NeoTheism
I Believe
Acts 16:31
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and you will be saved, you and your household.”
NKJV
First, Jesus continues:
John 11:26 (NIV)
26
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe
this?”
In synoptic Gospels, Jesus puts the question to the disciple, “Who do men say that I am?” (Matt 16:13; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21). Peter responds for the disciples by declaring Jesus to be the Son of the Living God (Matt 16:13). Peter did not understand the ramifications of his answer, but He was headed down the true path.
Jesus is asking Martha the same type of question here. Martha’s response contains more answers than Peter’s.
John 11:27 (NIV)
27
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the
Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Martha says:
- Jesus is the Christ. The Christ was the Messiah, God’s promised salvation. This carries with it the implication of John 14:6. Jesus is the true path to God.
- Son of God is a designation of deity in Scripture, especially in John. Martha says the human being standing in front of her is God.
- That God is present in human form is found in the closing portion of this statement. Jesus is he “who was to come into the world.”
- Jesus is Lord. This is important, for it should control our actions. If Jesus is Christ, He saves us. If He is Lord, He is our King. He is sovereign and controls. We should strongly desire to do as He directs.
I believe – Martha believes all there is to know about Jesus. The Greek here means “I have believed.” This faith is settled and not open to debate. She does not know it all at this point, but she knows and believes the Words He has spoken. She believes before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. She believes based upon the Words of God (Jesus).
