Man Responds Through Faith

MEMORY VERSE: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” —Acts 16:31

JOHN 20:26-29

JESUS gave his flesh, his humanity, for the life of the world, consequently when he was raised from the dead he was no longer a human, but a spirit being of the highest order; namely, the divine. He was highly exalted above angels, principalities, and powers. But his disciples, still human, could not see a spirit being, so in order to convince them that he had been raised from the dead Jesus appeared to them in various human bodies, and they recognized him only by what he did and said—not by what they saw. Mary, for example, thought she saw a gardener, until Jesus called her by name in the voice with which she was familiar.

But Thomas apparently had not been present at any of these appearances, so he explained to his fellow apostles that he would not believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead unless he could see the nail prints in his hands and in his feet, and the spear wound in his side. Jesus, although not visibly present when Thomas made this statement, nevertheless knew about it, so at the proper time when the eleven were all gathered in a room with the doors locked, he appeared among them, and ask d Thomas to examine his hands, and to thrust his hand into the wound in his side. Thomas was convinced, and he said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

The body in which Jesus appeared on this occasion was no more his real body than was the one which looked like a gardener. But he knew what it would take to convince Thomas that he had been raised from the dead, and he used the proper method. In verses 30,31 of the chapter, referring to this incident we read, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” The appearance to Thomas, and his other appearances as well, were “signs.” Jesus could not have been seen by human eyes had he appeared in his resurrected body, which was spiritual.

ROMANS 10:6-11

In this section of the lesson we are also informed that life is received through faith in the resurrected Jesus. Verse 9 reads, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Verse 10 reads, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”

One of the important points in both of these verses is that a saving or justifying faith must be a belief of the heart. A mere mental assent to the fact of Jesus’ death and resurrection is not enough. It is “with the heart that man believeth unto righteousness [justification].” “And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The belief of the heart, if genuine, will lead to openly bearing witness to our faith through a day by day dedication of our lives in the service of the Lord and his cause.

Verse 11 reads, “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” This is a wonderful reassurance! It simply means that God will fulfill all his good promises on behalf of those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They will never need to be ashamed of their belief, neither apologize for it. God’s Spirit will bear witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, and we know that God will always take care of his children, and in the resurrection will give to them his promised rewards.

The statement in our memory verse has an interesting setting. It was made by Paul to the jailer in the prison at Philippi. An earthquake had shattered the stocks in which Paul and Silas were bound, and they were thereby freed, since the same earthquake had burst open the doors of the prison. The jailer was greatly impressed, and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Heart belief in Jesus was the necessary thing—a faith that would be fully attested by works. Doubtless Paul’s reply was lengthier than this statement indicates. But the essential point is covered.

QUESTIONS

Did Jesus appear to his disciples in his resurrected body?

Describe a justifying, life-giving faith.

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