the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Grace for Today
John 9:35
‘Dost thou believe on the Son of God?’
Read 1 John 5:1-13
There is one question that is, above all others, of greatest importance. Our Lord himself asked it: ‘Dost thou believe on the Son of God?’ The question is not, ‘Are you religious?’ Most people are. In comparison with this question, all questions concerning denominational affiliations and theological opinions are insignificant. How can I put this question to you with due solemnity? ‘Do you believe on the Son of God?’ Life and death, heaven and hell, eternal bliss and eternal misery depend upon your answer. Perhaps there are some of you whose hearts are troubled by this question. You may be genuinely concerned about the state of your soul. You are wondering, ‘What is it to believe on Christ?’ Let me try to help you. There are three things essential to what we call saving faith.
1. Before any man can believe on Christ, he must have a knowledge of him. This knowledge comes through the preaching of the gospel. When the Holy Spirit applies the preached Word he makes us to know our need of Christ. He teaches us our guilt and helplessness. And he makes us to know who Christ is and what he has done. He shows us that the Son of God died in the place of sinners, satisfying divine justice, and that he has power to save sinners upon the merits of his substitutionary work.
2. There must be an assent, or agreement, to the testimony God has given concerning his Son. True faith is more than just agreeing with the historical facts and doctrinal truths of the gospel. But wherever there is true faith, there is an agreement in the heart with God’s testimony in the gospel.
3. The sinner must trust Christ. Do you realize your wretched condition before God? Do you know yourself to be a sinner, helpless and undone? Do you assent to the truth of the gospel? All of this is good. But something more is required. You must cast yourself upon the arms of mercy. You must commit your soul, and all your hopes of salvation and life, to the Son of God, knowing that it is in his power to show you mercy and grant you eternal life. You must believe on Christ. ‘Dost thou believe on the Son of God?’ God help you to believe.
