Know What You Believe
Main Point: If we are going to share our faith with people who need to hear it, we need to be clear about what it is.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. —2 Timothy 3:14-4:4
We can trust what we’ve learned about Jesus because it’s been handed down to us by those who knew Him.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. —I John 1:1-4
The Bible is God’s word to us and tells us how to be “thoroughly equipped”.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. —2 Peter 1:20-21
Sometimes people reject the Biblical message because it’s not comforting.
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. —John 6:66
One way to keep centered on God’s truths is to learn a creed, like the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
“The Apostles’ Creed collapses time and space, uniting all true believers in the one, holy, and apostolic faith. This creed is a summary of what the Bible teaches, a narrative of God’s redemptive love, and a concise statement of basic Christianity… All Christians believe more than is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, but none can believe less…There is such power in knowing that when we confess the Apostles’ Creed, alone or in corporate worship, we are declaring the truth of the Christian faith with the very words that gave early Christians hope, sent martyrs confidently to their deaths, and have instructed Christ’s church throughout the centuries.” —~ Al Mohler
Knowing these truths doesn’t save us; but believing in Jesus, the subject of these truths, will.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” —Acts 16:31
Takeaway – Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (I Timothy 4:16)
Discussion Questions
1. How did you first come to hear about Jesus and the gospel?
2.What has your faith journey with Jesus been like? Have you believed steadily since first coming to faith, or has it been a journey of believing, doubting, coming back to faith?
3.How often do you read the Bible? How does the Biblical teaching affect your life?
4.Are you familiar with the Apostles’ Creed? What do you think about it?
Table Discussion Question: The teachings of the Bible challenge us in many ways. What is a biblical teaching that challenges you?