Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

What does the word believe mean?
• Believe (M-W.com)
o : to accept as true, genuine, or real
o : to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something
• Know
o : to be aware of the truth or factuality of : be convinced or certain of
• Faith
o : something that is believed especially with strong conviction
• These sound extremely similar
• Do you think that believing, knowing, and having faith in Jesus is enough?
• Let’s look at some people who believed, knew, and had faith in Jesus.
John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Who is Jesus talking to here?
• Jews who believed him…knew the truth.
Hold to
• : to make liable or accountable or bound to an obligation
• : to give firm assent to : adhere to strongly
• : to maintain a grasp on something : remain fastened to something
Quote:
• James 2:17b faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
• James 2:26b faith without deeds is dead.
Jesus was telling these people here that belief is not enough, knowledge is not enough, talk is not enough. He was telling them that you have to put your money where your mouth is. There are no words, beliefs, or knowledge that can save you. The only thing that can save you is knowing/believing the truth and DOING IT!!! HOLDING TO IT!!!........THEN the truth will set you free. Like our quotes from James, if you aren’t finding out the truth by studying the bible and working to obey (refer to definition of “hold to”) then you won’t be (and you aren’t) set free (you aren’t “saved”).
Don’t let another day go by that you aren’t trying to HOLD TO Jesus’ teaching. Get with Ashley or me and set up a study today! Put your money where your mouth is and do it!