There's a question that might be the most important question ever asked in human history. It's a question the Lord Jesus Christ asks directly to you this morning.
Scripture Focus: John 11:25-27; Romans 10:9
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.'"
Do you believe this?
This is a question that the Lord Jesus Christ asks to you directly this morning through the power of His Spirit. Do you believe this? No one else can answer this question for you. No one else can answer this question by proxy. Boys and girls, do you believe this? Older folk, do you believe this? Teenagers, do you believe this? Have you personally laid hold of these truths? No one else can be saved by faith or through faith for you.
Maybe you're wondering, "How can this hope, how can this life, how can this resurrection, this assurance be mine? What do I need to do?"
The Bible says you don't do anything. Jesus has done it all. "What do I have to pay?" You don't pay anything. Jesus has paid it all.
Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Can I ask you—have you been raised from the dead? Have you been released from your spiritual bondage? Have you been made alive?
Then listen, if you have not, to the words of Ephesians 5:14 that say, "Wake up, sleeper. Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Maybe you're feeling like your faith is so feeble. It's so little. It's so weak. And to you, I would tell you that you are not saved by the strength of your faith. You are saved by the strength of your Savior. You're not saved by your faith anyway. You're saved by the object of your faith, who is Jesus Christ. You're saved not by faith itself, you're saved through faith. Faith is the instrument by which the Lord Jesus Christ saves you.
And if you believe, your sins will be blotted out. Your shame will be taken away. Your guilt will be paid for. You'll be adopted into the family of God.
You may be doubting. You may be praying, "I believe, Lord, help my unbelief." And if that's you, I find great comfort in the story of Jesus' disciple Thomas. Thomas watched the resurrection of Lazarus happen, and one week later he hears that Jesus had risen from the dead and he says, "I don't believe it. Unless I see Him and I can put my hands here and here and I can touch His side, I won't believe it (John 20:25)."
And when Jesus shows up on the scene - He doesn't say, "How could you not believe, you fool?" No. He says, "Thomas, come here. Can I have your hand? Put it right here, Tom. And put it right here, Tom. These are the thorns, Tom. Do you believe now (John 20:27)?"
There's another way of translating Jesus' question to Martha. It's not only "Do you believe this?" but "Have you laid hold of this?" Meaning, it's one thing to affirm these truths. It's another thing to experience the power of them.
Do you believe this?
1. If Jesus asked you directly right now, "Do you believe this?"—what would your answer be? Not what you think you should say, but what's actually true in your heart?
2. Are you trusting in the strength of your faith or the strength of your Savior?
3. Have you laid hold of the resurrection—not just intellectually, but experientially? Does it change the way you live?
Stay dialed in