The Believers
Acts 5:14

For clarification of this study we must define the term FAITH. True faith means more than just, mental agreement with the facts of the gospel. Bible Faith defines the process of making a commitment of the body, soul and Spirit to Christ and everything He stands for and teaches.
Acts 5:14. Ever wonder why are Christians described as "the believers"?
a. Every term in the Bible that identifies or designates the people of Jesus has a specific
meaning and significance. And nowhere is that more true than with the term BELIEVERS.
(A) The essential quality that identifies people as disciples of Jesus is their authentic
"belief." The body of faith, the thing believed that is the standard of all conduct and
worship. The defining pattern by which the relationship to God is measured.
(1) This body of “FAITH” is the defining characteristic of the Christian.
(a) Obedience to that Faith is what defines us as believers.
(b) It defines those people in Acts 5:14, as the “...believers who were added to
the Lord, multitudes of both men and women."
(2) Rom. 1:16-17, illustrates the importance of faith in the gospel plan:
The gospel saves those who believe.
God's righteousness is revealed "from faith to faith."
Those who are justified shall live by faith.
(B) Rom. 10:3-6. The righteousness that God makes possible for man, is "the
righteousness of faith."
Obedience to the gospel constitutes the "obedience to the faith" (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). The gospel itself is called "the faith" In Jude 3, We are to contend for it.
That’s why we find Christians in the New Testament referred to simply as "the believers," 1 Tim. 4:12, “...Set an example for the believers...”
And that’s what Christians are—They are believers in the most fundamental sense. They believe so firmly in the faith they are willing to give their all to defend it.
To say that we are "saved by (through) faith" (Eph. 2:8) is not to say that reconciliation to God is enjoyed on the basis of "faith only." As some say today.
Denominations refer to that as the moment when one mentally "accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and is saved from all sin."
Problem. The Faith taught by Jesus and the apostles does not teach that.
Our salvation is not earned. But at the same time, both Jesus and the apostles teach that other conditions must be met before the forgiveness of sins can be a reality ?? Jesus, and later His apostles, spelled out those conditions clearly:
2. Repentance: Jesus, Luke 13:3. Peter, Acts 2::38.
3. Confession: Jesus, Matt. 10:32-33. Paul, Rom. 10:9-10.
4. Baptism: Jesus, Mark 16:16. Peter Acts 2:38.
These conditions are essential. But they must be responses of your faith.
Rom. 6:17, Paul calls it, “...obeying that form of doctrine taught to you, and by which you were freed from sin and became a servant of Jesus.” That form of doctrine is the faith we were taught in order to become “believers.”
Rom. 1:5-6; 16:25-27, That phrase, “Obedience of the faith,” means you must be obedient to the faith or doctrine taught by Jesus. And it reveals the connection between believing and obeying. And you cannot have one with out the other.

(1) True faith means more than mental agreement with the facts of the gospel.
(2) Rom 6:17?18, “You obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”.....”God established you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation that has now been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, (Why?) for obedience to the faith...”
Obviously, one who said he had "faith" but refused to do what God's tells him to do cannot expect God's favor. Jas. 2:14?26.
But it is equally true that when one does obey God’s instruction. The "obedience" must spring from genuine faith. I do it because I believe in God.
(3) If not, the actions are worse than nothing in God's eyes. Prov. 15:8.
(4) To render to God the "obedience of faith" means that one responds dutifully whenever God says do something ?? and that response is sincerely motivated by faith.
2. Faith is a multi?faceted thing.
1. We first accept (on the basis of solid evidence) the truth of everything God says, trustingthe accuracy of His words ?? this is credence. Not ask for Blind, Mindless faith.
(1) This turns into a confidence in the character of God Himself, in which we trust God to be dependable in every circumstance of life.
(2) This then turns into a constancy on our part, in which God is able to "depend" on the trustworthiness of our allegiance to Him.
(1) The Christian, therefore, is first and foremost a "believer" because faith has become the operative principle in his life. God said it, I believe, I will do it.
(2) With faith ?? and only with faith ?? is it possible to please God: That’s the statement of Heb. 11:6.
2. To be a Christian, is to be a person who can truthfully say, as did Paul in Gal.
(1) Strictly speaking, we have not "believed" until we have obeyed the gospel: "Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household" Acts 16:34.
(2) Does that seem to be to difficult a thing to do?
(3) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 5/6/2001 pm