No. 511 Just for You If You Believe in God

Just for you

IF YOU WOULD BELIEVE IN GOD

JUST FOR YOU is designed to bring YOU “a word in season” for varied experiences and personal needs. Keith Crider, Editor. Some articles are submitted by other writers. Published monthly by Christian Light Publications, P. O. Box 1212, Harrisonburg, VA 22803-1212. Phone (540) 434-0768. Sent free within the U.S. and Canada to those who will use them profitably for the Lord’s glory. We also sell other tracts, pamphlets, and books; school curriculum for schools and homeschools; summer Bible school materials; Sunday school curriculum; and weekly story papers for all ages. See www.clp.org.

RECEIVE Jesus Christ as the Lord and Master of your life. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3). “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:13).

No man can make God a fool, but many men reveal their folly by trying.

BELIEVE that in Jesus you can find forgiveness and pardon. Say, “I flee unto thee to hide me” (Psalm 143:9). “I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD” (Psalm 32:5). Furthermore, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

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CONFESS your sinful condition. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously” (Hosea 14:2).

If You Believe in God It is amazing how many people will declare they believe in God . . . and at the same time purposely live in sin. It is not my goal to be unkind but to be honest; I wonder, what kind of faith is that? Does the Bible anywhere commend those who say, “I believe,” but live as though they do not? No. The wording of the Scripture is strong against such dishonesty. It is useless to believe in God if we do not live that way—worse than useless, it is devilish.

No. 511

“Thou believest that there is one God; Men and women who can joke about the If You Do Not Believe thou doest well: the devils also believe, and devil do not mind indulging in sin. They do There Is a Devil tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, not mind being lukewarm or cold toward that faith without works is dead?” (James God. They do not mind getting wrapped up Belief in God stirs us to seek Him, obey 2:19, 20). in earthly pursuits, earthly pleasures, Him, love Him, and honor Him simply We tend to hide sin behind wordy blindearthly accumulation. because of who He is—GOD. folds, to try to talk righteously The Apostle Paul wrote, “If our gospel be Likewise, belief that there is and at the same time hang on hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom a very real devil will also affect Believing in God to unrighteousness. the god of this world hath blinded the minds our behavior, but in quite the means obeying God. What does it mean to of them which believe not, lest the light of opposite way because of who believe in God? the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the the devil is. For one thing, it is not the image of God, should shine unto them” It is unfortunate that people same as believing in a friend or in one of (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4). have largely come to think of the devil as the laws of nature. This is God. To believe Churchgoers are not exempt from disbesome mythical invention of man’s mind—a in Him is to believe we are under Him, lief in a devil. There are, in fact, many minred, grinning, cloven-footed beast holding a responsible to Him, accountable to Him. isters who do not admit to a devil. pitchfork, but nevertheless about as unreal Such a belief directly affects our behavior Now the point of all this is not to get us to as a cartoon character. and makes us subject to obeying what God go preaching and teaching about the devil. The devil is no such funny imagination. has said. It is simply to reckon with the reality that The Bible tells us he is a fallen angel, a Genuine belief in God frees us to be there is a devil. depraved but cunning spirit intent on taking honest with ourselves. There is no point trySuch a recognition will put us on guard men and women to everlasting Hell. ing to pull the wool over Someone who against sin and will help us to understand The devil wants to destroy you. He wants knows our thoughts. how desperately we need God. to cover your eyes to the reality of sin, to We are sinners. Believing in God, we can Jesus described the devil as the father of your need of a Saviour, and to his tactics. honestly admit that. lies (John 8:44). He wants to make you feel comfortable, Our sin is against a holy God, and we Peter called him our adversary, a roaring content, and wise without God. Belief that desperately need to be reconciled to Him. lion (1 Peter 5:8). there is a devil will stir us to resisting his Believing in God, we can find the One to John wrote of “that old serpent, called influence in our lives, to refusing the tempreconcile us—Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the tations he places before us, and to seeking sent to earth to die for our sins. whole world” (Revelation 12:9). God with our whole heart. And Paul warned that “Satan Believing in God means believing His Failure to recognize the devil himself is transformed into an Word—what it says about us as well as for who he is goes right along People who joke about angel of light” to deceive Chriswhat it says about God. It means obeying with other spiritual blindness. the devil do not mind tians (2 Corinthians 11:14). God. It means living out what we know is The devil loves to have people indulging in sin. We thank God that those God’s will for us. disbelieve in the spiritual who have Jesus living in their Do you believe in God? realm. The less people believe hearts do not need to fear the devil. “But without faith it is impossible to there is a devil, the less they will believe John wrote, “Ye are of God, little chilplease him: for he that cometh to God must there is a God. The less they believe in dren, and have overcome them: because believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder spiritual realities—angels, God, Heaven, greater is he that is in you, than he that is in of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews and Hell—the more they will set their eyes the world” (1 John 4:4). 11:6). on tangible, earthly things. 51m-2-13