The Basis For Christian Faith and Practice

When a person is born again by believing in Jesus Christ, as Jesus described in John 3, he becomes a new person, according to II Coringhians 5:17.  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  We receive a whole new attitude or spirit, as I Corinthians 2:12 describes.  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. “  It is the same spirit or mind set Christ had, according to I Corinthians 2:16.  “…But we have the mind of Christ.”

Because we have the mind of Christ as a result of our faith it is possible for us to keep all God’s commandments, without fear or undue struggle.  I John 5:3-5 tells us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”  Everyone who has believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who came to save mankind receives the power to overcome the temptations and sin of this world. 

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (I John 5:6)

Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a human baby, growing in his mothers womb, surrounded by amniotic fluid traditionally called the water, until his birth just like any other baby.  Eventually he was expelled lfrom his mother’s womb like any other baby, in the process we call birth.  It is the natural birth process.  Later he was crucified, and buried, rising from the grave three days later, almost as if he had been reborn through the blood of his death.   Both his birth and his resurrection were miraculous, and fulfilled the prophecies about the messiah’s coming.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7)

As proof that Jesus is the son of God, there are three beings in heaven that testify to that fact.  All three appeared at Jesus’ baptism, in Matthew 3:16-17.  “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  There was no question that God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus himself accepted Jesus as the Son of God.  They are equals.    

There are also three things on earth that give evidence Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, as I John 5:8 tells us.  “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”  The Holy Spirit shows Jesus to be the Messiah in numerous signs and through the scriptures.  Jesus’ miraculous birth, fulfilling hundreds of prophecies, clearly demonstrated that he was the Messiah God had promised.   That he was then crucified and resurrected fulfilling every prophecy about that event as well provides incontrovertible proof Jesus had to be the Messiah.  The evidence from all three is in full agreement.

Based on the evidence, refusing to believe Jesus is the Messiah is very much like those who still insist the earth is flat despite the number of ships and planes that circumvent the earth every day, the obvious visual evidence of a ship slowly dipping below the horizon, and many other evidences.  It is a deliberate refusal to believe the truth, regardless how much evidence is presented.  I John 5:9-10 tells us, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”  What greater testimony could you get than God’s own statement that Jesus is His Son.  By refusing to believe it a person is essentially calling God a liar.  It also means they have deliberately ignored the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s working in the lives of those who believe. 

By their refusal to Believe God, they have rejected what he promised if they would believe,  I John 5:11-12 makes it very clear.  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  Eternal life is to be found only in faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  Refusal to believe in him brings only eternal damnation.  John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “  John 3:36 reiterates the statement.  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Many times Christians are accused of blindly following traditions without any evidence.  As we have seen, we are not blindly following some tradition,  I John 5:13 states, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  We have a great deal of evidence supporting our beliefs.  Those who do not believe have deliberately chosen to ignore the evidence, just like those who still cling to the belief the world is flat.