Three Types of Believers

Introduction

Well, if you listen to any news this last week, no doubt, you heard about the death of Aaron Hernandez, former tight end for the Florida Gators, and then a professional football player for the New England Patriots at least for three years. He had just signed a contract with the New England Patriots for 40 million dollars in 2013 when he was arrested for the murder of a man Odan Lloyd. Later tried and convicted, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. And then also in recent days, he underwent another trial for the murder of two other men. He was acquitted in that trial. But somewhat to the surprise, evidently, of the guards or the authorities about him, he hanged himself just a few days ago with bed sheets.

Judge of that. But it caught my attention because I’m convinced there are many people in our society today who have a view that all one needs to do is indeed read and quote, for example, John 3.16. If you watch many ball games, for example, it’s not uncommon for the camera to come across, and there someone holds in his lap a sign, and it says John 3.16. What does it mean to those who see that? Indeed, it’s a great passage, and not to undermine in any degree at all. It’s often called the miniature gospel. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. It’s really beyond our comprehension, I believe, that a that a God, a perfect father of a perfect son, Jesus the Christ, would indeed give him for imperfect and sinful man.

It is beyond the comprehension of any father who has a son that he would want to give his son to die for someone who is really an enemy, much less even for a good person. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whoever believes in him should not perish. Now that touches the heart as well.

On the other hand, this verse says, Whosoever believes in him should not perish. But indeed have everlasting life. That we look beyond the grave, that we look beyond what life we now have, that those who come to know Jesus Christ and believe in him will have life forevermore. What a blessing. What a powerful verse that is. And yet, what does it really mean to believe? How sad it is that there are many who’ve read that verse and quoted it. As though all that is involved is simply having a mental agreement that if you in some way acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, and you say by that, you believe in Him, then you’re going to be saved. It’s only a few days ago, I happened to be with the television on and came across Joel Osteen preaching.

Famous preacher. Thousands attend the service in Houston, Texas. And I was somewhat astounded, really, that this man who certainly knows something about the Bible, and he’s well known at least as a preacher, just simply had his audience. How many of you will just say after me? And he repeated the prayer, something like, Dear Lord, I believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and I ask you to please forgive me of my sins in the name of the Lord. Amen. And he said, How many of you said that prayer? And some hands went up all over the audience. He said, Now you’ve been born again. How foolish for a preacher to say, well, that’s all you have to do is just say a few words of prayer and that you believe Jesus and you’ll be born again.

Although Jesus himself said, Except a man be born of water in the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus taught what it took to be born again involved much more than just saying a few words, I believe. But when we look at the Bible, I want to point out this morning, in fact, if I were to title my lesson, I call it three types of believers. Are you aware that the scripture indeed speaks about more than just a mental agreement? That we might say there are different types of believers. In fact, there are some who are lost who believe. Those who read John 3 16 as though that’s the summary of all that’s involved, just take your Bible, and here we’re going to read this passage.

1. Lost Believers Who Do Nothing

I say to you, if you really want to understand what kind of belief is involved, stay in the same book of John. But go down to John chapter 12, where in verses 42 and 43, we read about some believers who were lost. In fact, the scripture says, Nevertheless, even among the rulers, many believed in him. Can’t question the fact, are they saved? If all that one has to do is just have a mental agreement, that scripture says they believe in him. But because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they love the praise of men more than the praise of God. Who would say these rulers are saved? I have yet to find anyone who would say, Oh, yeah, they’re saved, even though they would not confess Jesus.

It says to us, number one, there’s something more in saving faith than just in some kind of mental acknowledgement of him, or even these men who would certainly did believe, but they just wouldn’t confess him. Indeed, how about the story in Acts chapter 24? It’s a story about when the apostle Paul appeared before the Roman governor named Felix. When you come to Acts chapter 22, Paul has just returned from his third preaching journey. He’s brought alms for the poor saints in Jerusalem, and he’s arrested there. There’s a mob really that gathers him. And no doubt, had it not been for Lysias the Roman commander, Paul may have been killed right then and there. But he was taken from the from the crowd that opposed him. Although Paul indeed made the appearance before the council and the minute and said, I’ve lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.

The things I’ve done, I’ve done because I’m trying to obey the Lord. And yet they rejected him because Paul preached about a Christ who had been crucified and been raised from the grave. In Acts chapter 24, though, he comes before this Roman governor. You see, Lysias has Paul sent over to Caesarea to protect him by a garrison at night. He escapes from the Jerusalem area and there to be tried by the Roman. And Felix waiting to a time when Lysias could come and there could be some kind of a formal trial. The scripture says that with his wife Drusilla, he comes before, he calls before Paul to be heard of what his message is. And scripture says Drusilla was a Jewess. In fact, she was the granddaughter of Herod the Great.

She knew something about, no doubt, Jesus, at least the preaching of Jesus. But Drusilla, like Felix, was really not a godly kind of a person. History says that in fact, at the age about 16, or maybe even as maybe 18, some two different dates are given, that Felix lured her away from her first husband. So Felix is her second husband, number one. And it happens to say, well, you know, we’re concerned about our morality. It’s more, in fact, you might say, physical lust that has drawn the two of them together. But now they’ve come to hear. They’ve come to hear this man, Paul, who the Jews are all stirred up about and would seek his death. The scripture says really, they’ve come to hear concerning the faith in Christ.

He sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith. No doubt to hear concerning the faith in Christ, he wants to know more about what’s involved. He’s heard, no doubt, that this man preaches about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul, there are three points to the sermon that Paul made. You know, today many preachers are accused of having three major poets, and I’d say here is a pretty good sermon. You outline what Paul preached to Felix and Drusilla, he preached about righteousness. That within it one word you might say is summarizes so much about what is involved in believing in Jesus Christ. In Romans chapter 1, the gospels, God’s power unto salvation. Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith unto faith. You know that must have preached about and reminded Felix about this man Jesus, who indeed walked among men healing, proving that he was of God, working miracles that no man could do except God be with him.

And then how that he’d been taken and crucified without justice. Pilate allowing him, even though he could find no fault in him, allowed him to be taken. No doubt he must have preached and told Felix how that indeed on the third day this man Jesus had been raised from the grave. And proven. There are many witnesses, even above 500 at one time, who saw him and testified that he’d been raised from the grave. He preached righteousness unto Felix. But also with that, not only who Jesus is, but he preached that if indeed you’re going to serve Jesus Christ before God, there’s a lifestyle to be lived. He preached self-control. And self-control says, look, there is something that man must do. First of all, to repent of sins and to live in a style that is morally right before God and before others.

That he must have preached to him something about the kind of attitude that he had to have. That all men who are in control of themselves, that before God they’re going to sit live in a moral right way. But they also preach the third point of judgment to come. Judgment to come really touches every one of us. It’s not as though I can say, oh, well, yeah, if you want to believe that doctrine about Jesus, that’s one thing. And if you want to just say there’s somebody upstairs that you want to call God, that’s another thing. You know, there’s some people today who have kind of a flippant attitude towards spiritual matters. But to preach about judgment to come. A judgment in which the scripture says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess.

A judgment in which the scripture says that God shall bring forth every work, every deed, whether good or bad. And that our destiny, our eternal destiny, is going to be determined by how we have accepted the gospel of Christ and with self-control have lived it. Judgment to come is a serious matter. So serious the scripture then says the reaction of Felix, he was afraid. One translation says he trembled. I’ve often tried to picture my mind what kind of scene do you think that was when Paul preaching this message of righteousness and self-control and then judgment to come, and this man who was really an ungodly Roman, yet he hears and trembles. He was afraid. But he said, go away for now. When I have a convenient time, I’ll call for you.

Men have searched the records. There’s no record that Felix ever called back for Paul. That convenient time really evidently never came again. How sad it is. There are those even now who in our audience sometimes they’ve heard the gospel. I’ve known some people I who have heard the message and put it off. Not now. Today’s not a good time. You know, I say the devil, whenever he at least finds that one is convinced that he needs to obey the gospel, the last message the devil can say to him is, wait till later. Not today, later. No doubt that’s what he says to Felix. Wait till later. Later it ever really came. Here’s a believer, trembled, was afraid, and yet he never found the convenient time. But then the story really of Acts continues with the story about Agrippa.

Here was a man who was king of the Jews. Agrippa. In fact, uh, as you continue really with Felix, the scripture says in the last few verses of chapter 24 that uh Felix kept Paul in prison and in fact showed his uh his ungodliness. If they’d just have enough money, he might release Paul, but no money was raised in order to get him out of prison. So he stayed in prison, and Felix was followed by another Roman governor named Festus. Now, Festus evidently knew even less about this man Paul and what he’d preached than did Felix. But over a period of time, Festus even suggested that maybe if Paul would just go back, let’s go back to Jerusalem and we’ll have a trial there. That’s when Paul appealed to Caesar.

He was a Roman citizen. And he was not going to be tried by an ungodly trial of the Jews and put to death by them. But rather he appealed to Caesar, for he had really done no wrong. He’s only falsely accused of wrong. And so in prison, under the rule of Festus until such time he could send him to Rome. Agrippa and his wife Bernice come into this area of Caesarea. And Agrippa, knowing that Paul is there, is deed seeks to hear Paul. Now, this is a man you might say, certainly king of the Jews. He’s heard a lot about this man, Paul. He knows something about him, but he’s eager to see him. Perhaps Paul might even work a miracle. Who knows? He’d like to inquire.

And so in Acts 26 is the story, how Paul before Agrippa really recounts his own conversion. He recounts how that Agrippa certainly knew that at one time Paul himself had persecuted Christians. In Acts 26, 9 and 10, he says, I very thought of myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus. Here’s a man who had owned clear conscience had persecuted Christians, given his voice that they should be put to death. And yet this man who so strongly had opposed Christ now was a believer in Christ. He told why, that he had seen him in a vision. He told about how that he became a believer, that he knew that Jesus was the one who’d been raised from the grave, though crucified.

The resurrection. Festus almost said at one point, Paul, you’re crazy. You’re mad. Now this Roman, who didn’t really know and hear much about Jesus, his reaction is, Who can believe such a story? But Agrippa. But Agrippa did. In fact, as he continued on, though Festus said that, Agrippa, Paul said to him, Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to become a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except these for these chains. Now there’s some translators who’ve taken this verse where Agrippa answered Paul, you almost persuade me to become a Christian.

And some have tried to translate that as though it was sort of in derision that he sort of say, you really couldn’t convert me that quickly, could you? That’s the way some have translated it. But indeed, when you look at Paul’s answer, you know that’s not at all what is meant. In fact, Paul understood when he said, I would to God that not only you, but all who also hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains. Almost persuaded. It’s the song we sometimes sing, almost cannot avail. Almost is but to fail. Almost is hell as far away as heaven can be. Almost is not enough. He was a believer. Do you believe? I know that you believe the prophets, and the prophets had foretold of the coming of the Christ and even of his resurrection.

I know. But not only do we read in the scriptures about these who could have believed the rulers of the synagogue, Felix and Agrippa, but even the devils, even the demons. I know there are some who say in John chapter 12, the verse we read a moment ago, where the rulers of the synagogue many believed but would not confess. There’s some who say, Oh, well, yeah, you know, if you really believe, you will confess. And that’s what’s involved. And since uh since they didn’t confess, that’s why they’re lost believers. Well, how about the demons? In Luke chapter 4, after Jesus Christ had left the Nazareth area and come to Cesar uh to Caesarea. And there, a Capernaum, that is, around Capernaum, and had begun to work many miracles and cast demons out of a man who had been possessed, and even healed Peter’s wife’s mother.

And there were many who had come to Jesus and asked him for for being healed and cleaned. Luke 441 says, demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, You are the Christ, the Son of God. And he, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that he was the Christ. Here are those who knew that it was the Christ. And what were they saying? You are the Christ, the Son of God. Are they saved? Believers. And yet, when you come to James chapter 2 and verse 19, interestingly, the passage says, You believe that there is one God, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. Indeed, Luke 4 is an example of that. Now find it interesting in the book of James, chapter 2.

The scripture there really does indeed understand, expect explain to us the difference between believers who are lost and believers who are saved. Reading in James chapter 2, beginning in verse 17, when the scripture says, Thus also faith by itself. If it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You show, you have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there’s one God, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. But do you want to know, old foolish man, that faith without works, is dead. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works?

And by works faith was made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled, which says Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. Interesting, the only place in all the Bible those three words are put together by faith only. And what the scripture says, it’s not by faith only. Obviously, the scriptures teach that a believer to be saved is a believer who obeys. But believers who do nothing are lost believers. But the scripture also speaks about another kind of believer. Not only those who do nothing, but indeed, whether it be the rulers are like Felix or Agrippa or demons. Those are lost believers.

2. Believers Who Do the Wrong Thing

But with them would be the believers who do the wrong thing. There’s some who believe in Jesus Christ and even would confess that he is the Son of God. Who may have been immersed or baptized into Christ. Who could be lost? Indeed, that ought to touch each one of us. I’m sure I’m speaking to an audience, most of whom have obeyed the gospel. Could you be lost? Well, yes. In fact, there are some religious people. Jesus himself in Matthew 7 21 said, Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name, and then I will declare to them, I never knew you.

Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.

Who can say, in your name. Three different times Jesus used that expression. They were doing things in the name of Christ. Prophesying, casting out devils, or working wonders. And yet Jesus would say, I never knew you. But also, those whom they worship the Lord and worship in vain. In Matthew chapter 15, verses 7 through 9. Hypocrites, well that Isaiah prophesy about you, saying, These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, and but their heart is far from me. In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. There are many in this world who maybe in their way are sincere. Maybe knocking on doors or healing or helping the sick and the afflicted and doing many good works.

But because they have followed doctrines that are not really in the word of God, that cannot be found in the Bible, but they are doctrines of men by tradition and additions of men, and though maybe men who were religious and who thought they were doing good, yet they’ve added to God’s word and subtracted from God’s word, and they’ve taught doctrines as commandment of men. Worship is in vain. Worship, even though they may have a zeal for God. But as in Romans chapter 10, verses 1 through 3, brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. Here’s the Apostle Paul writing about his own fellow in the flesh, that is of the Jews. But he said, I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Indeed, Isaiah 55, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Believers who do the wrong thing, indeed, if they turn away, then they will be lost also. Not only those who follow commandments of men, but those who may know the truth and have followed the truth, but can turn away from the truth. A stirring passage in Galatians chapter 1, where the Apostle Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, when he said, I marveled at your turning away so soon from him who calls you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another.

But there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. In Acts chapter 15 is an example, at least, that Paul was speaking about even what was happening among the churches of Galatia. For there were some believers who had begun to preach that except you be circumcised after the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.

Doctrine does matter. That’s why in Acts 15 they were teaching a false doctrine. It was a perverted gospel. And indeed, one did not have to be circumcised after the law of Moses in order to be saved. It was a false doctrine. We must be careful what we preach and what we practice and what we believe. Believers who do the wrong thing, even those who may turn away from God, will be lost believers. Hebrews chapter 3, verses 12 through 14. It says, Beware, brethren. That’s a warning. Brethren, take note. Beware, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Some say, well, you know, if you if you if people have lost left the Lord, they probably never were saved.

Well, here’s the scripture that speaks about some who were, you can’t depart if you haven’t been there. But who were saved, but they departed. Beware, brethren, lest you depart from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. And Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 1, the last two verses of chapter 1. He even named a couple, Hymeneus and Alexander, whom he said had made shipwreck of the faith. Indeed, shipwreck. And he said, I’ve turned them over to Satan. They were once saved, but they departed from the faith.

3. Those Who Are Saved: Believers Who Obey

Believers who do the wrong thing. Whether it be religious people who are just saying in the name of Christ, but without the authority of the Lord, those who worship in vain following doctrines of men, those who have a zeal for God, but not according to God’s righteousness, and those who really may obey God but have just simply turned away. Yeah, there’s some believers who do nothing, that’ll be lost. But also believers who do the wrong thing will be lost. That’s why there were three types of believers. And of course, the most important group are those who are saved. Those who are saved are those we read about, like in Acts chapter 2, when Peter and the apostles on the day of Pentecost preached about the Christ, how he fulfilled the scriptures.

In fact, when these people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, on that day, about 3,000 received the word, were baptized, were added to the Lord. What was he saying to these? Did they believe? Obviously. But they didn’t just sit there or stand there. They were told to repent and to be baptized. And that’s exactly what they did. Those who gladly received the word were baptized. And that day about 3,000 souls were added unto them.

Believers who obey. Mark read at the beginning of our service this morning from Acts chapter 8. It’s a story about a man from who was traveling, had been an Ethiopian who had been to Jerusalem to worship. But on his way back, he was riding in the chariot and reading from Isaiah 53, did not understand what he was reading. And Philip got up into the chariot with him at his own request. And Philip opened his mouth in the beginning of this scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now you stop and ask, Well, what did it mean to preach Jesus? Preach Jesus. Indeed, what that involves, no doubt, is reflected in what the man did. He must have preached something about how that Isaiah 53 foretold about the sacrifice, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.

He must have preached about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. But involved in that preaching to be a believer, there was some action involved. As they went on down the road, they came to some water. It was the eunuch who said, See, here is water, what hinders me from being baptized. It wasn’t Philip saying, See, here’s some water, why don’t you come on be baptized? We often put it that way around with the preachers appealing to the audience. Why don’t you be baptized? But here was the eunuch who said, What hinders me? What hinders me? Philip said, If you believe with all your heart you may. He answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Then there’s the story about Saul, the apostle Paul, who at one time had persecuted Christians, had put and given his voice to put them to death. But when he saw the vision and for the first time understood Jesus really is the Christ. What did Paul do? As Saul, he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? The Lord said, I’m Jesus, whom you’re persecuting. It’s hard for you to kick against the goats. So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do you want me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. In Acts chapter 9, the scripture speaks about him as he went into the city.

The Lord then appeared to another man named Ananias. For Ananias to go and to tell Saul what he needed to do. But it’s interesting, he said in verse 11, you’ll find Saul praying. For three days. Here was a man who no doubt was a believer. He completely changed his outward course of action, but continued with inward conscience that was clear. But there he was praying. I said, if there was ever a man saying a sinner’s prayer, it was Saul of Tarsus, who knew that he had wrongly persecuted Christians. Jesus really is the Christ. But what was this sinner to do? Was he just saved? Did Ananias say, well, get up, you’re all right. You’ve been praying now. You’ve said the sinner’s prayer. You surely are now saved.

You’re born again. That’s not at all what he said. In fact, in Acts 22, in Saul’s own account, or Paul, now the apostle, recounting his own conversion. In Acts 22 and verse 16, he said to Ananias, ask him, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins. Calling on the name of the Lord. His sins needed to be washed away by the blood of Christ. Not by just a few words in a prayer, not by just saying, I believe, in a verbal or mental way only. But an action that obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ. People who are saved are believers who obey. Like the Philippian jailer in Acts chapter 16, after Paul and Silas had been arrested there, beaten and thrown in prison in the earthquake at midnight.

In fact, chain doors were opened. Chains were loose. He could have left, but he didn’t. And even the jailer brought them out and astonished that they hadn’t escaped. He said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, believe. On the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. You know, there are those who read that verse and they stop right there. But they shouldn’t stop right there. How can a person believe if he’s never heard? Belief that saves is a belief that obeys, but how can you obey if you don’t know what to obey? So notice what else was said. They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes immediately, he and his family were baptized.

Conclusion

The gospel preached, the gospel obeyed. Those indeed, men not only who are immersed into the death of Christ for the remission of sins, but then those who remain faithful unto death. Revelation 2 and verse 10, be faithful unto death, and I’ll give you the crown of life. Are you a believer like those on Pentecost of the 3,000 who then received the word and were baptized the same day? Are you like the Ethiopian eunuch who, when he saw water after hearing the preaching about Jesus, says, What does hinder me? Are you like Saul himself, who, though praying earnestly, no doubt, asking that the Lord have mercy on him? Indeed, when he was told what to do, arose and was baptized and sins washed away. Are you like the Philippian sailor, who, upon hearing the word, even though it may be after midnight, way in the morning, early morning hours, when he understood there was a need to be saved, he was baptized the same hour.

Are you like those throughout the centuries of men and women who’ve obeyed the gospel of Christ and remained faithful, faithful even to death? May God help us all that we be this kind of believer. Indeed, there are at least three types of believers in the Bible. There are those who do nothing. There are those who do the wrong thing. And then there are those who obey. Faith that saves is a faith that obeys. May God help us all to have the right attitude. Will you bow with me in prayer as we conclude our lesson? Almighty God, our Father in heaven, we are thankful for the gospel. For Jesus Christ, who indeed loved us and gave Himself that we might have life everlasting. We marvel, Father, at your grace.

We marvel at your love, that though we are so insignificant, really as a speck in the universe, yet you’ve loved us, and your Son died for us. May we respond in humble, simple, full obedience unto your word. Help us to have the attitude, Lord, show me, and I’ll keep your will. Bless us, Father, to that end. Help us to be faithful even unto death. Maybe one day throughout eternity, may we be gathered around your marvelous throne, praising you forevermore. Keep us now this day as we go to our classes and as we worship later. Help us in all things to be glorifying to your name and to your honor. For this we humbly pray in the name of the Christ. And amen.