How to Believe the Right Way to be Saved
“Israel saw the great work which Yahweh did to the Egyptians, and the people feared Yahweh; and they believed in Yahweh, and in his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:31 WEB)
After the awesome deliverance that Yahweh (the pre-incarnate Christ) accomplished for the children of Israel at the Red Sea, the Scriptures record that they believed in Yahweh.
However in the epistle to the Hebrews, we learn that most of that generation of the children of Israel never placed their faith in Yahweh and were never saved—they did not enter into the rest that God had provided through Jesus’ finished work at the cross.
“Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard...For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:1-2, 10-11 WEB)
Their bodies were physically saved from Egypt, but they didn’t receive the salvation for their sinful spirits by placing their faith in Yahweh.
Is there a contradiction in Scripture? How come they believed in Yahweh and yet weren’t saved?
The way they believed was not the type that results in salvation. Take a look at the following verse:
“You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.” (James 2:19 WEB)
Demons also believe in God and they believe that Jesus is the Son of God, however it’s clear that they don’t place their faith in Him as their Lord.
Let me give an illustration. Let’s imagine that you are a helpless, weak person traveling in a dangerous forest. Suddenly a whole group of tribal folk emerge from the trees and start pursuing you to kill you.
As you are running for your life, a strong man appears and using a blade, he kills all your enemies, saving you.
Am I right to say that after seeing that, you’ll believe that the man is able to fight and save your life, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll make him your lord?
Similarly, the children of Israel believed in Yahweh’s great power as He demonstrated through the plagues in Egypt and the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, but they never placed their faith in Him as their Lord.
This is evidenced by their constant complaining, idolatry and unbelief afterwards, never believing that Yahweh is for them and that He will supply all their needs.
They viewed Him as a powerful God whom they were afraid of, but they also believed that there were other gods—if not they wouldn’t have worshipped the molten calf.
“that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 WEB)
Dear brethren, it’s not good enough to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. The religious leaders of Israel believed that, saw all the proof of His claim to Messiahship and still knowingly chose to reject Him with hardened hearts even after His resurrection from the dead.
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”” (Matthew 28:11-14 WEB)
Instead of gathering to discuss plans to announce to Israel who the Messiah was, they chose to conspire and bury the truth with lies just to remain in power and not change the status quo.
To be saved, one has to place his faith in Jesus and allow Him to become his Lord. If Jesus is your Lord, then you are saved!
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