Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 36:71 (Autumn 2023)
Article: Believing What The Lord Says (Mark 7:24–30)
Author: Kenneth W. Yates

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Believing What The Lord Says (Mark 7:24–30)

Kenneth W. Yates

Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society

I. Introduction

In much theological writing and preaching today, faith is seen as a complicated matter. A synonym of faith is belief. How do we know whether we believe something? Specifically, how can a person know whether he believes what the Lord says?

In the complicated theological environment in which many find themselves, it is impossible to answer that question. When it comes to saving faith, for example, one author states that it involves three aspects: knowledge, assent, and trust. A person must believe certain things about Christ, and this must lead to belief in Christ. This can be called “trusting in Him.” But this is only the initial part of faith. For faith to occur, there must be “continuing trust and faithfulness.”1 Certainly, a layman would read this and ask: “What does all that mean?”

The same question would be asked when one reads that faith is both passive and active. It is said to be both receptive and energetic. The “whole soul” is involved. This involves active obedience and commitment to what is believed.2 A faith that does not produce works or a changed life is not faith.3 One is never told what that looks like or how much of a change needs to take place before it can be said that faith exists.

All these declarations make faith or belief appear to be something only a person with a PhD in philosophy could discuss. Fortunately,

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many have stated what the average person knows intrinsically: A person has faith—he believes—when he is convinced that what he hears is true. He is persuaded that it is true. It is no more complicated than that.4

Paul states this simple fact in a direct manner. Theologians would do well to pay heed to his words in Rom 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The “word of God” here is the gospel that both Christ and Paul preached.5

Regarding saving faith, a person has that faith the moment he believes that Jesus gives him eternal life that can never be lost. The person is convinced that what Jesus says about this issue is true (John 3:16<...