Title: What We Believe John 4:39-42
Content: Everyone believes in something. Some believe in money, some believe in power and control, and some believe in knowledge or their own experience.
The important thing is that everyone believes. But the problem is that there are bad beliefs and there are right beliefs.
Today, I would like to share grace with you through three contents.
First, what is the content of our faith today?
Second, what is the basis for that belief?
Third, we try to share grace by examining what blessings are given to us when we believe.
1. What is the content of our faith today?
(1) There are surprisingly many people who believe in the world today.
Believe in money, believe in knowledge, believe in power, believe in credit, believe in family. I also trust my friends around the world. But in the end you will be betrayed.
Betrayal is not accepted by distant people. The person closest to you always betrays the person who has received a lot.
Why are you betrayed?
First, the problem with believing in the world is that there is nothing perfect in the world, so if what you believed in eventually collapses, you feel betrayed.
The world is always changing. In a changing world, wanting something that doesn't change is a problem in itself. So please don't trust the world. Because the world is imperfect and always changing.
Second, in the world, people tend to keep their vested interests in their favor, so if they become poor or lose power, people's hearts will depart from me. So the world can't be trusted.
(2) There are cases where we believe in the wrong religion.
It is very important which religion you meet in the first place. Because once you believe in a wrong religion, it is very difficult to discard or correct it.
In general, when we have religion, we first believe through our parents, secondly we come to believe through our friends, and thirdly, if there is a state religion in the country, it is absolutely influenced by it.
Islam, Judaism, and even communism are one religion in this religion. All of these are wrong religions.
(3) If you believe in Jesus Christ.
No matter what path you take to believe in Jesus, that person is truly a happy person. In fact, it is impossible to believe in the Lord without God's grace and providence.
Because John 15:16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.” Therefore, at this time, we hope that we can give thanks to God for believing in the Lord.
Let's follow along. “Thank you for believing in the Lord.” “I am happy to believe in the Lord.” do you believe
2. What is the basis of our faith?
(1) In most cases, as in verse 39, we believe “because we testify”.
Originally, the word evidence is a legal term. Evidence is what you say you see and hear. The importance of evidence in a trial is because it becomes the standard for the judge's judgment.
The important thing is that God has established me and you as witnesses. But as witnesses, we remain silent.
In particular, Koreans often remain silent even when they see things like traffic accidents or murders.
It's cumbersome, time consuming, and more importantly, because the police suspect, and sometimes even blame, witnesses.
Interestingly, the word witness is the word Martus, which is where the English word martyr, meaning martyr, comes from. This is because being a witness is impossible without the determination to be martyred.
(2) Of course, experience is important to faith, and the evidence of others is also important.
But the decisive reason we believe is that we believe because of the words of Jesus. Because the words of Jesus are the way, the truth, and the life.
The word of God comes in three forms.
The first came in personal form. That is, Jesus is the very word of God.
Second, there is the written Word, the Bible.
(3) In verse 42, it is a case of “hearing with yourself” and understanding and believing.
Therefore, preaching the gospel is very important. “How can you believe in him of whom you have not heard? How can they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
We need to listen often. Because Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Without hearing, there is no faith.
3. What is God's blessing when we believe?
(1) You will be saved from your sins (Ephesians 2:8).
“By grace you have been saved through faith.” What is salvation? Salvation is, in a narrow sense, the forgiveness of sins.
However, salvation in a broad sense means being justified, becoming a child of God and living in the kingdom of heaven.
Salvation is freedom from the bondage of sin and darkness and enjoying true freedom. Of course, this salvation is basically received by the grace of God. But it is often said that we are saved by faith because that grace is given through the spiritual hand of faith.
What is surprising is that in John 10:10, the concept of salvation speaks of an abundant life. Therefore, salvation is man's greatest happiness and purpose.
(2) Become a person of power (Mark 9:23).
“What do you mean you can do it? Nothing is impossible for those who believe.” Humans are given many talents at birth. However, it is often left unused and buried.
However, if you have faith, you will exercise that ability, and as a result, you will become a person of ability.
(3) You will live an abundant life.
In John 10:10 it says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” Abundant life here does not simply mean material things.
There are many people who believe and become materially poor. That's why Luke 6:20 says, "Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
The Gospel of Matthew adds, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Here we are reminded that material wealth is by no means the only basis for blessing. Because there is always responsibility.
(4) You will receive the power of prayer to open the closed door.
Therefore, I pray that we will become children of God with good intentions and become successful by using the key of prayer, which is the privilege.