“Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15.
Believe or perish. That theme runs all through the Bible, doesn’t it? That theme can even be seen in the early Bible geneology in Genesis Chapter 5. Adam means “man.” Seth means “appointed.” Enoch means“mortal.” Cainan means “sorrow.” Mahalo means “the blessed God.” Jared means” shall come down.” Enoch means “teaching.” Methuselah means “his death shall bring.” Lamech means “the despairing ones.” And then Noah means “rest.” So what does the list mean? “Man is appointed sorrow unto death. The blessed God shall come down teaching: His death shall bring the despairing ones rest.” There’s the gospel message.
The message of God’s redemption runs all through the Bible. “Everyone who thirst come to the waters. Incline your ear and come to me. Hear, and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:1, 3. And of course, Jesus echoed Isaiah’s call. “Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the spirit whom those believing in Him would receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39. That’s the call to faith.
The Word of God calls us. The uncertainty and instability of our own souls calls to us. The conditions of the world around us call to us to turn to God in faith. If you will not believe, you will not be secured. You will not be established. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 is a very clear passage about the Word of God giving birth to faith.
Ephesians 1:13 tells us how salvation takes place. “In Him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory.” 1) They heard the word of the gospel. 2) After they heard, they believed. 3) After they believed, they were sealed by the Holy Spirit.
So the call to faith is something that we can’t really escape. We can ignore it. We can reject it. But every soul is going to feel the pull of that call. We can choose to accept God’s gracious redemption and His deliverance, or we can reject it. And that’s a freedom that God gives to us. And of course, if we reject the grace, there is no other alternative but the judgment. “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2nd Peter 3:9.
Throughout history, God has been calling men to come to Him in faith, and God calls us to trust Him every day. We need to answer the call.
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