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Believe
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36).
What does it really mean to believe? Sometimes we say things like, “I believe that it will be good weather tomorrow.” Or, “I believe the economy is going to improve this year.” However, that reduces believing to mere supposition, an assumption of the truth, a longing, or a hope. In this way the word believe loses its true force.
There is a much deeper significance to the concept. It is absolute faith, complete trust and confidence in someone or something. It is unrestricted acceptance of the reliability of that person or thing.
When John Paton (1824-1907), the Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific, was translating the New Testament into the language of the natives he found it hard to come up with a word for believe that would fit their way of looking at things. Then he came to Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” He translated it, “Lean your full weight on Him.” Have you leaned your full weight on Him for salvation?
“Believe on Him” (Philippians 1:29).
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