I am glad you are joining me today to examine what the Scriptures reveal about the Word of God being absolute truth and then examining whether or not we honestly believe it. I pray the Holy Spirit, our Helper, will reveal the truth of the Word of God and where we stand in regard to honestly believing and trusting God. Eric

Our topic for our post today will address the question of whether or not we totally believe (have faith) the precepts in the Scriptures or simply live in a state of mental assent.

Before we address that however, I believe it is necessary that we establish an important foundational truth.

In the world and the church today, we are seeing many who are interpreting the Scriptures differently. We are seeing and hearing more and more often that some Christians are irrational in what they are believing. Some such irrational beliefs are that God approves of abortion, sex changes, homosexuality, choosing genders, and same sex marriages.

“The differences we see in interpretation are due to sin and an unwillingness to understand Scripture in it’s original context. Christian irrationalism often manifests itself in group Bible studies where each individual describes what the text ‘means’ to them. Although a text may have different individual applications, it can only have one universal meaning.” (ligonier.org).

“The secular world is increasingly teaching that all truth is relative - a simple matter of each person’s perspective. God’s word is the embodiment of truth. Absolute truth in the Bible is the unchanging unwavering truth that comes directly from God.” (trustinthebible.com>what is absolute truth).

Our authority, as always, is the Word of God. Looking at 2 Peter 1:20 (NASB20) we read, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone's own interpretation,” The word ‘prophecy’ in the Greek is the discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden. (Strongs).

John 17:17 (ESV) reads, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ‘Truth’ as used in this verse, aletheia, in the Greek, means: the truth which is in the Lord and proceeds from Him.

Psalm 119:16 (CSB) states, “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”

“The truth of God’s Word is and unchangeable reality.” (www.bibleinfo.com). The truth of the Words of Jesus has been established through His resurrection.

Mark 11:22-24 (NIV) reads, “Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” After witnessing the miracle of Jesus cursing a fig tree and seeing it withered the next morning, Jesus was teaching the disciples concerning having faith in or believing God. According to the Greek word ‘pistis’ and Word Wealth in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, Jesus was telling the disciples , “Have ‘faith’ or, the divinely implanted principle of inward confidence, assurance, trust, and reliance in God and all that He says. The Scriptural definition of ‘faith’ comes from Hebrews 11:1. Faith sets in our minds the truth and reality of God’s Word even though we do not see it. The word oros, translated ‘mountain’ is symbolic of an obstacle, hinderance, or insurmountable problem.

Jesus instructed the disciples concerning what would or could happen when they faced the obstacles, or insurmountable problems of life with trust, reliance, confidence, and faith or believing in God. Jesus knew that ‘faith’ is the “key that releases the resources of heaven into our situations.’ (Textural notes in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible). He continued to instruct by revealing that if we ‘believe’ and do not ‘doubt’ we will have what we say. To ‘believe’ means to absolutely trust Jesus or God as able to aid in our obtaining or in doing something.

My goal today is for you to be able to honestly do a ‘faith’ or ‘belief’ check and to realize whether or not you fully trust God. Do you believe God or have faith regarding His Word, regardless of your circumstances?

‘Doubt’ (diakrino) as used in verse 23 means: a ‘conflict within oneself, in the sense of hesitating, having misgivings, being divided in decision making, or wavering between hope and fear.’ Maybe we are like the father whose son was possessed by a spirit and came to Jesus for help. In Mark 9:22 the father said to Jesus, “But if you can do anything…” To which Jesus responded, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” In verse 24 the father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Sometimes, that is the only way we can come to Jesus, proclaiming our belief, whether it is strong or not.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Can you imagine the faith-walk Abraham had? We read in Romans 4 ‘against all hope, with his and Sarah’s bodies being as good as dead, Abraham did not weaken in his faith in believing the promise of God, that he would be a father of many nations.’ (Romans 4:18-22 NIV). For Abraham, he did not waver but believed God. It took 25 years for the promise (the birth of his son) to be manifested!

“No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ and thus we speak, ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) Saying “amen’ was the custom in the synagogue which passed over to Christian assemblies. When he who read the Word or offered up a solemn prayer to God, the others in the assembly responded with ‘Amen’ (so be it) and make the substance of what was uttered their own. (Strongs) So, basically, the ‘Amen’ was/is a statement of faith.

Abraham is an excellent example for us. He was persuaded by what God said, not his own dreams or the wishful thinking of another man.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV), “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” “The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to awaken a response of faith within us!” (NSFLB textural notes).

1 Thessalonians 2:13 reveals that when we received the Word of God, we received it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the Word of God which is at work in those of us who believe.

How is the Word able to work in us? Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) reveals that the Word of God is living and active. ‘Living’ zao, means: the Word has vital life in itself. Kingdom Dynamics (NSFLB) states, “What makes the Bible different from any book that’s ever been written is that the Bible is the Word of God, alive, active, and effective. ‘Active’ (energes) means: operative, effectual, and powerful! Meyers N.T. Commentary states, “The Word renders the whole man transparent to God and to himself, and unveils in sharpest and most rigid analysis his psychieo-spiritual and innermost physical condition.

Galatians 3:5 (BSB), “Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?”

John 17:17 states, “Your Word is truth.”

When we believe that God’s Word is truth, then we can stand on it as truth. Psalm 119:160 (NKJV) reads, “The entirety of Your Word is truth. And everyone of Your righteous judgments endure forever.”

Our faith or belief comes from hearing and meditating on God’s Word. Chrisitanitiy.com states, “A biblical belief not only involves intellectual assent but also personal acceptance.” Christ not only existed and died for sin but He lives in me and died for my sin. (Galatians 2:20 NIV).

Our belief in Christ is not “I hope so” but is “I know so.” Romans 10:9 and 10 (NIV), “If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

James 1:2-8 and 12 (NIV) reveals that trials, or adversity will come for the testing of our faith. This is where God’s word must be planted deep in our hearts and minds. The words of our mouth must confess the truth of God’s Word. We can be encouraged by remembering past encounters we have had with the Lord as we recall His Faithfulness to us.

When doubt comes, we must not let it have it’s way, for endurance of perseverance will bring maturity to our spiritual lives and the ability to stand even in the midst of the enemy attacks.

The Word ’believe’ in the Bible means more than simply agreeing in our minds that something might be true. It means ‘trust that we believe so strongly in God that we are willing to commit our lives to Him and live the way we know He wants us to live. “And once we place our faith in God, we have to stop trying to figure out what we can do to turn the situation around. Let God provide the answers.” (Kenneth Hagin).

To simply ‘say’ we believe is not true belief. (Satan believes God exists and knows who Jesus is, but does not have faith in Him.

Christianity.com shared that “more than believing in the existence of God, we must trust Him for salvation.”

Rick Warren has stated, “We do a lot of praying, but we don’t expect an answer. But we’ve got to change our attitude if we want to receive an answer from God.”

First we must “be willing to let God answer in His own time. - According to His schedule, His time-schedule - wherever God thinks is best.” (Rick Warren).

Remember, it was in the fulness of time that the Father sent His Son into the world.

If, because of delayed answers to our prayers, doubt begins to creep in - go back to the promise in God’s Word and remember Isaiah 55:11, “God’s Word never returns void but does what it is sent to do.”

Hallelujah! His Word is Absolute Truth!

Let it become a part of you!

Choose to believe, no matter the circumstances.

He is ever Faithful!

NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020

ESV English Standard Version

CSB Christian Standard Bible

NIV New International Version

NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible

BSB Berean Standard Bible