SATURDAY, JULY 15
Matthew 16:13-20
1 John 5:1

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God…"

BELIEVE THAT THE LORD JESUS IS THE CHRIST (1)

Many may think that their church leaders or "Christian" scholars and theologians must be saved and will enter Heaven because of their knowledge of God and of the Holy Scripture, their honours degrees, their high positions in academic or church environment, their respectful titles, their recognized credentials and achievements, their mega churches and popular worldwide networks, their eloquent speaking and preaching, their teachings and writings with best-selling books, and so on. However, in the eyes of the Lord, they may not be saved or born again like Nicodemus! Then, how can we know for sure that we are born again, and what are the qualities born-again believers should have? We must search God’s Word, the truth, to find out the answers.

The first sign of born-again believers is they believe Jesus is the Christ. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1a). The Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, so they crucified Him. Nicodemus could recognize Jesus as a teacher from God, but he did not know and believe that Jesus was the Christ, so the Lord told him the truth that he must be born again. Thus, what does it mean to believe that Jesus is the Christ?

Jesus (Iēsoús) means Saviour. Jesus is the Lord’s human name. Jesus is the only begotten of God, and is God Himself, the Creator. But out of love, He was willing to humble Himself to be a man, born of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. What for? To save mankind from sins and the condemnation of sins through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Tim 3:16; cf. Matt 1:20-21). Sadly, many modern Bible versions replace "God" with "He," thus undermining the Deity of the Lord Jesus! Is Jesus truly your God and your Saviour?

THOUGHT: Is Jesus my personal God and Saviour?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Thou art my God and my Saviour.