by Barry Newton

Sitting on a large branch seven feet in the air, a small boy looked down at his father's raised arms. Calmly his father said, "Have faith in me." For the lad to have faith in his dad, he would need to lower himself into his dad's waiting arms.

An excited teenager proudly held up her new driver's license for all to see. Smiling, she looked at her dad and said, "have faith in me." To possess faith in his daughter demanded dropping the keys into her hand.

God commanded Noah to build an ark because He was sending a flood. For Noah to have faith in God, he would need to cut down trees and build that ark.

At the age of seventy-five, Abram was told by God to leave his country and his father's house to go to a land God would show him. For Abram to exhibit faith, he would need to pack his bags and start walking down the road.

Although he was elderly and had no son of his own, God promised Abram that his descendants would be like the stars of the heavens. For Abram to have faith in God, he was required to believe God's promise.

When a vast enemy army began advancing against Judah and her king Jehoshaphat, God's message to His people was to march out against them. They were instructed to have faith in God because the battle belonged to God. For Judah to possess faith in God, they would have to march out to see God's victory.

Key Observations

1. How faith is expressed differs from one context to another.

2. How people have been called to exhibit faith in God changes from one situation to another.

3. Whether someone possesses faith in someone or something is determined by how that situation calls for a person to respond.

4. In order to have faith in an unconditional promise, a person only has to believe. To possess faith in someone who issues a command or in a situation where activity is demanded, faith requires obedient action.

Having died for our sins and then raised to life, Jesus cries out through the gospel, "have faith in me." How are we called to trust in Jesus that we might be saved and become members of God's family? Do we only need to accept Jesus into our heart? Is it necessary for us to trust in Jesus by being baptized?

The biblical answer is determined by hearing the story, not by what I think it means to have faith in Jesus. Whether through the genre of letter, narrative (Acts) or Gospel, the New Testament message is consistent.

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were immersed into Christ have been clothed with Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27).

"But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being immersed, men and women alike" (Acts 8:12).

"So then, those who had received his word were immersed; and there were added that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

"...preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been immersed shall be saved; ..." (Mark 16:15,16).

Whether someone has faith in Jesus is determined by the story, not by what that individual might think it means to have faith in Jesus. Whether baptism is essential for salvation is determined by whether the gospel calls us to trust in Jesus by being baptized. It does. It is.

Next article: "The Framework of Covenant & Baptism"

by Stan Mitchell

I have just reread Alan Paton's classic, "Cry the Beloved Country." In his lovely, heartbreaking tale of South Africa, Paton tells of a young black man named Absolom who breaks into a house in white, suburban Johannesburg. He and his accomplices, however, are discovered, and in the ensuing fight the man of the house is murdered. It turns out that the fathers of both killer and victim are neighbors - living amongst the beautiful hills of Kwazulu-Natal. The bereaved father is a commercial farmer named Jarvis, and the murderer's father a Zulu minister.

Absolom is arrested for killing Jarvis' son, and sentenced to death. The elderly minister appeals for his life, and awaits word of the appeal's success. By chance, when the letter comes, he and Jarvis are caught in a terrific thunderstorm and take refuge in the little village church building. Paton writes:

"It was nearly over when Jarvis rose and stood in the aisle near Kumalo. Without looking at the old man he said, 'Is there mercy?'"

There was no mercy. Absolom would be executed, and both fathers would suffer their own unique grief. Of course in earthly courts, justice must prevail; a young man who takes another's life must suffer the consequences. But Kumalo, a man of great dignity, finds to his surprise that rather than seek revenge, Jarvis offers to rebuild the little church building and build a dam to provide water for the valley of Umzimkulu.

Rather than be overcome by vengeance, their suffering brought these two men together, the taciturn white farmer and the simple preacher. And, one wonders, could their South Africa one day also be united?

But Christians already know that suffering and loss bring people together, for the sacrifice of Christ reconciles us (or ought to) to each other. How could we, who needed Christ's mercy, look down on another mercy-given child of God? How could we who have been forgiven, refuse to forgive?

Jesus brought us together in his dying: "to reconcile both of them (Jew and Gentile) through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (Ephesians 2:16, NIV).

South Africa - and our sad old earth - is a pretty tough place. But yes - apparently there is mercy.

by Richard Mansel

We often hear when someone dies, He didn't go to church but he was a good Christian man. Millions consider themselves Christians even though a large percentage have no religious affiliation. Let us consider what a Christian is in light of Scripture.

First, is someone a Christian if they believe God exists? In Genesis 3, Satan speaks of God as alive. Therefore, saying that we simply believe God exists does not make us a Christian, because that would make Satan a Christian.

Second, are we a Christian if we believe God is powerful? In Job 1:10, Satan acknowledges that God controls what happens to man. Satan was there in heaven, saw creation and knows the power of God. Accordingly, simply believing God is powerful is not enough to make one a Christian because that would make Satan a Christian.

Third, are we a Christian if we read the Bible? In Luke 4:10,11, Satan quotes Psalm 91:11,12. So reading the Bible, in itself, does not make someone a Christian because then Satan would be a Christian.

Fourth, are we a Christian if we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? James 2:19 says, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons believe, and shudder" (NASB). On several occasions demons spoke to Jesus or others affirming their belief in the deity of Christ (Matthew 8:28-31; Luke 4:31-35,40,41; Acts 19:11-17). Therefore, simply believing Jesus is the Son of God does not make someone a Christian because then Satan would be a Christian.

Fifth, are we a Christian if we attend church? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light while demons transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. Where would these ministers go to steal the flock away from God? At least part of the time they would be at church with the saints. Accordingly, simply attending church does not make someone a Christian, or Satan would be a Christian.

Sixth, are we a Christian if we do good deeds? When we do good deeds we often have personal motives for doing them. Besides that, we notice Matthew 4:1-11 when Satan tempted Jesus. Satan's motives were evil, but consider that he was willing to feed Jesus, protect him if he fell and fulfill Jesus' desires. Consequently, simply doing good deeds does not make us a Christian, or Satan would be a child of God.

All of these things are part of being a Christian. But none of them alone makes a Christian. Instead, we must become a new creature (John 3:3-5), which is accomplished by dying to self and being born again in Christ (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3,4; Galatians 3:27). When we arise from baptism, we are a Christian through the gift of God.

A Christian will live for God by bearing fruit for his kingdom (James 2:20-26; Revelation 2:10). Scripture requires that we express love for God by bearing fruit in service to God in a variety of ways (cf. John 14:15). When we coddle people by perpetuating the image that anyone who is a good person is heaven-bound, we further Satan's plans and dilute the cause of Christ.

Serving God is an absolute not subject to the whims, emotions, and reasons of men. We are a Christian by the plan of Christ, not by the changing definitions of men. Let us always stand for that truth.

by J. Randal Matheny

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20, NIV).

Wandering from the truth: No effort required, no goal need be established. Just lay back, feel the drift, and the world will ease you downstream, away from the truth.

Bringing back: Stand in the gap, point the way back, signal the dangers, pour out concerns in prayer, extend forgiveness. Jude calls it snatching them from the fire to save them (v. 23). Paul terms it a gentle restoring (Galatians 6:1). What a balance of tough poise and meek strength!

And from the one who returns: Hot tears of repentance, prayers for forgiveness, frank confessions, efforts at restitution, breaking away from sticky habits and false friends, getting up the eighth time after seven falls (Proverbs 24:16).

You can wander away, but you never just wander back. You can stray from the path, but never get back on it by accident.

To go astray, do nothing, and you'll get lost fast. To remain faithful, or to come back to the fold, or to bring one back from the brink of hell, every ounce of energy is required.

Which are you doing?

Every accountable human being is servant of either God or Satan! You can not be a servant of both (Matthew 6:24). There is no middle ground. You are for one and against the other (Matthew 12:30).

God wants YOU to serve him. He gave his Son for you (John 3:16). Forgiveness of sins is available, if you will make him your Master and Lord, by fully obeying his will (Matthew 7:21). He has cast a VOTE for you to follow and serve him.

Satan wants YOU to serve him. He is the father of lies (John 8:44). He is crafty and deceitful (2 Corinthians 11:3), wicked (Matthew 13:19,38), an adversary who seeks to destroy (1 Peter 5:8). He has cast a VOTE for you to follow and serve him.

The ultimate decision has not been made. Your eternal destiny will be determined by your decision. YOU will cast The Deciding Vote!

Who is your Master now? Who will be your Master at the time of your death? If you were to go before God in judgment today, where would you be eternally? Heaven or hell?

From the April-May, 2004 edition of "Truth in Love," published through Steve Preston's BibleTalk list, with everybody's permission: www.topica.com