I. John 20:30,31 - And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence
of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye might have life through his name.
II. It is not your believing that gives you salvation
- it is believing that Christ has paid everything, and done everything that
you might be saved.
A. Go through Genesis 3 – see the nakedness of man after he has made
aprons out of fig leaves.
1. Today, we make clothes out of cotton, another plant.
2. Many believe they are somehow better than others because of the
clothes the wear.
B. John 6:29 - Jesus told these people who were seeking him that the real
work of salvation was to believe on Jesus Christ, who was sent by God.
1. John 8:30 - An example of false believing, which led these
unbelievers to question everything Jesus said, and to finally turn against
Him, and try to kill him. (verse 59)
C. It is not just believing that brings salvation.
1. God doesn't save you based on the fact that you
believe:
a. if the believing is based on your trusting what you are doing.
b. That kind of believing is trusting in what
you are doing, not in what Christ did for you.
c. Eph. 2:8,9 states that we are saved by grace through faith, not of
works, lest any many should boast.
d. The lost person must believe on the power of God to save.
e. They cannot trust their trusting, or trust their believing, or
believe their believing to save.
2. This is why lost people strain and try to believe, yet cannot
believe to the saving of their soul.
3. This is why lost people say they believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the son of the living God, and that He died for their sinfulness, yet
remain lost.
4. When lost people aren't saved, after they declare they believe, they
begin to believe there is something wrong with their believing, or that
God doesn't love them, or that they were predestinated to salvation, or
that they can never be saved.
5. Anybody can be saved - but most people won't trust what God has done
for them, thus allowing Him to give them eternal life.
D. Would you, as a lost person, be willing to say this to God? "God,
I am a guilty sinner, and ought to go to hell. You are just and right to
send me to hell, and while I am in hell, I will love you and give your name
all the glory and honor I can from the very depths of hell."
1. Would you make yourself willing to submit to God, quit trying to be
saved, and accept whatever He has for you?
2. Do you believe that God will give the very best to you, and not
withhold any good thing?
E. You don't have to give up any of your sins to be saved! (You don't
have to be good to be saved, or to cause God to love you!)
1. I Tim. 1:15 - This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of
whom I am chief.
2. This is a smoke screen that Satan has put before you.
3. You can smoke, drink, commit adultery, be a homosexual, and commit
every sin in the Bible and God will still save you.
a. Sins are given up after salvation, not before.
b. Sins are given up because a person is saved, not to cause a
person to be saved.
F. Do you believe the Bible is true?
1. Do you believe God would tell a lie?
2. Did God lie when he said (John 6:47) that whosoever believeth
in Him hath everlasting life?
G. Do you believe God would save you if you quit trying?
1. The only way you will be saved is when you quit trying.
2. When you quit trying to be saved, (that is, to save yourself) you
will turn completely to God and let Him save you, then
you will be saved.
H. John 1:12 - If you believe on His name, you will receive the power
(right or privilege) to believe on His name.