If I were to ask you, “how many people do you know that believe in Jesus Christ?” You could probably begin counting in your head all the people you immediately know. But if I were to ask you, “how many of those people are true believers?”, then this question may not register immediately with you as you’ve probably never thought about there being a difference between a believer and a true believer.
But is there really a difference between one or the other? I mean, isn’t salvation as simple as believing in the Lord Jesus Christ? This is what I was taught for many years. I was never taught to question the act of believing in Jesus Christ, and you were probably never taught that either. What I have learned is that the Bible teaches us that there is in fact a huge difference between those who believe in Jesus Christ from those who truly believe in Jesus Christ.
So where do we begin? How can we put to the test that which we have been taught, whether by the local church, pastor or friend? Well, since “believing” is the word in question here, why not look in the Bible for our answers?
The best way to begin this study, is to look for a verse that plainly states what we have to do to be saved, here is one:
Acts 16:30-31
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Great, we found the first verse which specifically uses the word we wish to study, it’s the word “believe”. Now what? Where do we turn next to find out what this word "believe" means? A dictionary? How about a Christian dictionary? Google? No, none of the above, but why not? Because we're not studying any ordinary book, we are studying the Bible, a book that has come from the very mouth of God (God breathed).
So, the best way to understand a book like no other, is to turn to the same book and use it as our dictionary and as our commentary. After all, who would know better how to define a word than the very author who spoke these words? That author is God.
So, when we look up this word “believe”, we discover that this Greek word, in the scriptures, is “pisteuō” (Don’t worry about pronouncing it), and it's Strong's # G4100.
And when we look up Strong's # G4100 in our concordance, we are able to see every verse in which this word is used.
Why is this important? Because God is the one who defines his own words using the scriptures themselves.
So, for this study, we’ll just look at some select passages that use this word "believe" (pisteuō).
What we’re looking for are answers to some serious questions.
#1. If someone decides to believe. in the Lord Jesus Christ, as Acts 16:31 states, does that mean that they are truly saved?
#2. Is it possible that, “to believe" is a much more complicated word to understand than many think it is?
If the answer to question #1 is, “yes", then that means that everywhere we look in the Bible, where people “believed” in Christ, that they did indeed become truly saved, right? Well, I would like to focus on 2 examples of people who “believed”, to see what the Bible has to say.
John 8:30-33
As he spake these words, many believed (pisteuō) on him. 31 Then said Jesus TO THOSE JEWS which believed (pisteuō) on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
The Bible clearly tells us that there were Jews who "believed" on him. This therefore guaranteed their salvation, or did it?
John 8:37-44
I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
What we can see from this passage is that even though there were many Jews which believed on Christ, that it was these same Jews who sought to kill him. Not only did they desire to kill Christ, but Christ revealed to them their true spiritual condition in verse 44.
Now wait a minute...... did not these Jews believe in Christ? The passage assures twice us that they did, and this is the same exact word “believe” used in Acts 16:31. These Jews did just that, they believed in Christ, yet there was no spiritual change in their lives as there was in others who we are told in the scriptures, also believed.
Acts 5:14
And believers (pisteuō) were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
By now you should be noticing some inconsistencies with the word “believe”, some believed and were truly saved, and some believed and did not become saved. Already we can see that this word “believe” is not as plain a word as you may have been taught. Let’s take a look at another passage.
Acts 8:12-13
But when they believed (pisteuō) Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed (pisteuō) also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Here is another example of a group of people who we are told that believed along with another man named Simon, who we are also told that he likewise believed and was baptized. This brings to mind another verse which talks about salvation.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
This man Simon did both of these things, yet we notice that there is a difference between his spiritual condition and those who also believed the preaching of Philip.
Acts 8:17-23
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Let’s recap, here we have a group of people who believed, and we also have a man named Simon who also believed. They both did the exact same thing, yet the group of people who believed, received the Holy Ghost, and Simon did not. As a matter of fact, we are told of the spiritual condition of Simon after he believed and was baptized, and it was that he was still in the bond of iniquity, meaning, he was still in his sins and not truly saved. Simon’s decision to believe had no effect on his spiritual condition.
So, we have gone over enough biblical evidence for now, to demonstrate that to believe is a much more complicated word to understand than most (probably all) churches teach it to be. But when we let the Bible define words for us, we get an entirely different story than that which is commonly taught.
So, to answer our previous questions:
#1. If someone decides to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, as Acts 16:31 states, does that mean that they are truly saved? The answer is, absolutely not.
#2. Is it possible that, to believe is a much more complicated word to understand that many think it is? The answer is, absolutely.
Most people have fallen for a do-it-yourself gospel in which you have been taught that anyone and everyone can decide, of their own will, to believe on Jesus Christ and so be saved. But as we saw, something in the puzzle of this doctrine is missing, because as the scriptures show, not everyone who believes, is truly saved.
Lord willing, as this discussion progresses, we will get into understanding the key to truly believing, as described in the Bible.
John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
But is there really a difference between one or the other? I mean, isn’t salvation as simple as believing in the Lord Jesus Christ? This is what I was taught for many years. I was never taught to question the act of believing in Jesus Christ, and you were probably never taught that either. What I have learned is that the Bible teaches us that there is in fact a huge difference between those who believe in Jesus Christ from those who truly believe in Jesus Christ.
So where do we begin? How can we put to the test that which we have been taught, whether by the local church, pastor or friend? Well, since “believing” is the word in question here, why not look in the Bible for our answers?
The best way to begin this study, is to look for a verse that plainly states what we have to do to be saved, here is one:
Acts 16:30-31
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Great, we found the first verse which specifically uses the word we wish to study, it’s the word “believe”. Now what? Where do we turn next to find out what this word "believe" means? A dictionary? How about a Christian dictionary? Google? No, none of the above, but why not? Because we're not studying any ordinary book, we are studying the Bible, a book that has come from the very mouth of God (God breathed).
So, the best way to understand a book like no other, is to turn to the same book and use it as our dictionary and as our commentary. After all, who would know better how to define a word than the very author who spoke these words? That author is God.
So, when we look up this word “believe”, we discover that this Greek word, in the scriptures, is “pisteuō” (Don’t worry about pronouncing it), and it's Strong's # G4100.
And when we look up Strong's # G4100 in our concordance, we are able to see every verse in which this word is used.
Why is this important? Because God is the one who defines his own words using the scriptures themselves.
So, for this study, we’ll just look at some select passages that use this word "believe" (pisteuō).
What we’re looking for are answers to some serious questions.
#1. If someone decides to believe. in the Lord Jesus Christ, as Acts 16:31 states, does that mean that they are truly saved?
#2. Is it possible that, “to believe" is a much more complicated word to understand than many think it is?
If the answer to question #1 is, “yes", then that means that everywhere we look in the Bible, where people “believed” in Christ, that they did indeed become truly saved, right? Well, I would like to focus on 2 examples of people who “believed”, to see what the Bible has to say.
John 8:30-33
As he spake these words, many believed (pisteuō) on him. 31 Then said Jesus TO THOSE JEWS which believed (pisteuō) on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
The Bible clearly tells us that there were Jews who "believed" on him. This therefore guaranteed their salvation, or did it?
John 8:37-44
I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
What we can see from this passage is that even though there were many Jews which believed on Christ, that it was these same Jews who sought to kill him. Not only did they desire to kill Christ, but Christ revealed to them their true spiritual condition in verse 44.
Now wait a minute...... did not these Jews believe in Christ? The passage assures twice us that they did, and this is the same exact word “believe” used in Acts 16:31. These Jews did just that, they believed in Christ, yet there was no spiritual change in their lives as there was in others who we are told in the scriptures, also believed.
Acts 5:14
And believers (pisteuō) were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
By now you should be noticing some inconsistencies with the word “believe”, some believed and were truly saved, and some believed and did not become saved. Already we can see that this word “believe” is not as plain a word as you may have been taught. Let’s take a look at another passage.
Acts 8:12-13
But when they believed (pisteuō) Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed (pisteuō) also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Here is another example of a group of people who we are told that believed along with another man named Simon, who we are also told that he likewise believed and was baptized. This brings to mind another verse which talks about salvation.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
This man Simon did both of these things, yet we notice that there is a difference between his spiritual condition and those who also believed the preaching of Philip.
Acts 8:17-23
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Let’s recap, here we have a group of people who believed, and we also have a man named Simon who also believed. They both did the exact same thing, yet the group of people who believed, received the Holy Ghost, and Simon did not. As a matter of fact, we are told of the spiritual condition of Simon after he believed and was baptized, and it was that he was still in the bond of iniquity, meaning, he was still in his sins and not truly saved. Simon’s decision to believe had no effect on his spiritual condition.
So, we have gone over enough biblical evidence for now, to demonstrate that to believe is a much more complicated word to understand than most (probably all) churches teach it to be. But when we let the Bible define words for us, we get an entirely different story than that which is commonly taught.
So, to answer our previous questions:
#1. If someone decides to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, as Acts 16:31 states, does that mean that they are truly saved? The answer is, absolutely not.
#2. Is it possible that, to believe is a much more complicated word to understand that many think it is? The answer is, absolutely.
Most people have fallen for a do-it-yourself gospel in which you have been taught that anyone and everyone can decide, of their own will, to believe on Jesus Christ and so be saved. But as we saw, something in the puzzle of this doctrine is missing, because as the scriptures show, not everyone who believes, is truly saved.
Lord willing, as this discussion progresses, we will get into understanding the key to truly believing, as described in the Bible.
John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
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