THE TWO-FOR-ONE BELIEF DEAL

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me only, but in the One who sent Me. The one who looks at Me is seeing the One who sent Me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.”

John 12:44-46

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Is there anyone alive who doesn’t like a good, legitimate bargain?

I don’t think I have ever met anyone who doesn’t? In fact, people pore and pore over advertisements and web sites when they want to purchase something.

What are they looking for?

The best deal, of course. They want the most proverbial bang for their buck. And if they can get an even better deal than just a straight discount, well, that is shopping nirvana. In fact, the acronym “BOGO” has risen to great prominence in cultural circles these days because everyone loves to get a "two-for-one" deal.

Hold that thought for a minute for as we will see in our scripture passage today, Jesus is offering His listeners the best two-for-one deal ever, one that a person could say is not on a monetary scale but I would argue that it is actually priceless. Look again at these words here:

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me only, but in the One who sent Me. The one who looks at Me is seeing the One who sent Me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.”

Over the past several devotions, we have read Jesus’ words as He addressed Jews who had come to listen to Him. Despite the miraculous work He had done, work intended to show everyone He was who He said He was, God’s Son, people still refused to believe. Some had hardened their hearts against Him but others were too afraid to profess belief over fear that it would impact their social status, specifically costing them a seat in the synagogue. The Pharisees would evict anyone who sided with their chief adversary.

Well, on the heels of this matter of belief, Jesus makes a bold statement about what people would gain if they placed their faith, trust, and hope in Him. This gain would be a “two-for-one” belief deal that was greater than any other deal before nor has there been a better deal since.

What was the deal?

Jesus made it clear that by believing in Him, a person would also be believing in God, the One who sent Him. In other words, placing one’s confidence in Jesus did not remove their belief in God. It was a package deal.

Jesus had told the people before that He and His Father God were one. Now He used the matter of belief to drive the point home further. Not only were the people seeing God when they looked at Jesus but they were placing their belief in both when they believed in Him. And as a bonus, this double bonus faith profit would bear the dividends of light. Anyone who received the “two-for-one” belief deal would be assured of escaping the darkness and entering into the Light.

What is the application to the prior verses?

A person didn’t have to feel like they were turning their backs on believing in God because they wanted to believe in Jesus. Maybe the Pharisees would reject a person from the synagogue if they openly revealed a belief in Jesus but the Pharisees didn’t control the gates of salvation. No Jewish spiritual leader could prevent a Christ believer from gaining eternal life.

The same holds true today in whatever context you want to use it in.

No family member, friend, or supervisor/co-worker can keep you from everlasting life if you openly profess your belief in Jesus and the God who sent Him. Ditto for any other leader of a religion outside Christianity. No one can take away the promise of salvation from you when you place your belief in Jesus. Your eternal future becomes secure in Him.

So where are you at today? Have you considered receiving the best “two-for-one” offer ever, offering your belief in Jesus and seeing that belief translate to God as well?

Friends, true life, now and forever, is what is at stake here and so these questions should not be considered lightly. If you have received Jesus, then I pray you are doing what I am doing today and every day, trying to help others believe in Him and His (our) Father as well. But if you haven’t yet surrendered your heart and mind to Christ, I pray you will do so right this moment. Recent events have shown us that our lives can be gone in a moment. Don’t forfeit your opportunity to live with your Savior and Maker forever by rejecting the blessed “two-for-one” belief offer that has been extended freely to you.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com