I Believe the Lord, But …

by Marvin L. Weir

Spiritual matters take priority over worldly matters.

Many people who profess to be Christians would angrily protest if they were told they did not believe the Lord. A failure to believe Christ is not a new problem. During His earthly ministry, Jesus said to the Jews, “And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not” (John 5:38). Jesus repeated His indictment again, saying, “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words” (John 5:46-47).

Words have meaning! Jesus forthrightly declares, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). The majority of people who profess belief in the Lord (that He exists) do not believe Christ (obey his word)! Proof will be provided to support this assertion.

Members of religious denominations claim to believe in Christ, but they do not believe what He said about building His church. Jesus clearly states, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). One cannot believe this statement of the Lord and believe that He intended to build many different churches! Man has absolutely no right or authority to establish or build a church. Paul affirms Christ’s teaching on this matter in saying, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). Speaking by inspiration, Paul proclaims, “For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:13). The Lord’s church is blood bought (Acts 20:28), and did not originate in the mind of man. Christ is “...head over all things to the church, which is his body” (Ephesians 1:22-23). One cannot deny the singular nature of “the church” (the one and only church)! The Lord has promised to one day save His body [church] (Ephesians 5:23) —but not multiple man-made religious bodies teaching contrary to His divine will! Those who align themselves with “churches” established by men may believe in Christ (that He exists), but they do not believe or obey what He taught.

Many people believe in Christ but do not believe what He said about being called by the Gospel. It is not unusual to hear one talk about his “experience” that occurred before he was “saved.” Just about every one of these “experiences” told to me differs from every other person’s supposed “experience.” The truth is that the Bible mentions nothing about any “experience” preceding one’s salvation. Please realize that one will search the Scriptures in vain for an “experience” that he or she had before being saved. Every person called by the Lord is called in exactly the same way — by the precious Gospel (II Thessalonians 2:14). The Lord’s plan for one to become a member of His church requires Hearing His Word (Romans 10:17), Belief (Hebrews 11:6), Repentance (Luke 13:3), Confession (Romans 10:9-10), and water Baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Nothing else is included in God’s plan for man to be saved. The Gospel is the only “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16), whether Jew or Gentile! One may believe in Christ, but one does not believe in Christ if one refuses to obey His Gospel plan of salvation.

Many church members believe in Christ but do not put His teachings regarding the kingdom of God first in their lives. The world we live in is a busy place. There is always something to do. However, the Lord has instructed believers to “seek...first his kingdom, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Brethren must learn that spiritual matters take priority over worldly matters. One fails miserably to seek the kingdom first when he allows things such as sports, company, school activities, recreation, or vacation to take priority over assembling with the saints to worship God. The Scriptures nowhere state that decent and legitimate activities are to be sought first in one’s life! No amount of excuses or rationalizations will demote spiritual matters into second place. Brethren may believe in Christ, but they do not heed His words in Matthew 6:33 when they allow worldly activities (no matter how good and innocent) to cause them to forsake assembling with the saints (Hebrews 10:25).

Some brethren believe in Christ but do not believe what He said about those outside of His body being lost! It has already been established that there is a Gospel plan of salvation. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). The Lord did not say, “He that believeth and is not baptized shall be saved,” but this is exactly what those of denominational persuasion teach. Sadly, many brethren today are convinced there will be saved people who are not members of the Lord’s church! The word of the Lord declares that salvation is in Christ (II Timothy 2:10), and that one is “baptized into Christ” (Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27). Paul understood and taught that vengeance will be rendered to “...them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).

One may claim to know the Lord while refusing to obey His will, but John writes, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (I John 2:4). One does not believe Christ who refuses to obey Him!

No person can refuse to obey the Lord’s commands and expect to go to heaven. God’s great love and mercy for man do not negate obedience! Never forget what is taught in Hebrews 5:8-9: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” Christ is not the author of eternal life to those who merely believe in Him, but to those who believe “and obey him.”