What do we believe 2?

What do we believe about God and The Bible . . . What do we believe about sin and righteousness . . . What do we believe about

heaven and hell . . . what do we believe about religion and proper worship . . . What do we believe about the concept of being rewarded

for faithfulness and being punished for unfaithfulness . . . For what purpose do we believe that has God revealed Himself to

mankind . . . for what purpose do we believe that “mankind” has been created . . . and what do we believe the purpose of our life is

what do we believe that are we supposed to do with our lives . . . what do we believe that God requires of us . . .

As we consider what we believe about these different things . . . I want to ask each of you a very basic question – and that question is

whether or not “what you believe” has any effect upon the reality (or the real truth) regarding each of these issues . . . in other

words do you believe that you can make something come true – just because you believe it to BE true . . .

When I was really young – I believed that the moon was made of cheese . . . I also had what I believed was a pet mouse that lived in a tree

out in the front yard . . . and I genuinely believed that my “pet mouse” talked to me . . . there was a point in my life when I honestly believed these things to be the absolute truth.

My point is . . . the degree of assurance which I had regarding these things that I believe so completely had no effect at all upon “reality”

If it is raining outside . . . the fact that we believe that it is NOT raining or regardless of how bad we want it not to be raining – these

Thoughts and beliefs will not force the clouds away and bring out the sun . . .

So what we believe is certainly important . . . it is important to us because of how we spend our lives preparing for what we believe . . .

but it is not important at all regarding “the genuine reality” of the object of our belief.  If we believe the wrong thing . . . then  

“reality” is not going to somehow change in order to accommodate our misconceptions . .

Ps 14:1  <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

 To believe that there is no God in heaven . . . to believe that there is no hell beneath nor a day of judgment after death . . . this type of belief will not shorten your stay in hell by a single hour . . . nor 
will such a denial lower the temperature of hell when you arrive there - even one degree . . .

You see “what we believe” or what do NOT believe – is simply not capable of “changing” the reality of death – hell and judgment which many of spend our lives trying to avoid.

What we believe literally defines who we are as a person . . . What we believe controls the direction of our individual lives – as well as the direction of “society” in general . . .

So what do we “really” believe about God and The Bible . . . is “what we believe” based upon sight (what we are able to understand in our mind) or is what we believe based only upon

Faith (which refers to what we accept in our heart in spite of our lack of understanding)

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This verse tells us that “without faith” it is impossible to please God . . . we should also understand that without faith it is likewise impossible to “know” or to recognize God.

Gen 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

God never argues the point of His eternal existence . . . He simply reveals to us (without any proof to back up His claim) that there has

never been a point in history when He did not exist . . . this is the meaning of the phrase “in the beginning God . . .”

God also reveals to us (to mankind) that He is the creator or the originator of all things . . . John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

Once again – throughout The Bible – God NEVER attempts to argue His existence or to offer any type of proof regarding The Truth

that He declares in His Word . . . God simply states “the fact” that He existed “in the beginning” and the He is the creator of everything . . .

Romans 1: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The point here is that man who denies the existence of God has no excuse . . . the invisible things of him refer to the physical

laws of nature that God put into place for the purpose of maintaining order in His creation . . . gravity always works . . . water always runs down hill . . . the compass always points to the North . . . Summer always follows Winter . . .

John 1:3 tells us plainly – that ALL things were made (created) by God . . . and that nothing has been created without God.

And Romans 1:20 simply tells us that the concept of a divine creator is totally obvious to anyone with eyes to see the wonders of universe . . .

So when we consider “what we believe” . . . Is God real and did He literally “speak” creation into existence . . . is the very first “test” of our faith.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not EVERY spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

As we approach this concept of “what we believe” about things we will find that we must choose between one of two different

points of view . . . And these opposing points of view are determined by one of the following: 

“What we believe” about God is either determined by things that we can perceive – grasp and comprehend . . . or “what we believe” is guided by things which are beyond our sight – and outside of our ability to understand.

Matt 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

What this scripture is telling us – is that it is not possible to walk by faith while we are walking by sight . . . this is actually telling us the

obvious . . . it is not possible to walk with a blindfold covering our eyes – while we are walking without a blindfold to cover our eyes.

To have only one eye closed does not mean that we cannot see . . . we have no need of faith when we see with only one eye . . . but we

only need faith when we can see with NEITHER eye . . . it is not possible to accept the concept of God based upon the power of  human reasoning . . . while at the same time

“believing” in God purely by faith . . . often times we want to close only one eye and then make the claim that we are walking by faith . .

When in fact the only reason that we believe in God at all . . . is because of what we are able to understand about Him in our mind rather than because we have chosen to accept Him in our heart.  

What do we believe 1?

What do we believe . . . 

Our belief about “the present” is why we have chosen to be where we are today (in church or outside of church) – and “what we believe” about 

tomorrow determines the direction that our lives will take toward the future of all of our tomorrows . . .

When we talk about “religion” we could name a variety of things regarding “what we believe” about our present life – as well as

what we believe about “the next life” (if in fact we do believe that there IS a next life).

Now the basic reason that “religion” even exists is because of what men BELIEVE happens to them when they die . . . and

based upon what WE BELIEVE “happens” to us “after we die” – we have “bought in” (or subscribed) to a particular type of religion.

In the book of Job 14: 14 we read . . .

Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

So the universal “question of life” really doesn’t deal with the present life . . . but it is actually a question about death and what occurs during the NEXT life.

What a man “believes” about the present life is important . . . but what he believes about the NEXT life is even MORE important.

Our beliefs about "what comes next" . . . will determine the direction of our lives and where we are “today” . . . what we believe about eternity is responsible for what we believe about "today" . . . if there is no eternity – 

then the only purpose of “today” is to find pleasure . . . if however we will live in eternity – then the purpose of today is to PREPARE for that life in eternity.

“What we believe” about “the next life” has quite literally motivated each of us to find a religion which promises to take care of us in the next life . . . and according to the internet –

there are about 4200 different religions that exist throughout the world . . . and each one of these religions promise “comfort” to the

believer after they die . . . what this means is that there are a number of different beliefs about what really happens to us when we die

which give rise to about 4200 different “systems of teachings” (called religion) each of which promote HOW TO avoid

“unpleasant” circumstances which are believed to exist after death – as well as teachings about HOW TO achieve “pleasant” circumstances which are believed to exist after death.

So knowing that we are alive – and possessing a belief in this life about “what happens” AFTER this life – we should realize that the

most basic purpose of “religion” is to provide guidance in this life – about HOW TO succeed in the next life. 

So from this perspective “Religion” is basically a road map . . . or a HOW TO BOOK regarding how to succeed in eternity. 

If there are 4200 road maps describing the path which leads “to eternity” the odds of picking “the right” map by just choosing one at

random are 1/4200 or about .0002% chance of following the right path and finding peace in eternity. 

These are not good odds at all . . . but if this were the best that we could do . . . then knowing that there have been an estimated

110 billion people that have ever lived on planet Earth – means that only about 26 million people "throughout all history" have found “the right” 

religion . . . and have any chance at all to find peace with God in eternity . . . but suppose . . . that ALL religions were pointing in the wrong direction . .

this would mean that following ANY type of religion would give us a ZERO% chance of finding peace in eternity . . . which if this were true - it would 

basically mean that (as far as the next life and eternity were concerned) that the entire human race was 100% guaranteed

to fail in their search for a pleasant experience in eternity.  God has tried to tell us this very thing in scriptures like . . .

Ro 3: 23 For ALL HAVE SINNED, and come SHORT of the glory of God;

Ec 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, not one:

If we do the math about our chance of finding “the right” religion . . . out of the estimated 7 billion people that are alive today – only 1.6 million

of them have a chance to go to heaven . . . but according the The Bible . . . 100% of the human population is destined for hell.

An example of what we are talking about can be seen in what is called the shell game . . .

this is when a pea is hidden under one of three different shells . . . all you have to do is to keep your eye on the shell that contains the pea . . .

The objective of this game is to test your eyes to see if they can track fast enough. This game involves fast thinking and good eyesight.

All you have to do is to place your bet, then keep your eye on the small black ball and then figure out which shell it is in after the shells are shuffled.

The point is . . . if the pea has been removed so that it is not under ANY of the shells – then instead of having a 1/3 chance of getting the

prize . . . then no matter how good your eyes are – no matter how fast you think . . . when you place your bet - you have a ZERO% of winning . . .

All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God . . . For those of us who are depending upon religion to keep us safe in

eternity . . . Satan has drawn us into a shell game . . . but he has secretly removed the pea . . . no matter how good you live – no

matter what religion you choose - you cannot win because there is no pea under ANY of the shells . . . likewise in regard to eternity . . .

There is no religion that is capable of leading even the .0002% who would be lucky enough to find it – to a place of peace with God in eternity.  

So it is time for each of us to consider “what we believe” about heaven – what we believe about hell – what we believe about eternity.

And what we believe about the promises that over 4200 different religions make to us regarding HOW TO find a pleasant experience in “eternity” after death.

As we come to a close in this lesson . . . do the math for yourself . . . if you are depending upon religion to save you . . . the odds are

not good at all . . . in fact (if you would be honest about it) you really don’t stand any chance at all . . .

So what do you plan to do about eternity . . . Do you understand that “Christianity” – Jesus and the cross – faith and repentance . . . are not simply things that define another religion

Religion is defined as . . .  commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.

Religion is what-ever “a man” happens to believe . . . if a man believes the wrong thing – then that man has “the wrong” religion . . .

Compare this concept of “religion” with “The Truth” . . .

The Truth is not something that is defined by mankind . . . in fact The Truth is not something that is dependent upon man in any way at all . . .The Truth begins with GOD . . . in fact God is TRUTH.

So “what we believe” as a man will have no effect at all upon “The Truth” . . . in other words something will not “be true” just because we WANT IT to be true . . .

What the “majority believes” has no bearing on “The Truth” either . . .

If every single person that had ever been born "believed with all of their heart" that the pea was under the middle shell . . . this would not change 

the truth . . . which is that there is no pea at all . . . the “bet” would be lost – and the entire human race would perish because they chose “the wrong” religion.

Consider some of the things that we have always heard . . . it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere . . . let’s

adapt this to fit our example . . . it doesn’t matter which shell you believe the pea is under – as long as you are sincere . . .

The Truth that is over looked in this philosophy is that it really doesn’t matter which shell you believe the pea is under at all . . . because

there IS NO PEA under any of them . . . You see RELIGION is not the answer to the question of life . . . JESUS is . . . 

The devil “cheats” – he has the whole world fighting over “religion” (where the pea is located) . . . when the truth is – there is no pea at all.

Ye shall not surely die . . . don’t worry about eternity – concentrate on your present life . . .

So what we believe about GOD and JESUS are more important than any other belief . . . because if there is no God then “Christianity”

is just another “religion” . . . and the more religions we can experience during life – then the better our odds . . .