Define Believe.

What does it mean to believe in God?

“And He took him outside and said, ‘Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars,  if you are able to count them.’ and He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5-6)

The promise was astronomical in its magnitude. “Then he believed in the LORD.”  Here’s a guy who takes God for His word, accepting that what He says is true. Do you suppose he believed that “nothing is impossible” (Luke:1:37) for the One who created the heavens and the earth? The size of the promise is meaningless to God. What matters to Him is what we believe about Him.

“And 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 to those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) God is pleased when we believe in Him and want Him. With God it’s a matter of trust, restoring the trust that was first lost in the garden. His word declares, “Blessed is the man whose trust is in the LORD, whose confidence is the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:7)

Abraham did not doubt God’s ability to keep His word. Later, when tested, Abraham’s hope was in God resurrecting a dead son, if he was to be obedient. (Hebrews 11 :17-19) In trusting that God was good, he then became the father of our faith. Want to please God? Trust Him. (Romans 4:13-22) 

 What does it mean to believe in His name?

To know that you know what it means to believe in His name is extremely important. Satan, who first lied to break a relationship of trust, will also lie to prevent trust. An angel of the Lord visited Joseph in a dream. “…. and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Long before the birth of Jesus the prophet Isaiah said that His mother would “call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) “God with us.'” (Matthew 1:23) Only God can save His people from their sins.

When we believe in His name, we believe that Jesus is God and will “save His people from their sins.”  When we believe in His name, we know that we are in need of a savior. Those who receive Him “to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) 

God with us, to save us from our sins and to give us “the right to become the children of God.” That is what it means to believe in His name.

What does it mean, “The Right to Become”?

To be continued….