Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Basilea Schlink
Because the Bible Says So
If the Word of God clearly says something, then that’s all the proof I need. Paul wrote that whoever puts their trust in God will never be disappointed (Rom. 10:11). Paul said that he was quoting Scripture, and since he had access to only the Old Testament, what Old Testament verse says the same thing? If we read Psalm 25:3, it also says that whoever trusts in God will never be disgraced or, as some translations say, “be put to shame.” Isaiah writes something very similar but just a bit different: Those who wait on Him “shall not be put to shame” (Isaiah 49:23c). No wonder Paul said that he wasn’t ashamed of the gospel. Because it was the power of God to save (Rom. 1:16). If God’s Word says it, I believe it because God cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2).
He Will Not Leave Me in the Grave
When Job was going through his great suffering, he knew that God would not leave him in his grave forever, but would desire the work of His hands again (Job 14:15), just as He would be faithful in not forsaking those He fashioned with His own hands (Psalm 138:8). Death is not final; it is a bridge into eternity because Jesus took the sting out of death and conquered the grave (1 Cor. 15:55). How can we not trust a God Who has the power to raise us from the dead? We have every reason because, just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so we, too, will be someday (Rom. 6:4), because the same Spirit that raised Him will also raise us someday (Rom. 8:11).
Passed from Death to Life
Here, I am not speaking of a physical death, but eternal death. God will never disappoint those who have trusted in Jesus Christ because by doing so, they have received eternal life, and that life is found in trusting in Christ (John 3:16). Jesus told the disciples–and He tells us today–that whoever believes in Him already has eternal life (John 3:36a) and will not be judged, which means that we who have believed have already passed “from death to life” (John 5:24).
Prove It to Yourself
Paul says that faith comes by hearing, and that hearing is of the Word of God (Rom 10:17). The Apostle John, in writing 1st John, used the word “know” over 40 times because he wanted the church to know and have an assurance that they could trust God. Maybe John used the word “know” so often because Gnosticism had crept into the church, which was contrary to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gnostics claimed that knowledge was the key to salvation but that it was hidden knowledge; however, this is contrary to the gospel because the word “know” is used over 130 times by John in his gospel and John’s three books near the end of the New Testament. If John was so sure that we could know, he wanted us to know as well so that none who trust in God would ever be disappointed. I hope you know that by now.
Conclusion
I’ve been around long enough to know that trusting God pays off. He is faithful to His Word. He has been faithful in the dark times and faithful in the good times. He is always good, so there is every reason to trust God. He’s got this!
