Sometimes people are asked if they know the Lord Jesus Christ. Their answer may be, "Well, I believe in God.”
Not many, even in these days when a mild agnosticism is popular among men in general, would deny the existence of a Supreme Being. But even these who declare themselves atheists, are often the first to call upon God in times of great danger and trouble.
To believe IN God avails but little. Perhaps you say, "I believe in God." What practical effect does that belief have on your life? Many in theory confess the name of God, but in their lives give the lie to their profession. They are practical atheists.
To believe IN God is one thing; to BELIEVE God is quite another. There is all the difference in the world between being convinced of the existence of God, and in believing what He says.
The Gospel teaches us first what to believe concerning ourselves; and then it tells us about Christ. In His Word, God says that man is lost, guilty, ruined, helpless. If you believe God, you must believe His Word, and thus you will take the place in which He sets you—that of the lost sinner. This is very different from carelessly admitting that "all men are sinners." You may not FEEL very bad; but whatever you may feel, you may KNOW that you are a lost sinner, because God says so.
If you do not take the place of the lost sinner, then on your own showing the Lord Jesus Christ is not for you. Only those who are "condemned already" can claim a Savior. God cannot accept your thoughts about yourself; but just because you accept God's estimate of yourself, you have the right to accept God's estimate of Christ for you.
You may think that you have to make yourself good enough for Christ to accept YOU; God says that Christ is good enough for you to accept HIM. Acknowledge the character He gives you, and receive the Savior He has provided for you. TAKE THE GUILTY SINNER'S PLACE, AND CLAIM THE GUILTY SINNER'S Savior.