Chapter
Five
Believing in Jesus: A Deeper Meaning
Fifty days had passed after the Jewish religious leaders had secured Jesus'
death. It was rumored that God had raised Jesus from the dead, but only his
disciples were witnesses to this fact. Jesus had been the talk of Israel while
he lived with them and performed miracles, so his death remained a subject of
much discussion. Many with sincere hearts felt a sense of shame and guilt about
the fact that such a good person had been so badly treated. Some blamed the
religious leaders, some the Roman government, and perhaps others felt, after
the fact, that they might have done more to save Jesus.
When the day of Pentecost came, and after the Spirit descended on the disciples
in the form of "cloven tongues" bestowing the gift of languages upon those assembled,
the Apostle Peter addressed the crowds. They were amazed to hear their own languages
spoken, even though the assembled Jews came from fifteen different nations and
languages (Acts 2:2-12). The Lord, who had confused the tongues at Babel, was
not going to allow language barriers to hinder the spread of the Gospel. With
the gift of tongues or languages the apostles were able to bridge the translation
barriers. The assembled Jews were each able to hear the Gospel in a language
they understood.
Peter's Pentecostal Sermon
Acts 2:36-38, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter
said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit."
Peter had laid the matter clearly before them. They were a part of a nation
that had "crucified" Jesus. Those standing there were not personally responsible
for Jesus' death, yet they could not help but feel some shame and guilt. They
wished to be relieved of this burden as well as for their own personal sins.
They did not ask for "eternal life," nor did they ask that they might go to
heaven. Peter had told them to "Save yourselves from this untoward generation"
(Acts 2:40). This is what they wished to do. Three thousand repented and received
exactly what they were promised: "remission of sins" and the "gift of the Holy
Spirit."
It is conceded that everyone who is begotten of the holy Spirit is imbued with
the hope of a Heavenly birth. We are called in the "one hope of our calling"
(Eph. 4:4). In the natural realm, all begotten do not come to birth. Miscarriages
are very common. Some fetuses may be carried to birth and then be stillborn.
Hence, everyone who received the begettal of the holy Spirit had a legitimate
hope of a spiritual birth, but not a guarantee.
The logical question is, has anyone ever received more than the Pentecostal
converts did? There is no reason to believe so. Anything more is not possible.
To receive the free gift of "justification" and to be imbued with God's Spirit
of sonship is unspeakable grace. This is the starting place where disciples
are enrolled in the Christian racecourse. Paul says, "Know ye not that they
which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may
obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore
so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but
I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means,
when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
"Many are called, but few are chosen" and fewer still remain "faithful" (Matt.
22:14; Rev. 17:14).
The Philippian Jailer
When the Philippian jailer received Paul and Silas under his guard, his life
depended on securing them so they could not escape. Had they escaped, according
to Roman law, the jailer would be put to death. When an earthquake freed Paul
and Silas, the jailer thought his prisoners had escaped. He was prepared to
take his own life rather than submit to a Roman execution. So Paul and Silas
actually saved his life by telling the guard, "Do thyself no harm: for we are
all here." The jailer found Paul and Silas and led them out of the prison. He
then asked them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The answer was, "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved [Gk., sozo], and thy house"
(Acts 16: 28-31).
These fourteen words did not represent the full conversation that took place
that night. We believe much more was said, but the jailer whose literal life
had already been saved that night, was seeking salvation from the sin and judgment
standing against him. The jailer and his household received the same blessing
as the Pentecostal believers, "remission of sins" and the "gift of the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 3:37, 2:38). This placed them on the path leading to eternal life,
but did not instantly provide them the character attainments that are also necessary.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and Thou Shalt be Saved"
This phrase has become the stock and trade keynote of many evangelical preachers.
They have shouted these words outside taverns, on the street corners or wherever
they can capture an audience. In contrast, never did Jesus cry aloud for people
to believe on him. He spoke in parables and dark sayings, so that the people
could not grasp the full weight of his ministry. His disciples later asked him
why. Jesus told them, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom
of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not
understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should
be forgiven them" (Mark 4:11, 12). Jesus invited only believers to enter the
"strait [difficult] gate" and the "narrow" way that leads unto life (Matt. 7:14).
It seems evident that Jesus' ministry was very focused, as compared with many
of today's frenzied efforts to save everyone in sight.
Consider again the words of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." The most overlooked part of this formula
for salvation is the true meaning of the word "believe." In the Greek, this
is "pisteuo." It is defined as "to adhere to, [to] trust, [to] rely on" (Young's
Concordance, p. 86). If one really relies upon Jesus as his Savior, trusts in
him fully, clings to him, and is convinced that he is the redeemer of the world,
what a change will be wrought in his life! Such a believer no longer lives to
self, but renounces self will and gladly dedicates his life to doing the will
of God. Jesus' words become the keynote of his life: "If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24).
Thus, the seemingly simple scriptural declaration that belief in Christ leads
directly to assurance of salvation takes on added meaning. The account of Paul
and Silas in Acts 16:30, 31 as rendered in the Amplified Version seems especially
incisive: "Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved? And they
answered, Believe in and on the Lord Jesus Christ [that is, give yourself up
to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His
keeping], and you will be saved. … And they declared the Word of the Lord [that
is, the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation
in the kingdom of God] to him."
John 3:16, perhaps the most beloved verse in the Bible, is rendered thus in
the Amplified Version: "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world
that He (even) gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts,
clings to, relies on) Him may not perish-come to destruction, be lost-but have
eternal (everlasting) life." Be it noted that this is the kind of belief spoken
of and required in the Bible-relying intimately upon the Savior and laying down
life itself in his service. This is the mature belief that leads to justification
of life, full salvation and peace with God. We trust that all can see that this
is quite different from a mere nominal expression of belief or glib utterance
of words.