Believeth in Him
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3.16
I have often heard some say that it doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you are sincere. They will suggest that they have read the Bible often and have come to the conclusion that the conscience is the best guide to use when determining what to believe. Evidently the Bible they use is not the one I use because God’s Word is clear concerning what and who to believe.
Jeremiah correctly reports: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17.9) Deceitful and wicked minds rely upon their own sinfully fallen hearts to argue against the God who, with unlimited power and influence, is able to preserve His Word in exactly the fashion He desires. Saying they make intelligent decisions based upon human evidence gained from their own observation leaves them anemic spiritually because the best of observers is limited in understanding.
In the context of God’s Word, it is the “Him” that makes the difference. It is the “Him” who offers to us understanding and context. Apart from “Him” humanity gropes in the dark quagmire of their own making – never being able to come to the truth that can set them free. Paul warns the young Timothy of the world’s mindset in the end times: “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 3.6, 7)
The preposition “in” (Greek – eis) attaches to a verb of motion. Belief in “Him” is not something that is a once and done situation. While there is a particular point at which an individual believes Christ for salvation, faith in “Him” is a gift of faith and an on-going faith that is sustained by the Giver – God. Jesus, Himself, states that no one is able to take the believer out of the eternally protective hand of the Almighty and aligns the “Him” with the Almighty in the process. (John 10.27-31) The keeping of someone within the gift of faith is the work of God’s Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1.13)
“In Him” indicates the means of our understanding God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14.6) Notice the definite article, “the.” A definite article requires that there is only one that can possibly fit the context. Only through Jesus can someone approach the Father. Furthermore, Jesus claims to be the express image of the Father. It gets no plainer than Jesus’ response to Philip’s question: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14.9)
When considering salvation and a blessed eternity, it is “Him,” Jesus, or one’s soul will be eternally lost. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12)
Jeremiah correctly reports: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17.9) Deceitful and wicked minds rely upon their own sinfully fallen hearts to argue against the God who, with unlimited power and influence, is able to preserve His Word in exactly the fashion He desires. Saying they make intelligent decisions based upon human evidence gained from their own observation leaves them anemic spiritually because the best of observers is limited in understanding.
In the context of God’s Word, it is the “Him” that makes the difference. It is the “Him” who offers to us understanding and context. Apart from “Him” humanity gropes in the dark quagmire of their own making – never being able to come to the truth that can set them free. Paul warns the young Timothy of the world’s mindset in the end times: “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 3.6, 7)
The preposition “in” (Greek – eis) attaches to a verb of motion. Belief in “Him” is not something that is a once and done situation. While there is a particular point at which an individual believes Christ for salvation, faith in “Him” is a gift of faith and an on-going faith that is sustained by the Giver – God. Jesus, Himself, states that no one is able to take the believer out of the eternally protective hand of the Almighty and aligns the “Him” with the Almighty in the process. (John 10.27-31) The keeping of someone within the gift of faith is the work of God’s Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1.13)
“In Him” indicates the means of our understanding God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14.6) Notice the definite article, “the.” A definite article requires that there is only one that can possibly fit the context. Only through Jesus can someone approach the Father. Furthermore, Jesus claims to be the express image of the Father. It gets no plainer than Jesus’ response to Philip’s question: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14.9)
When considering salvation and a blessed eternity, it is “Him,” Jesus, or one’s soul will be eternally lost. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12)
Copyright © 2023 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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