Believe in the Gospel

Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch

Reading: Mark 1:14

"Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying:

'The kingdom of God is at hand. 

Repent, and  believe in the gospel.'" 

Mark 1:14 NKJ 

Like John, Jesus preached repentance and the gospel of the kingdom. Here in Mark we see one more aspect of the message of the Kingdom of God. "Believe in the gospel." What is the gospel? It is the "good news" of the kingdom of God. The King is here! Jesus Christ is our Messiah. He is our savior King! He paid the price for the sin of every human being, for you and me. He provided forgiveness and eternal life for all who believe in Him. Here we see that great love of God toward us:

"For God loved the world so much that He gave 

His one and only son,

so that everyone who believes in Him 

will not perish but have eternal life." 

John 3:16 NLT

The word believe can be spoken lightly, much like the word agree. "I agree with..., I believe that is true." For many it is not much more than an opinion. In the verse above we see there is great depth contained in the word believe. In the Bible it means much more than to just agree. Believe is the action word for faith. The hero's of faith in Hebrews 11 were willing to stake their life on their belief in God. It is not easy to risk your life or give up something precious to you; for something that you can't even see. Faith in God is beyond the realm of our material world that seems so real to us. Jesus said there is a special blessing for us who did not see Him in person,

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 

John 20:29 NKJ   

To believe as the Biblical teaches is to trust in, to rely upon, depend on, cling to. As believers, God allows situations to come into our lives that will continually grow and deepen our faith. Peter speaks the refining of our faith:  

"... now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him,  yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith...the salvation of your souls. 

1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJ 

Wow, consider what Peter is saying. Their faith that was proved genuine through trials is now bringing them great joy!!!  Joy inexpressible and full of glory, they are receiving the end of their faith...the salvation of their souls. Do we take our faith for granted or prize it like they did?

James said something similar:

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that  
the testing of your faith produces patience. 
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 

James 1:2-4 NKJ 

Do you at times, like me, find yourself lacking in faith, maybe having "little" underdeveloped faith , as Jesus' disciples did in Matthew 8? They were confronted with a fierce storm and were afraid they would all drown. All the while, Jesus slept. He slept in the confidence that God would not allow Him to die, until He had fulfilled the purpose of why He came. Do you at times lack confidence and sometimes find it difficult to trust God in the storm you are in? Sometimes I feel like the man in Mark 9:24 where he says to Jesus; 

"I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

If you lack confidence and trust in God you can even ask Him to help you overcome your unbelief! Toward the end of the gospel of John, he said:

"And truly Jesus did many other signs...not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name". John 20:30, 31 NKJ

Trust Jesus today. Rely on Him, depend on Him, cling to Him. 

In believing like this, we will have life in His name, and joy inexpressible, full of glory!!!