1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

A saving belief is a belief that overcomes the world. It is a belief that Jesus not only saves, sanctifies and empowers, but that he satisfies. When we believe that Jesus can satisfy the deepest longings of our heart with a superior satisfaction in him. God is most glorified, Sin is defeated, and Satan is dealt a savage blow. When we believe the promises of God in Jesus Christ are not only true, but better than anything the world promises, we have a saving belief that overcomes the world. If something besides Jesus is required to satisfy us that thing has become our god. We say to Jesus in effect, “You are not enough, I need something more.” And in the process we can look like we are loving Christ when in fact we are using him to obtain something we prefer over him.

The gift but not the Giver
Redemption but not the Redeemer
The kingdom but not the King
The healing but not the Great Physician
Eternal life but not the Eternal One
Salvation but not our Saviour
Liberation from sin but not the Liberator

In sum, we want everything God has to offer except the gift of Himself.

1 Peter 3:18 reminds us why Jesus lived, died, and arose from the dead. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God”

The best thing Jesus ever did or could do for us is free us from our slavery to things that separate us from loving him fully and forever in heaven. Let us always keep vigilant that our Lord not His gifts be our supreme treasure.

A great book from John Piper “God is the Gospel”  that really got me thinking on this subject.

God is the Gospel