Bible Truth Foundations
Part 3 of 3: Serving in Christ
Please begin by answering this question honestly in your own words.
If you’re honest, is there any part of who Christ is, His authority over your choices, for instance, that you’d rather keep at arm’s length while still accepting His benefits?
Acts 16:31
So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Read this slowly before moving on. Notice the full title used: "the Lord Jesus Christ," not simply "Jesus."
The central idea of this lesson
Saving faith is faith in Christ Himself, not merely in what He can do for you; accepting His benefits while resisting His lordship is not the faith the New Testament describes.
A.W. Tozer’s summary captures the centre of this lesson: the only true object of saving faith is none other than Christ Himself, not the "saviourhood" of Christ nor the "lordship" of Christ, but Christ Himself.
Faith that wants Christ’s rescue but resists His authority is a selective faith, accepting benefits while rejecting the Person they come from.
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
To "receive Him" is to receive the right to become a child of God: reception of the whole Person, not a transaction for selected services.
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Confession of lordship is part of the saving confession itself, not an optional add-on for the especially devoted.
Romans 1:3-4
Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Paul’s own gospel summary ties belief inseparably to who Jesus is: His identity as the Son of God, descended from David, raised from the dead.
Going Deeper
A wedding analogy is worth sitting with: a bride who wanted only what her husband could provide, and none of who he actually is, would not be said to love him. Salvation is relationship with a Person, not procurement of benefits from Him.
Work through these on your own before your group meets. Type your answers directly into the table below. Your answers are saved automatically in your browser.
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| Question | My Answer | Group Discussion Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tozer says the object of saving faith is "Christ Himself," not just His "saviourhood." What is the practical difference between those two? | ||
| Where might you be tempted to want Christ’s benefits (comfort, blessing, rescue) without submitting to His lordship? | ||
| Romans 10:9 ties confession of Jesus as Lord to saving faith. What does confessing "Jesus is Lord" cost you, practically, in daily life? | ||
| How does John 1:12 ("received Him") change the picture from a one-time transaction to an ongoing relationship? |
These questions are designed for open conversation at any level of experience. There are no trick questions and no single correct answer.
Genuine faith is in Christ Himself. This week, examine where your own faith may be selective.
| Context | How I Apply This |
|---|---|
| Personal life | Ask honestly whether there is any part of Christ’s authority you have kept at arm’s length while still wanting His benefits. |
| Church community | Practise Romans 10:9 deliberately this week: confess "Jesus is Lord" over one specific area of decision-making, not just belief in general. |
| Difficult seasons | When you want rescue more than direction, read John 1:12 slowly and sit with what it means to "receive Him," the whole Person, not a set of services rendered. |
| Scripture to carry | Memorise Acts 16:31: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." Let "Lord" stay attached to "Jesus Christ" every time you say it. |
Tap each card to reveal the answer.
What did Paul and Silas tell the Philippian jailer to do?
Acts 16:31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Acts 16:31
What is given to those who receive Christ?
John 1:12
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
John 1:12
What must be confessed and believed for salvation, according to Romans 10:9?
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
What question does Jesus ask about calling Him "Lord"?
Luke 6:46
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?"
Luke 6:46
What have those baptised into Christ done, according to Galatians?
Galatians 3:27
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Galatians 3:27
What does Paul count as loss compared to knowing Christ?
Philippians 3:8
Paul counts all things loss "for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."