe it boils down to whether you develop a real, authentic relationship with God, your creator, in which He begins to work within you to will and to act according to His good purpose. It’s a process, but the work is His in you, transforming you from the inside out, producing the fruit of the Spirit that becomes visible in your life as you walk in relationship with God.
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Jesus Holy Spirit interpreted 1 John 3: 6-10 who are the born of God cannot sin. Yet there is a worldwide teaching that Christians will keep sinning even with Jesus Holy Spirit is in them! Then if they are asked Biblically how is keep sinning with Jesus Holy Spirit being in you, then immediately they keep sinning and end Jesus Brotherly love that only is given but Jesus Spirit being in us. The obvious question would be if Jesus Holy Spirit being in you cannot stop you from keep sinning even if you do not want to ever sin against God again, then who is not always saved by keep sinning including unbelievers for absolute no sinner can ever earn Lord Jesus own blood Salvation that paid for all sin for all sinner by them doing nothing,
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“I am not sure what you are saying, but this verse comes to mind, ”
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
We need to read the whole counsel of Scripture and let it shape us and teach us.
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The passages in 1st John indicate that what God creates cannot sin. That must be the new nature. The Christian’s new nature (new man) cannot sin. That which is begotten of God cannot sin. The verb stem is genn- which when it refers to a woman is translatable as bear/bore/born, which is something which only a woman can do. To be born is to come out of a woman’s womb. when genn- refers to a man, it is translatable as beget/begot/begotten as men do not bare babies & babies do not pop out of a man’s womb. So as applied to God, He has no womb, & does not carry babies 9 months. He begets men as new creatures, new men, transformed men. This new nature cannot sin, as the old nature (flesh) can only sin. This interpretation makes sense. The interpretation which tries to interpret these verse on the basis of a continual action present tense (Christians can sin, but no continually) is flawed. Christians can have besetting sins, & in many ways we all stumble (present tense, but not continual). What Christian does not sin every day of his life? Do the Christian is a Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde depending on whether he is wearing the old man or the new man at a given time. Thus a man is either living exactly as God wants at a given time (when He is wearing Christ er Romans 13) or that man is sinning. And this gestalt transformation change may happen many times in a day; like Peter we walk on water, then lose active faith in Christ for our situation & sink.
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I should say that this is the only interp which satisfies me. I you know better, feel free to correct me
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The passages in 1st John indicate that what God creates cannot sin. That must be the new nature. The Christian’s new nature (new man) cannot sin. That which is begotten of God cannot sin. The verb stem is genn- which when it refers to a woman is translatable as bear/bore/born, which is something which only a woman can do. To be born is to come out of a woman’s womb. when genn- refers to a man, it is translatable as beget/begot/begotten as men do not bare babies & babies do not pop out of a man’s womb. So as applied to God, He has no womb, & does not carry babies 9 months. He begets men as new creatures, new men, transformed men. This new nature cannot sin, as the old nature (flesh) can only sin. This interpretation makes sense. The interpretation which tries to interpret these verse on the basis of a continual action present tense (Christians can sin, but no continually) is flawed. Christians can have besetting sins, & in many ways we all stumble (present tense, but not continual). What Christian does not sin every day of his life? Do the Christian is a Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde depending on whether he is wearing the old man or the new man at a given time. Thus a man is either living exactly as God wants at a given time (when He is wearing Christ er Romans 13) or that man is sinning. And this gestalt transformation change may happen many times in a day; like Peter we walk on water, then lose active faith in Christ for our situation & sink. This interpretation makes sense.
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In the NIV, it says “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning….” (v.6) and “no one who is born of God will continue to sin….” (v.9) Does that mean they immediately cease from sinning? Or eventually will cease from sinning? In this life? Or in the life to come? Gal. 6:1-2 that I referenced above seems to be Paul talking about Christians who sin. James tells Christians to confess their sins to one another. (James 5:16) In 1st Corinthians, Paul provides lengthy instruction for dealing with a Christian who sinned egregiously (1 Cor. 5), and Paul follows up in 2nd Corinthians with instructions on restoring him to fellowship (2 Cor. 2:5-11) These are just three examples of Christians sinning that I can think of. Of course, anyone who is born again and has God’s Holy Spirit will sense the conviction of sin, even if we resist it. The Holy Spirit works in his to will and to act according to God’s good purpose, but it seems to me that this is a process.
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