What Is A Believer?
Acts. 5:14.

A. Each term in the New Testament which designates the people of Jesus Christ is heavily
weighted with meaning and significance. Nowhere is this more true than with the term
believers. The essential quality that identifies the disciples of Jesus as such is their authentic
“belief.” “Faith” is the defining characteristic of the Christian. Acts 5:14, “And
believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.”
Faith is important in the New Testament. Rom. 1:16-17, illustrates the importance of faith in the gospel plan. That states three truths: The gospel saves those who believe. God’s righteousness is revealed “from faith to faith.” The just shall live by faith.
a. The righteousness God, that saves man, is “the righteousness of faith,” Rom. 10:6.
Obedience to the gospel constitutes the “obedience to the faith,” Rom. 1:5; 16:26. The
gospel itself is called “the faith” Jude 3. It is hardly coincidental, then, that we find
Christians in the New Testament referred to simply as “the believers” 1 Tim. 4:12. And at the most fundamental level, that is what they are.
(A) Faith is not “Faith Only.” To say that we are “saved by (through) faith” as stated in Eph. 2:8 does not mean that reconciliation to God is enjoyed on the basis of “faith only.” We often hear that salvation is at the point when one mentally “accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.” It’s true, We cannot earn our salvation. But, that does not remove the fact that there are conditions to be met before the forgiveness of sins can be a reality — Jesus, and later His apostles, spelled these out clearly:
Repentance: Lk. 13:3, “Jesus said, “...unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Acts 2:38, Peter commanded, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission o f sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Confession: Matt. 10:32-33 Jesus tells us, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” And Paul teaches all Christians “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made to salvation” Rom. 10:9-10.
Baptism: In Mk. 16:16, Our Lord said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” And Peter restates that imperative and it’s recorded for all generations to hear, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:38. These conditions are essential. But, they Must be motivated by and fulfilled in faith to bring one to salvation.
Saving faith involves the “obedience of faith. The important expression “obedience of (to the) states, indicates, reveals the close connection between believing and obeying, Rom. 1:5; 6:26. The Bible says that one who says he has “faith” but refused to follow God’s instructions cannot expect God’s favor. That fact becomes obvious with a reading of Jas. 2:14-26. And it is equally obvious that when one does obey God’s instructions it must spring from, be motivated by, genuine faith. Just as faith without obedience is dead, even so, obedience with out faith is equally dead.

Heb. 11:6, states that, “...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” If obedience is not motivated by genuine faith you might as well live in open rebellion to God, for all the good your faithless obedience will do. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight,” so states Prov. 15:8.
To render to God the “obedience of faith” means that one responds dutifully whenever God says do something — and that response must be sincerely motivated by faith.
2. The key elements in faith is trust that motivates commitment and dependability. We begin by hearing the reasonable evidence for God’s existence and truthfulness that historical witnesses give to God by their experiences with Him.
(1) That comes by reading the historical evidence of the written Word. This leads us to accept, as truth, everything God says, trusting the accuracy of His words — this is called credence. Credence is accepting the reality of God.
(1) As we prove God in our own lives by walking in His will. This credence turns into a confidence in the character of God Himself. From this we learn to trust God to be dependable in every circumstance of life.
(2) This then turns into a constancy on our part. As we learn to walk with God our faith grows and be become more and more faithful. As faith grows so does our faithfulness and commitment. From that God is able to “depend” on the trustworthiness of our allegiance to Him.
(2) The Christian, therefore, is first and foremost a “believer” because faith has become the primary principle that operates in his life. Again Heb. 11:6, says, With faith — and only with faith — is it possible to please God: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” That does not mean “You’re save by faith only” as some think. Without faith you will not believe God, you will not come to God, you will not obey God and therefore you will not be saved. Faith will make you a Christian and faith will keep you a Christian. And faith is the only thing that will do that.
(1) To be a Christian, then, is to be a person who can truthfully say, “The life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.” Gal. 2:20. Bible example of faith is found in the story of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30?34. The jailer and his entire household found salvation by asking how to be saved and were taught the gospel and were baptized. Vs. 34, says, “...they rejoiced having believed in God...” Belief, Faith in God is equated with obedient faith in God.
(2) Is your faith in God just mental, intellectual acknowledgment. Or is your faith genuine. Genuine faith that brings salvation, is Obedient Faith?
(3) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 07/21/2002 pm