Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are." |
Bible Question: What is the difference in saying you believe in Jesus Christ dying for our sins and that He lives vs saying I know Jesus Christ died and is now living. I have said "I believe without a doubt because I have chosen to believe" My daughter says she knows that Jesus Christ died. My daughter says because I do not know that I am an unbeliever. My reason for not using "I know" is because I am not an eyewitness although I believe with my heart that it happened. I just believe that it happened and I believe the whole Bible to be the words of GOD. What is the differenc? Please explain that to me. Thank you very much. |
Bible Answer: My Thoughts on Knowing and Believing What does it mean to know? What does it mean to believe? Is believing the same as knowing? Can one believe without knowing or know without believing? Can one believe and know or is it impossible to both know and believe the same thing? I know that the language of the Bible is not very technical, but ordinary, everyday language (thank God!), and so sometimes “know” and “believe” may be used synonymously depending on the context. I think in the following verses, however, their meanings are distinct. Knowledge is the possession of the truth. Believing is accepting as true a statement that is understood. John 4:42, “…and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world."” Here the Samaritans do not say that they don’t believe now that they know for themselves, but that they believe BECAUSE they now know for themselves. 3 John 6:69, "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." Here the disciples claim both to know and believe the same thing. 1 Tim 4:3, “…men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.” Here is another example of believing and knowing the same thing. 4 John 10:38, “…but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." While Jesus not talking about believing and knowing the same thing, it is interesting that he says that believing certain things is necessary for the knowing of other things. John 16:30, "Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." Gal 2:16 “…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” Here the order is turned around. Knowledge of one thing leads to believing something else. John 19:35, “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.” Here is an example of not having personal knowledge but believing the knowledge of someone else. Conclusion: It is possible to know and believe the same thing. It is possible to believe without personal knowledge, but it is impossible to believe the Gospel without understanding it, because faith comes by understanding the word of God. Rom 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 143093 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Acts 15:11 | Author | ||
|
MarieH | ||
|
beensetfree | ||
|
borgain | ||
|
inmyheart | ||
|
Lionstrong | ||
|
EdB | ||
|
Ghislaine |