Young People's Group

“Believed on in the World”

by Mitchell Tan
October 14, 2016

FINDING FAITH IN CHRIST IN THIS DARK WORLD

The Lord Jesus is the personification of godliness. This is indeed a great mystery that has been revealed to us for our appreciation. One aspect of that godliness is how people can come to believe in Jesus Christ.

“Believed on in the world”
1 Timothy 3:16

How do people come to believe in the Lord Jesus in this world? It is something that continues to amaze me. In this world of darkness, everything seems to be contrary to having faith in the Lord Jesus. Firstly, there is the false teachings that have infiltrated the world (1 Timothy 1:3-4). They bring about deception and apostasy among people. Secondly, there is the grave problem of sin. People can be so caught up with sin in this world that they do not want to respond to the Lord Jesus for who He is. And yet in the midst of all these, people can still find faith in the Lord Jesus. How do people come to faith in Him? There are several things that we should consider.

1. HEARING THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

“Preached among the Gentiles”
1 Timothy 3:16

Faith comes about through hearing the gospel of Christ. During the times of Paul, the gospel of Christ had been preached to the Gentiles. Peter preached the gospel to the Jews (Acts 2-3) while Paul’s ministry was specifically to reach the Gentiles (Galatians 2:9). It is through the hearing of the gospel that people can find faith in Christ (Colossians 1:4-5). The Colossian Church heard the word of the gospel of Christ. They recognised that the gospel was based on truth. They were able to appreciate the grace of God given in Christ and had found a hope that is laid up in heaven. Young people, we too can hear and know the truth of the gospel of Christ.

2. SEEING THE PERSON OF THE LORD JESUS FOR WHO HE IS

“And the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope”
1 Timothy 1:1

Faith is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of our life and in all that we go through. Grace, mercy and peace come from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no other Lord like Him. He is also our Saviour. The Lord Jesus came to earth to save sinners, of whom Paul considered himself chief. When we understand who the Lord Jesus is to us and what He has done for us, we can find hope in Him. He is the source of our hope and the One who creates hope within our heart.

3. COMPREHENDING PAUL’S TESTIMONY AS A PATTERN OF FAITH IN CHRIST

“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
1 Timothy 1:16

The apostle Paul obtained much mercy and grace from the Lord. His conversion to faith in the Lord and how he had served Him was meant to be a pattern for others to follow as they come to believe in Him.

God’s abundant mercy saved Him. God’s powerful grace transformed him from glory to glory. All can understand how the Lord Jesus had been most longsuffering towards Paul despite all the wrong thing he had done against Him. He became a great example for others look at and follow when it comes to having faith in Christ.

4. PRAYING FOR ALL

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men”
1 Timothy 2:1

Priority must be given to prayer. Paul exhorted Timothy that prayer should be foremost in mind in all his endeavours. He should engage in different types of prayer according to the needs. The challenge for Timothy was to pray for all including those who do not know the Lord. Ultimately, the light of the gospel must shine in the hearts of people and that they should respond with faith in Christ. This is something that we should pray so that, God willing, His mercy and grace would be upon them. Young people, let’s seek to pray even more that our loved ones and friends would come to believe in the Lord Jesus in this dark world.

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