What's the Difference Between a “True Believer”
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Hmmm... I don't really know. 
Maybe now I'm thinking He does know, and I'm going to say maybe I agree with him.
Maybe now I'm thinking He does know, and I'm going to say maybe I agree with him.
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A believer is someone who has received the word of God by faith. But not in a general way, but rather a way in which they have come to believe that Jesus is Lord.
A true believer, clarifies this to indicate there are false believers just like Jesus, Paul, Jude and others warned us of. We have the false prophets, the damnable heresies that Peter referred to. We have nominal Christians who are Christians in name only. We were warned to not be deceived, so this term "true believer" is referring to that warning as well. That said, it is not a Biblical expression and the reason is simple, the term normalizes lying. The Lord said let your yes be yes and your no be no. So we have believers and unbelievers.
The terms the Bible does use are "false brethren", "wolves", "deceitful workers", and "super apostles".
A true believer, clarifies this to indicate there are false believers just like Jesus, Paul, Jude and others warned us of. We have the false prophets, the damnable heresies that Peter referred to. We have nominal Christians who are Christians in name only. We were warned to not be deceived, so this term "true believer" is referring to that warning as well. That said, it is not a Biblical expression and the reason is simple, the term normalizes lying. The Lord said let your yes be yes and your no be no. So we have believers and unbelievers.
The terms the Bible does use are "false brethren", "wolves", "deceitful workers", and "super apostles".
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It is possible to believe intellectually but have no reality in experience. The Greek expression "Believe in" is stronger than the English implies. It could easily be translated "believe into". For example, people may say that they believe air travel is safe, but they refuse to get on a plane. That kind of belief is fruitless. Salvation comes by receiving and believing the Lord Jesus. (John 1:12)
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In James 2:19, we see that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God," but they do not believe in/have faith in/trust in/reliance in Jesus Christ for salvation. In other words, they do not believe on/in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) and are not saved. Their trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works.
It's one thing to believe "mental assent" that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ "happened" and it's another thing to go deeper and believe or trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
So just because someone may believe that Jesus Christ exists and they also believe in certain historical facts about Jesus Christ does not necessarily mean that they believe in/have faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation.
It's one thing to believe "mental assent" that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ "happened" and it's another thing to go deeper and believe or trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
So just because someone may believe that Jesus Christ exists and they also believe in certain historical facts about Jesus Christ does not necessarily mean that they believe in/have faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation.
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The difference between the two is the object of one's faith.
I used to believe that my good works were to be added to Christ's sacrifice and was not sure about my salvation for good reason. I would have told you that I was a believer and a Christian prior to this, but given you a reason that my good had to outweigh the bad or similar. That was my misunderstanding of the term.
Once I read and understood the following....
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2
AND
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Once I read and understood this /\,
it was clear to me that I shouldn't add any of my good works to what the Savior did, if I wanted to be saved.
A false belief is one which mixes God's grace through faith with man's own works of self righteousness.
A true believer is one who has put their faith in the Truth.
"Jesus saith into them, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me."
Who is the Object of your faith, my friend?
I used to believe that my good works were to be added to Christ's sacrifice and was not sure about my salvation for good reason. I would have told you that I was a believer and a Christian prior to this, but given you a reason that my good had to outweigh the bad or similar. That was my misunderstanding of the term.
Once I read and understood the following....
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2
AND
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Once I read and understood this /\,
it was clear to me that I shouldn't add any of my good works to what the Savior did, if I wanted to be saved.
A false belief is one which mixes God's grace through faith with man's own works of self righteousness.
A true believer is one who has put their faith in the Truth.
"Jesus saith into them, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me."
Who is the Object of your faith, my friend?
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the difference in saying “ I believe “ and acting like “ I believe “
In any situation it’s the action that tells the truth. This is the difference
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
James 1:21-25 KJV
the modern church has become hearers only and in many cases th ey wont even hear it
if we actually heard and believe what Jesus said we’re going to believe our eternal souls depend on what he’s talking about if we believe what he said it’s going to change us if we just say I believe it’s not going to have any effect on our life
if you truly believed there was a billion dollars in your freezer and God told you all you have to do is go grab it out of your fridge if you actually believe it you’ll go open the fridge and get it , but if you don’t actually believe it’s there why would you bother ?
belief is important because it’s what causes us to act which is what stands the test of faith
if we were to believe the gospel and then not think it’s true we aren’t going to follow any of his teachings because they are sort of sacrificial or our own desires but if we actually believe eternal life and damnation is at stake like Jesus says it’s a different ball game because it’s going to cause action
In any situation it’s the action that tells the truth. This is the difference
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
James 1:21-25 KJV
the modern church has become hearers only and in many cases th ey wont even hear it
if we actually heard and believe what Jesus said we’re going to believe our eternal souls depend on what he’s talking about if we believe what he said it’s going to change us if we just say I believe it’s not going to have any effect on our life
if you truly believed there was a billion dollars in your freezer and God told you all you have to do is go grab it out of your fridge if you actually believe it you’ll go open the fridge and get it , but if you don’t actually believe it’s there why would you bother ?
belief is important because it’s what causes us to act which is what stands the test of faith
if we were to believe the gospel and then not think it’s true we aren’t going to follow any of his teachings because they are sort of sacrificial or our own desires but if we actually believe eternal life and damnation is at stake like Jesus says it’s a different ball game because it’s going to cause action
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