Believe God or Believe in God?
There is a difference.
For Lent this year, I have been working on reading through the Scriptures. This time I am reading in the HCSB translation. I vary the translation each read-through because the subtle differences in translation can often shed new light on familiar passages.
I hope to get to the New Testament, but I will get as far as I get. Yesterday I had gotten well into 2 Kings.
Most of the Kings of Israel and Judah rebelled against God and followed the ways of their pagan neighbours. The Lord repeatedly warned them about their sin’s consequences, but they paid no heed.
I was struck particularly by two Passages in 2 Kings 17.
The Israelites secretly did what was not right against the Lord their God. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city. 2 Kings 17:9 HCSB
Still, the Lord warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commands and statutes according to all the law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through My servants the prophets.” but they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God. 2 Kings 17:13-14 HCSB
Some translations render that last part “who did not believe in the Lord their God.” I’m not a translation expert, and the difference is subtle, but given that the people were secretive in their sin, it seems that they did believe “IN” God, or they would not have been secretive. They didn’t believe God would follow through on His warnings.
There is a vast difference between believing “IN” God and believing Him. I would venture to say that most people believe there is a god. Many would even claim to believe in the God of the Bible.
Yet they do not believe Him or His Word. If they did believe Him, they would turn towards the light in repentance.
Belief in God is not sufficient to save us.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:19 HCSB
Hell will be filled with people who believe in God. They chose their sin over and above Him. That is the way of fallen humanity.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. John 3:19-20 HCSB
God has given everyone fair warning, and the Scriptures are clear that we are without excuse in rejecting Him. We must turn to Jesus in faith to be saved.
Do you believe in God, or do you believe God? Your eternity hangs on the answer to that question.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin