by Richard Mansel

Christians often say, "I believe in Jesus" and implore others to do so. Sometimes non-Christians wonder just what they mean by such a profession. They deserve an answer.

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (NKJV). Hebrews 11:6 says, "without faith it is impossible to please Him."

The dictionary definition of "believes" means to "accept as true or real." However in Scripture, "belief" far surpasses mental acknowledgment. The word "faith" in the New Testament exceeds simple trustworthiness, depending on "the reliance or trust that is the basis of man's faithfulness, i.e., the faithfulness that expresses confidence in the faithfulness of God" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 2:270). T. W. Brents writes, "faith may be defined as a firm, unshaken confidence" (The Gospel Plan of Salvation, 168). Therefore, God is the only one worthy of our faith because he never fails nor lies (1 Corinthians 1:9; Titus 1:2).

Faith involves action that converts an idea into a life-changing event. We have changed our patterns of life and thought. We are now living and thinking in an entirely new context. Scripture moves from simply being a good book to an unyielding guidepost on our way to heaven.

What are the implications of "I believe in Jesus"?

First, faith in Jesus shows we are sinners in need of forgiveness. Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We have all failed to live to the standard God would have us live. We are helpless to save ourselves, and our salvation can only come from Christ given by the grace of God (Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:8,9).

Second, faith in Jesus means we realize he is the source of salvation. We have searched within ourselves and others and have found no way of escape from sin. Our heart aches with its burden and we hunger for relief. Turning to Jesus, we are admitting he is our only source of salvation and our sole way to God (John 14:6).

Third, faith in Jesus acknowledges his message is worth proclaiming. We have studied scripture and found his gospel to be the truth we have sought. Then we place it as our authority in life to show us how to live, love, and lead others to him. Further, we realize its truths are so irresistible that they must be proclaimed.

Fourth, faith in Jesus shows we are affirming that he is our new way of life. We have decided that he is the Savior and that his word should be our authority in life, Jesus is the way to God and therefore, we must live daily in his paths. Faith in him means he is worth following.

This is why in Scripture the word "faith" often stands for the entire plan of salvation. Faith is a process that leads us to renounce our previous sins and flawed authorities (Romans 12:1,2). We know we need a new Savior who will not only save us but lead us "all the days of (our) life" (Psalm 23:6). Faith leads us to desire to be born again (John 3:3-5). We want only to be a part of his body so that we can go home with him when he returns. And we only get "into" the body of Christ through the baptism for the remission of sins (Romans 6:3,4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27). Faith leads us to the new birth and is the greatest journey ever conceived!

by Richard Mansel

Committed Christians stand out in areas of morals, patterns of life, and outlook. They seem odd to most people. Why do they act and live as they do?

I am currently on a weight loss plan where I have lost 33 pounds since May. Technically, it is not a diet but a lifestyle change.

Likewise, Christ calls us to a lifestyle change rather than a temporary alteration. He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NKJV) and "be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

A man I knew was in the midst of a terrible storm in his life. His wife had left him and her boyfriend had called the police claiming he had assaulted him. Subsequently his children were taken away and placed with his wife. He came to me in tears, we studied and one week later he was baptized. About a month later the charges were dropped, his children were returned and she agreed to return on a trial basis. He never attended worship again.

That young man wanted a salve rather than an enduring solution. Doctors face the same problem with their patients. They dispense medicine to cure the underlying problem with the patient's condition. However when the pain stops, the patient forgets the medicine. When the young man's problem was resolved, he felt the medicine was no longer needed. He simply went back to his life, unchanged. Neither he nor the patient were completely healed of their infirmities. They mistook the removal of pain for the actual cure.

Jesus wants Christians to develop a completely different mindset. He commands us to see everything in a new light; not with artificial lenses but with a new perspective. He asks for a radical change that some simply cannot handle (Matthew 19:16-22). He asks us to be "born again" to be completely different while retaining our individuality (John 3:3-5).

Jesus calls us to consider all our actions and reactions to various situations. In most cases what he would have us to do will be unnatural as the transformation occurs (Romans 12:1,2). For a shocking example, Jesus said we should "love our enemies" and pray for those "who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:43,44).

As with most of the things God has asked us to do, they take concentrated effort. We can operate in this life on automatic pilot, doing what comes natural in all situations. Even animals can do that. Instead Jesus asks us to see everything from the new perspective he has given us. People are seen as souls, enemies as neighbors, language, dress, and lifestyle are to be seen as evidences of the Christian life. We think of our new manner of life in a spiritual sense and weigh things toward heaven. We are then closer to what Christ was when he was on earth (Matthew 5:13-16).

Christians are simply acting with new perspectives and motivations. They realize their efforts bring greater peace, satisfaction, and guidance as children of God. They are "in" but "not of the world" (John 17:11-17). They follow a different path dictated by God's word because they know this is the only path to eternal life in heaven (John 14:1-6; Revelation 20:11-15). And that is worth any effort!

by Richard Mansel

The Museum of Natural History in Washington houses the Hope Diamond. It is a vivid, dark blue diamond that weighs 45.52 carats and is valued at over $200 million. Accordingly, it is one of the most viewed artifacts in the world. But it is likely that within the ground in some corner of the world is a diamond of greater value.

Michael Jordan, Henry Aaron, Wayne Gretzky and Walter Payton were arguably the greatest who ever played their individual sports. Yet, it is likely they will be surpassed.

There is nothing truly matchless except Christ. No one could ever take his place. In Luke 2:33 Joseph and Mary marveled at things spoken of him. In John 7:15 the Jews marveled "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" (NKJV). In John 7:46 we hear more amazement, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" In Mark 2:12 we read, "Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never saw anything like this!'"

Jesus was matchless in his personality. Consider that there was nor never shall be a time when he has not existed. "His goings forth are from old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).

He has made a greater impact on the world than anyone who ever lived. Ronald Reagan said, "(Christ) had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings, emperors, all the generals and admirals, all the scholars, all the scientists and philosophers who have ever lived, all of them put together."

Jesus was matchless in his performance. James Hewitt said that "what death did to Jesus is nothing compared to what Jesus did to death." He lived a perfect life and to this day, he still moves men's hearts.

Jesus was matchless in His promises. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). He said he would rise again and he did. He promised he will come back and he will (John 14:1-6; Titus 1:2).

Jesus was matchless in his power. He stilled the stormy seas (Mark 4:35-41) and can change our lives as he has the world, if we will allow him to do so (Revelation 3:20).

A story is told about Christian Herter who was running for re-election as governor of Massachusetts. One day he arrived late at a barbecue. Due to his schedule he had missed breakfast and lunch and was famished. As he moved down the serving line, he held out his plate and received one piece of chicken. He asked the lady, "Excuse me, do you mind if I have another piece of chicken? I'm very hungry." Sternly she said, "I'm supposed to give one piece to everyone." He said, "but I'm starved!" She repeated, "only one piece to a customer." Herter got impatient and said, "Madam, do you know who I am? I'm the governor of this state!" She put her hands on her hips and said, "Do you know who I am? I'm the lady in charge of chicken! Now move on!"

We think we are so smart and powerful, yet our abilities and intelligence are puny compared to God. 1 Corinthians 1:25 says, "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

No one will be saved unless he says so (Acts 2:47;Matthew 11:28; 2 Peter 3:9). He is Lord over all! Read Revelation 20:7-10 and be amazed at his power. Even Satan will be powerless against him.

by Richard Mansel

Being separated from God because of our sins, we do not have access to him for remission of our trespasses (Isaiah 59:1,2). We can do nothing to be reconciled to God on our own. We do not have an "intercessor" (Isaiah 59:16) to bring us back to God. God will not even hear us because our lives are dominated by sinful pursuits.

However, God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV). John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Ezekiel 18:23 says, "Do I have any pleasure that the wicked should die? And not that he should turn from his ways and live?"

God looked and found a Redeemer in his son, Jesus the Christ. Becoming the "captain" of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10, KJV), Jesus bridged the impassable river and delivered us to God.

Paul writes in Romans 5:8,9, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."

Because we chose to sin, we became "enemies" of God. We were supposed to die for our sins. We were God's enemies and we are told that when Christ returns he will "take vengeance on those who know not God" (1 Thessalonians 1:8). We would be swept away into eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46).

But God had too much love for us and provided an avenue of escape.

Jesus died for us even though our sins put him on the cross. We could never remove his blood from our hands no matter how we tried. The classic hymn says, "there is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath the flood lose all their guilty stains" ("There is a Fountain," lyrics by William Cowper).

Because of this "indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15), we now have the opportunity to come to Jesus for this redemption. We do so by accepting that Jesus is the source of our salvation (John 8:24). Then we must repent that we have sought salvation in any other source (Acts 17:30). We must confess him as the new Lord of our life (Romans 10:9,10). Finally, we must die as he did and be baptized for the remission of our sins (Romans 6:3,4; Acts 2:38). When we are born again (John 3:3-5), we arise with the blood removed from our hands.

As scripture asks, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3). How can we enter heaven for all eternity if we are not willing to admit Christ is the source of our salvation? How can we look for another redeemer and still be pleasing to God?

Jesus once asked the apostles if they were going to leave him as the disciples did. Peter responded, "to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?" (John 6:68).

If we are "in Christ" we have access to God through Jesus. He has brought us to his father and petitions him with our prayers (1 John 2:1). We will live with him in this life and dwell with him forever in eternity (Revelation 3:20; John 14:1-3).

by Richard Mansel

In a movie years ago, the heroine had spells where she was unable to be seen or heard by the public. During these moments she would be chased by murderers able to see her. Being invisible to those who could offer assistance, she was unable to plead for help.

If we are not a Christian, we find ourselves in a similarly frightening position. Isaiah 59:1,2 says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (NKJV). God will not hear our pleas and Satan "walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Isaiah paints a portrait of hopelessness, "We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places" (59:10). Moses writes, "you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). Isaiah closes the section by saying, "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off" (59:14).

We find ourselves in a desperate situation. Yet, God is still there if we will look for him, and Christians are accessible if we wish to be taught. Yet, in our present lost condition, we are defenseless against Satan and hopeless before God.

Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden and told to avoid eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16,17). Satan soon baited them to partake of the fruit of the tree. When they accepted his invitation, they were expelled by God from the Garden (Genesis 3:23).

Sin had come into the world. No one is immune because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Ezekiel 18:4 says, "the soul who sins shall die." When we sin we become "enemies" of God (Colossians 1:21). God hates sin because it is completely opposite of His nature (1 John 1:6) and was the cause of his son's death.

God "will not" hear our pleas. He has chosen not to hear us because of our unrighteousness. When we sin we are separated from God and have no more access to him. God looked at the lost condition of men and was "displeased" that there was no man to take away the sins of the world (Isaiah 59:15,16). There was no answer found on earth. The wisdom of men had withered before God. Paul expressed perfectly our despair, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24).

We needed an answer. We needed someone to build a bridge of redemption back to God. Who would take up that mantle? Who would be our redeemer?