This photo was taken at a wedding in Texas, but it could have been taken at any church fellowship.

August 25, 2023 / 0 comments

More on Belief – with a little help

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

  • Romans 10:9

but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

  • Hebrews 7:24-25

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

  • Acts 16:30-31

The Boilerplate

My wife took a Bible Study in 2009.  She had become a Christian in 2000, and about the time that she took this class during the week at night, she developed night blindness, or at least the start of it.  I would drive her to a friend’s house, and then the friend would drive her home afterwards.  The focus on the Bible Study was weight loss from a biblical perspective.  I don’t know if any weight was lost by anyone in the Bible Study, but a few members of that group became very good friends.

My wife passed away in March and I found her study guide as I was cleaning up.  I actually found two study guides.  The other study guide was from a Bible study long before committing herself to Jesus.  Her answers were usually copying Scripture or turning the Scripture into her own words.  This Bible Study in 2009 showed signs of how God was working in her life.  It showed Christian growth.

So, instead of writing about a topic at random, I decided to write on the topics in the Study Guide, but instead of using the words of the Study Guide, I thought I would fashion the answers of her questions into a thread to discuss the topic.  And I will not use any comment about other members of the group study (few, and usually prayer requests).  That would be confidential.  Thus, I am writing about these topics “with a little help” from my wife’s answers to study guide questions.

“He’s [interceding] for all who believe in Him.”

  • My wife’s ideas about the second Scripture above

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and then you and your family will be saved.”

  • My wife’s ideas about the third Scripture above

In the case of the jailer, he and his family were all saved, but in a typical family, each has their own choice.  They can choose God or choose to not follow God.  Those that choose God are hurt by the rebellion and lack of faith of those who wander away.

My wife used to grab her cellphone and shake it, wishing that a family member who had turned from God would call to say they had come to their senses.  Sadly, buckets of tears were shed, and the call never came.

“Jesus is the only way to God the Father.  He is the Lamb of God.  Jesus chose to be our sin eater. There’s no other way.  Blood covers blood. We’re so sinful that God can’t see us but only through Jesus.”

  • My wife’s ideas on believing and trusting in Jesus

I like her concept of Jesus being a sin eater.  I do not know if I have ever heard anyone use that term.  As for the blood covering the blood, Jesus’ blood that was shed was shed by He who had no sin.  Only in that manner can Jesus’ blood cover our sinful bodies.  And in so doing, we are washed as white as snow.  Why do we need that perfect cleansing?  Because God is holy and cannot be in the presence of unholiness.

And how can I grow in our new life in Christ?

“By remaining faithful and balanced in my whole being.”

  • My wife’s inner thoughts

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.

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