WHO IS A BELIEVER?

'Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed...' - John 8 vs 31

Greetings dearly beloved of God in Christ Jesus. I trust God that He maketh all things to work together for your good. Amen. 

Right now, we are looking into a subject that many Believers in Christ need to get straight. Who is a Believer?

Is a Believer in Christ one that merely believes in Jesus Christ? Is that all that makes one attain the description of "A Believer in Christ?" Let's see what the Apostle James says concerning believing;

'Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.' - James 2 vs 19 {KJV}

In the context of discussion of this Passage, the Apostle James was addressing the notion of merely having faith in God without the outward evidence/conduct which indeed affirms that such a person believes in God. So he says, even the devils believe also that there is one God and they tremble. In other words, that a man believes in the existence of Christ and God is not enough credential to affirm him as a Believer or man of Faith, because even the devils believe also that there is one God, yet the devils are not saved, they are not in the Light; but they believe. - Selah

So you see, mere believe or acknowledgement of Christ is not the automatic affirmation that one is a Believer of Christ. See what the Lord Jesus said to certain of the Jews which believed on Him;

'As he spake these words, many believed on him.' - John 8 vs 30 {KJV}

As the Lord preached the Kingdom, many believed on Him as you and I believe on Him. Now see what the Lord went forward to say to them that believed on Him - We can take a lesson from it;

'Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed...' - John 8 vs 31 {KJV}

IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED

I love the way the Amplified Bible Translation puts it; 

'So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.'

HOLD FAST TO MY TEACHINGS, LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEM

So you see, a Believer is one who believes in Christ, and continues/lives according to the words of Christ which patterns his living. - Selah

"The teachings and commandment of Christ patterns the living of the Believer."

"A true Believer submits himself to live in accordance to the teachings and dictates of Christ."

WHAT'S THE COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST?

The commandment which Christ has given to those who believe in Him to follow is one, and it is;

'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.' - John 13 vs 34 {KJV}

Take note, this is a commandment. A commandment is a decree meant to be carried out intentionally. So never you expect because you are a Believer or Christian, walking in love will become an automatic virtue in you. No! Never! Walking in love is an intentional act of the Believer. We were commanded to walk in love. - Selah

Remember, the Lord said, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. This connotes that those men who believed in Him had the responsibility of continuing in Christ's words/teachings. And walking in love is that Word of Christ/Commandment that we the Believers are to continue in. It's an intentional walk. - Selah

Remember, all the law and Prophets are summed up in the word, LOVE [loving God, and loving your neighbour] - Matthew 22 vs 36 - 40.

"A Believer who walks in love is that man who is a disciple indeed according to the Words of Christ."

Selah!

Merely believing doesn't make a Believer. The demons believe and they tremble; they believe in Jesus, they believe in God insomuch that they tremble, yet they are not Believers/God's own, they are not in the Light.

It's not mere believing that makes a Disciple of Christ, but obedience to the words of Christ, obedience to the words of the One you say you believe. - Selah. Then Apostle James sums it up this way;

'What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.' - James 2 vs 14 - 17 {KING JAMES VERSION}

You see that?

EVEN SO FAITH, IF IT HATH NOT WORKS, IS DEAD, BEING ALONE

So we can clearly see and understand now that it's not enough to merely believe in Christ, but to continue in the words of Christ as well, even as the Lord admonished those Jews which believed;

'Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed...' - John 8 vs 31 {KJV}

So we continue in His word, by submitting ourselves to the obedience of the commandment of Christ, loving God and loving men. Amen.

God is with you.

- Jenning U. Angel