Do you ever think about it? Why do you believe everything that you believe? Do you have scientific data to prove everything you believe? I doubt it. Most of us don’t. Most of us believe many things based on faith. We can’t prove everything to you, but we believe it.
Do you believe in God? Do you believe the Bible? Why or why not? Faith is the basis for my belief in God and the reason I trust the Bible. Can I prove to you scientifically that God exists? Well, let’s just say, I am not a scientist. But just because I can’t prove it to you doesn’t mean that it isn’t true!
I believe the Bible to be the perfect, inerrant, inspired word of God. I believe holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. I believe in God, but my faith is more than just a belief in God.
James 2:19-26 (KJV)
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
I also believe that my faith means absolutely nothing if I am not willing to live out my faith. As we just read in James 2:26, faith without works is dead. So, I live by my faith. Not as a set of rules of do’s and don’ts, but as a willingness to serve a God that I believe died for me! It’s not enough just to believe in God. The devil believes in God, but he is destined to spend eternity in hell.
So, you say you don’t believe in God, or the Bible. You don’t think using the Bible to make arguments on my behalf is a good way to argue. Well, let me ask you a question. What is your ultimate authority? Mine, is the Bible, that I believe is God’s word given to man. But, what is yours? Is it your own intellect? Is it your reasoning? What is it? How much of the knowledge that is out there do you claim to know? If you’re honest, not even close to everything there is to know. So, I ask again, what is your ultimate authority? Romans 1 tells me that you know there is a God, but you choose not to believe because you love your sin and wickedness. I beg of you, don’t go to hell because you didn’t want to believe in God. Study it out, even from different views than your own.
It is vitally important not just to believe something because someone you trust told you it was true. You must study to find out why you believe it. For the Christian, don’t just take your pastor’s word for it, study it. The Bereans in the book of Acts studied what the Apostle Paul preached, and the Bible commends them for it.
Don’t believe something because it is convenient, or because you have always believed it. Know why you believe what you believe!
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
