What It Is to Believe in God.

    "We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith 

of Him." Ephesians 3:12

    By saying, “ I believe in God,” we declare: What is set forth in 

the three articles of the Creed I know to be the revealed truth of 

God’s holy Word, I accept it as such with sincere conviction, and 

with firm confidence I trust in it in life and death. 

    First of all, true faith must turn to the revealed Word of God. For “how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard ?” “So, then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Rom. 10,17.

    So, if you would have the true faith, you must, in the first place, 

have a knowledge of that which God teaches us in the Bible.

    In the second place, you must accept as true what the Scriptures say of God. You must give assent to everything you learn from the Bible. Of this the Lord Jesus says to the Jews: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me.”

    In order to accept the Word of Christ as true, it is necessary 

diligently to read and hear the Word of Christ. For if you do this, 

you will so love the Lord Jesus and His Word that it will be im-

possible for you to think that He is an impostor. You will rather 

firmly believe every word of Holy Writ.

    Mainly, however, faith is firm confidence of the heart. “Now, 

faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things 

not Been.” To believe in God means to trust in Him with a firm 

confidence. When we are told in the Bible that God is our true 

Father through Jesus Christ, and that we are His dear children, 

and if, then, trusting in this Word, we confidently come to God 

and cry, “ Abba, Father,” — then we believe in God as we should. 

Then we have boldness and access with confidence. And when we 

hear the promise of God to give us eternal life and are so firmly 

convinced of this eternal life that it becomes our daily joy and 

comfort, then we believe in God as we should, with an unwaver-

ing trust.

Prayer.

Almighty and merciful God, we heartily pray Thee that it may

please Thee to strengthen our faith in us that we may be able to

say with the apostle in unwavering trust and confidence: “ I know

whom I have believed and am persuaded.” Grant us such faith

through the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may have a firm

conviction, walk in obedience to Thee, and receive the end of our

faith, even the salvation of our souls, for the sake of Jesus Christ,

Thy dear Son, our Lord. Amen.