Dear Sir:— I would be so glad if you would answer in your “Messages of Love” what is “believing in Christ.” I believe that Jesus died for me because I am a sinner and I naturally accept it for myself.
But then how is it, that if Christ died for all, why are not all saved? Surely He could not have borne the sins of all. But I do believe He died for me.
How sweet is that verse. “Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Hoping you will be so kind as to reply in your next. I remain yours truly,
A LEARNER.
In the letter from “A learner”, there are two questions,— “What is believing in Christ?” and, “If Christ died for all, why are not all saved?”
To believe in Christ is to receive God’s testimony to Him as a Saviour, and to trust in Him, according to that testimony. Faith is the soul’s reception of what God says. If we receive what He says about Christ and His work for us, we find rest and peace, in believing His testimony.
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:33For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3).) God spoke to Abraham, and he believed what God said. That was faith, and through that faith he was counted righteous. God also speaks to us now. He tells us of Jesus Christ, His Son, how He died for us, and was “set forth a propitiation through faith in His blood, and assures us that He is righteous in justifying us when we believe. And if we believe, He tells us that Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification; so that when we believe in Christ, we learn that all our sins were laid on Him at the cross, and that He bore God’s judgment for them in our stead, so that we can never be judged for them.
Scripture does, not tell us that Christ bore the sins of all men. He bore the sins of those who, believe, and so it is only when we believe that we can know that this applies to us personally. On the other hand Scripture does tell us that Christ died for all. “For there is one God, and our mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all.” “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (1 Tim. 2: 5, 6; John 3: 14, 15.) The sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for the whole world, and because of this the door of salvation has been thrown open for all. But it is only through faith, that a sinner gets the benefit of Christ’s work, and if any are not saved, it is because they believe not. “He that believeth not, shall be dammed.” (Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16).)
A. H. R.
ML 07/01/1900