Dear Friend,
Faith in God is not enough.
Faith in Christ is not sufficient.
Faith in Jesus is what counts!
Our attitude toward Jesus tests the authenticity of our faith in both God and Christ.
Saul of Tarsus is a prototype of the inadequacy of faith in God and Christ apart from Jesus.
Before Jesus appeared to him in a vision, Saul believed in God and Christ. As a great religious scholar, Saul thought he had it altogether. Then, on a mission to oppose the followers of Jesus, a light brighter than the sun struck Saul, and he heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. The Lord replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.” (Acts 26:12-18).
Suddenly, Saul perceived his faith was lacking. When he heard the name ‘Jesus,’ he put his faith in him, and everything fell into place. Saul realized Jesus was the Christ and that Jesus embodied “the fullness of God.” (Colossians 1:19).
Like Saul, everyone encounters Jesus along life’s way. Jesus comes to us in numerous ways – through dreams and visions, testimonies and sermons, Scripture, and sacrament.
Sometimes Jesus reveals himself as one unknown, as he did to men of old.
Other times, he manifests himself in the poor and needy. And always Jesus desires to show himself through us, if we allow him.
In whatever form Jesus makes himself known, our response to him makes the difference between life and death. Jesus is like a ‘stumbling block’ in our path. We either build our faith on him or stumble over him in unbelief.
“Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” (1 John 4:3. NKJV).
In Him,
Chris Halverson