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Bible Study Do or did any of you feel like you have to work to believe?

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John 6:28-29
"So they said to him, "What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom He sent."

I used to have a lot of atheistic thinking in my head and heart before I was converted. And so my problem right away wasn't to accept Christ, it was simply to "back up" as it were and work on believing He was even real. I heard about the story of Christ, and thought to myself, "I'd like to believe in Jesus, if he were only a real God. But I'm not convinced in my head that he is."

So I can really identify with John 6:28-29 in the respect that it does take work - study and time spent searching history - to believe in the reality of Christ and of God. Once the evidence overwhelmed me that he was real, then the "spiritual side" of "believing in the one God had sent" had to be won in my heart. And with that, I had a problem being okay with suffering and serving others. I really didn't have the love of God in my heart yet. But eventually and slowly, that love began to grow in me.

I think today the work I need to be focused on is trusting him enough to actually do something that's out of my comfort zone.

So I think that this piece of Scripture is an ongoing work - that believing in Him is a constant work we do by getting in the Word, studying, praying, allowing the Spirit of God to change and transform us, seeking counsel from others and service. This work doesn't save us, but this work keeps us in fellowship with God.
 
This is a wonderful testimony of how the Holy Spirit has changed your heart and life Doug.
I agree we have to constantly study. Also to listen to others. When I sent to church I used to write down what I was hearing together with verses they quoted. When I got home I used to study it to .make sure it really said what their explanations were.
 
John 6:28-29
"So they said to him, "What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom He sent."

I used to have a lot of atheistic thinking in my head and heart before I was converted. And so my problem right away wasn't to accept Christ, it was simply to "back up" as it were and work on believing He was even real. I heard about the story of Christ, and thought to myself, "I'd like to believe in Jesus, if he were only a real God. But I'm not convinced in my head that he is."

So I can really identify with John 6:28-29 in the respect that it does take work - study and time spent searching history - to believe in the reality of Christ and of God. Once the evidence overwhelmed me that he was real, then the "spiritual side" of "believing in the one God had sent" had to be won in my heart. And with that, I had a problem being okay with suffering and serving others. I really didn't have the love of God in my heart yet. But eventually and slowly, that love began to grow in me.

I think today the work I need to be focused on is trusting him enough to actually do something that's out of my comfort zone.

So I think that this piece of Scripture is an ongoing work - that believing in Him is a constant work we do by getting in the Word, studying, praying, allowing the Spirit of God to change and transform us, seeking counsel from others and service. This work doesn't save us, but this work keeps us in fellowship with God.
well said - awesome post - thank you
 
i think one reason I lean towards TULIP as an explanation for salvation, etc. is because it allows me to chill out and simmer down...God selects us, saves us, transforms us...

whereas the Pentecostal view of salvation as something that can, most definitely, be lost is...frightening. very, very frightening, actually.


so, i -get- what you're writing about. i think my approach has been to remember Romans 8:28 and then reflect and ask: have I, in fact, been called? About 6 years into my (real, genuine) walk with The Lord, I say 'yes,' based upon His work in my life...and what I know of His work in other Chrisitans' lives, too.
 
i think one reason I lean towards TULIP as an explanation for salvation, etc. is because it allows me to chill out and simmer down...God selects us, saves us, transforms us...

whereas the Pentecostal view of salvation as something that can, most definitely, be lost is...frightening. very, very frightening, actually.


so, i -get- what you're writing about. i think my approach has been to remember Romans 8:28 and then reflect and ask: have I, in fact, been called? About 6 years into my (real, genuine) walk with The Lord, I say 'yes,' based upon His work in my life...and what I know of His work in other Chrisitans' lives, too.
that is very interesting that you say that tulip allows you to rest and know you are saved

i know some people who are tormented by tulip because they think they might not have been chosen - they don't know how to tell if they are one of the chosen

so what i learned from your post is different doctrines affect people differently

so i will be careful now to not present doctrines so much as to encourage people that God loves them and has them firmly in His grace

God bless you my dear friend
 
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The grace of God is unmerited favor freely given to us. All we have to do is believe by faith alone that God gave us His only begotten Son Christ Jesus who is our hope of faith that all who will believe in Him, even though we have never physically seen Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life with the Father, John 3:16.

Grace and faith are not works on our part as only believe. The works Jesus expects of us are His continued works, Matthew 25:34-40. Faith/belief starts out like that of a mustard seed, which is very tiny, and the more we water and grow that seed of faith by reading and studying the word of God the more we develop that personal relationship with Christ and know who we are in Him and He in us.
 
John 6:28-29
"So they said to him, "What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom He sent."

I used to have a lot of atheistic thinking in my head and heart before I was converted. And so my problem right away wasn't to accept Christ, it was simply to "back up" as it were and work on believing He was even real. I heard about the story of Christ, and thought to myself, "I'd like to believe in Jesus, if he were only a real God. But I'm not convinced in my head that he is."

So I can really identify with John 6:28-29 in the respect that it does take work - study and time spent searching history - to believe in the reality of Christ and of God. Once the evidence overwhelmed me that he was real, then the "spiritual side" of "believing in the one God had sent" had to be won in my heart. And with that, I had a problem being okay with suffering and serving others. I really didn't have the love of God in my heart yet. But eventually and slowly, that love began to grow in me.

I think today the work I need to be focused on is trusting him enough to actually do something that's out of my comfort zone.

So I think that this piece of Scripture is an ongoing work - that believing in Him is a constant work we do by getting in the Word, studying, praying, allowing the Spirit of God to change and transform us, seeking counsel from others and service. This work doesn't save us, but this work keeps us in fellowship with God.

You are on the right track, Brother. This is also how I understand it. To believe, to a Christian, means trusting...which means stepping out in faith in something...some sort of work. Otherwise it is merely an intellectual faith.

Good post.
 
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