BELIEVING WITH THE HEAD AND BELIEVING WITH THE HEART
Last evening I spoke to the seniors about, "Believing with the Head, and Believing with the Heart." Here are some of the points I tried to cover.
Unbelief
Some people do not believe that Jesus existed. They deny His preexistence, virgin birth, perfect life, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, intercession.
Head Belief
Some people believe He existed, but that that His birth, life, death and resurrection is a series of myths and legends.
Some people believe the historical data about Jesus, they believe in Him intellectually, but they do not know Him as a living person today.
Some people believe the virgin birth, the pure life, the sacrificial death, the physical resurrection, His return to heaven, and His intercession at the right hand of the Father, but they only believe it intellectually, not experientially.
Then there are those who believe in Jesus with their hearts.
Heart Belief
Saving faith is more than intellectual ascent. It is spiritual trust, encounter, love and submission.
The Disciples
I pointed out that the disciples had an understanding of the resurrection, but not a full or spiritual grasp, in spite of the attention Jesus gave to the subject.
I explained the crucifixion, as a torture execution. I pointed out that His disciples saw Him die, Mary saw Him die, and the women prepared His body quickly for burial. They all knew He was dead, and they had gathered together in mourning and fear of persecution after his burial.
Jesus conquered the grave and revealed Himself to His followers. He met them in the enclosed room, and told them He was not a ghost or spirit. He allowed them to touch Him. Then Thomas fell and cried out, "My Lord and My God."
Where We Come In
Jesus commended and blessed Thomas and the others, for believing what they had seen and touched, but He also said, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing."
I explained to the seniors that I have never seen the body of Jesus. I have never touched the nail scarred hands, or the pierced side, but I believe in my heart, and I am sure that He died for me, that He rose again for me. And I told them that my believing has changed me, has saved me from sin and death. I encouraged everyone to believe in their hearts that Jesus died for them, rose again for them and they too will be saved.
While Preaching
One of the seniors had family members present. I watch the little boy while I was preaching. Initially he was involved with some other folks at the back of the room, who were working on a jigsaw puzzle. But as I preached, the boy (about nine years old I guess) turned to listen and became somewhat transfixed. God was speaking to him as well.
After Service
After service, several folks shared thoughts about the message. One man told me that as a Catholic, he use to believe in Jesus, but recently (through the services) he has come to believe in Jesus in a new and completely different way. This is why I share with people. So that they will believe in their hearts and be saved.
Romans 10:9-11
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Unbelief
Some people do not believe that Jesus existed. They deny His preexistence, virgin birth, perfect life, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, intercession.
Head Belief
Some people believe He existed, but that that His birth, life, death and resurrection is a series of myths and legends.
Some people believe the historical data about Jesus, they believe in Him intellectually, but they do not know Him as a living person today.
Some people believe the virgin birth, the pure life, the sacrificial death, the physical resurrection, His return to heaven, and His intercession at the right hand of the Father, but they only believe it intellectually, not experientially.
Then there are those who believe in Jesus with their hearts.
Heart Belief
Saving faith is more than intellectual ascent. It is spiritual trust, encounter, love and submission.
The Disciples
I pointed out that the disciples had an understanding of the resurrection, but not a full or spiritual grasp, in spite of the attention Jesus gave to the subject.
I explained the crucifixion, as a torture execution. I pointed out that His disciples saw Him die, Mary saw Him die, and the women prepared His body quickly for burial. They all knew He was dead, and they had gathered together in mourning and fear of persecution after his burial.
Jesus conquered the grave and revealed Himself to His followers. He met them in the enclosed room, and told them He was not a ghost or spirit. He allowed them to touch Him. Then Thomas fell and cried out, "My Lord and My God."
Where We Come In
Jesus commended and blessed Thomas and the others, for believing what they had seen and touched, but He also said, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing."
I explained to the seniors that I have never seen the body of Jesus. I have never touched the nail scarred hands, or the pierced side, but I believe in my heart, and I am sure that He died for me, that He rose again for me. And I told them that my believing has changed me, has saved me from sin and death. I encouraged everyone to believe in their hearts that Jesus died for them, rose again for them and they too will be saved.
While Preaching
One of the seniors had family members present. I watch the little boy while I was preaching. Initially he was involved with some other folks at the back of the room, who were working on a jigsaw puzzle. But as I preached, the boy (about nine years old I guess) turned to listen and became somewhat transfixed. God was speaking to him as well.
After Service
After service, several folks shared thoughts about the message. One man told me that as a Catholic, he use to believe in Jesus, but recently (through the services) he has come to believe in Jesus in a new and completely different way. This is why I share with people. So that they will believe in their hearts and be saved.
Romans 10:9-11
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
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