Believe

The following is from a sermon of a friend of mine..

How are we saved? The bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31

True belief goes deeper than merely accepting His existence:
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" James 2:19.

During the beginning of His ministry, Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:20). Announcing who He was wouldn't help anyone to really believe in Him and His mission. Even the disciples didn't really believe:

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:21-23

The Jewish people thought that the Messiah would bring God's kingdom in a political manner and subject the rest of the world to their authority.

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21

This is the reason Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone who He was:
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. John 6:15

His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him. John 7:3-5 

After Peter's confession, Jesus charged the disciples to tell no man that He was the Christ. This charge was given because of the determined opposition of the scribes and Pharisees. More than this, the people, and even the disciples, had so false a conception of the Messiah that a public announcement of Him would give them no true idea of His character or His work. DA 414.4.

From this we see that merely saying who He was wouldn't do any good. Instead He demonstrated who He was by the example of His life. Actions speak louder than words.
What did Jesus, The Messiah, teach those who wanted to follow Him?

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24. 

Why didn't they understand?

The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was the product of self-seeking. The glorification of themselves was the object of their lives. It was this that led them to pervert and misapply the Scriptures, and blinded them to the purpose of Christ's mission. This subtle evil even the disciples of Christ were in danger of cherishing. Those who classed themselves with the followers of Jesus, but who had not left all in order to become His disciples, were influenced in a great degree by the reasoning of the Pharisees. They were often vacillating between faith and unbelief, and they did not discern the treasures of wisdom hidden in Christ. Even the disciples, though outwardly they had left all for Jesus’ sake, had not in heart ceased to seek great things for themselves. DA 409.

Don't trust anyone else, but God and His word for your salvation. "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13

Many are deceived today in the same way as were the Jews. Religious teachers read the Bible in the light of their own understanding and traditions; and the people do not search the Scriptures for themselves, and judge for themselves as to what is truth; but they yield up their judgment, and commit their souls to their leaders. The preaching and teaching of His word is one of the means that God has ordained for diffusing light; but we must bring every man's teaching to the test of Scripture. Whoever will prayerfully study the Bible, desiring to know the truth, that he may obey it, will receive divine enlightenment. He will understand the Scriptures. DA 459.

How do we gain a true understanding of Jesus and His mission today for ourselves?

...the people, and even the disciples, had so false a conception of the Messiah that a public announcement of Him would give them no true idea of His character or His work. But day by day He was revealing Himself to them as the Savior, and thus He desired to give them a true conception of Him as the Messiah. DA 414

We need to spend time with Jesus. We need to develop, through experience, a deep, personal, and living relationship with Him. How? Jesus says to search the scriptures, for they testify of Him. (John 5:39). He also said that if we believe in Him as the Scriptures says, out of our hearts will flow "rivers of living water" (John 7:38). "This He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive" (verse 39).

To develop a personal relationship with Jesus...
1. Trust in the Righteousness of Jesus
Jesus calls us to be the "salt" of the Earth and warns us not to lose our flavor.
What does that mean?

All who would present themselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), must receive the saving salt, the righteousness of our Saviour. Then they become “the salt of the earth,” restraining evil among men, as salt preserves from corruption. Matthew 5:13. But if the salt has lost its savor; if there is only a profession of godliness, without the love of Christ, there is no power for good. The life can exert no saving influence upon the world. Your energy and efficiency in the upbuilding of My kingdom, Jesus says, depend upon your receiving of My Spirit. You must be partakers of My grace, in order to be a savor of life unto life. Then there will be no rivalry, no self-seeking, no desire for the highest place. You will have that love which seeks not her own, but another's wealth. DA 439

To lose our flavor is to lose our "first love", that is the love of Jesus (Revelation 2:2-5). 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."

…Christ's followers are to be light bearers to the world. God does not ask them to make an effort to shine. He approves of no self-satisfied attempt to display superior goodness…  7T 143

How do we shine without making any effort?

… He desires that their souls shall be imbued with the principles of heaven, and then, as they come in contact with the world, they will reveal the light that is in them. Their honesty, uprightness, and steadfast fidelity in every act of life will be a means of illumination. The kingdom of God comes not with outward show. It comes through the gentleness of the inspiration of His word, through the inward working of His Spirit, the fellowship of the soul with Him who is its life. 7T 143
Let the repenting sinner fix his eyes upon “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and by beholding, he becomes changed…When we see Jesus, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, working to save the lost, slighted, scorned, derided, driven from city to city till His mission was accomplished; when we behold Him in Gethsemane, sweating great drops of blood, and on the cross dying in agony,—when we see this, self will no longer clamor to be recognized. Looking unto Jesus, we shall be ashamed of our coldness, our lethargy, our self-seeking. We shall be willing to be anything or nothing, so that we may do heart service for the Master. We shall rejoice to bear the cross after Jesus, to endure trial, shame, or persecution for His dear sake. DA 439

2. Talk to Him (Prayer)
God says, “Come now, and let us reason together” Isaiah 1:18. God wants us to talk to Him, expressing to Him exactly what's going on in our lives. Talk to Him like you would to a very trusted friend. Poor communication can ruin any relationship. Our hearts need to be open and honest about everything with God because He's a gentleman and won't force Himself into your heart. God invites us, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3. God also promises to guide us: "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Isaiah 30:21.

"Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path." SC 95.

3. Search the Scriptures
"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4.

"Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth." DA 489
Set aside a time to spend time in God's word and to meditate on Him (remember the purpose of reading the Word is to get to know Him better).

"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones." DA 83.

Be sure the place you spend time with God is free from anything that would distract you. Also, remember to pray and sing hymns of praise. We should remember to thankfully count the blessings God already has given us and not only ask for things.

Studying God's Word shouldn't be rushed.

If God's word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose rarely seen in these times. But there is but little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Scriptures. One may read the whole Bible through and yet fail to see its beauty or comprehend its deep and hidden meaning. One passage studied until its significance is clear to the mind and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained. SC 90.
We must search the Scriptures, not merely rush through a chapter and repeat it, taking no pains to understand it, but we must dig for the jewel of truth which will enrich the mind, and fortify the soul against the wiles and temptations of the archdeceiver. CSW 19

Don't forget the purpose of searching the scriptures is to get to know God as revealed to us in Jesus. The Scriptures testify of Him (John 5:39).

Memorize Scripture and take it with you throughout the day. Make it your "meditation all the day" Psalm 119:97

4. Apply what you learn
For example, consider what the bible teaches us in Hebrews 2:14, 17, 18, 4:15, 5:2. These verses tell us how Jesus took the form of a human being, was tempted like we are, but without sin. With Jesus as our High Priest, we can have full confidence to talk to God about our problems. If you're struggling with temptation, don't worry, He knows how you feel and He can help you overcome.
Jesus became the author of eternal salvation through experience (Hebrews 5:8-9). Christ is the power of salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). God also wants us to share that experience with others.

Doing, and not saying merely, is expected of the children of God. DA 504

"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:6.

Unless there is practical self-sacrifice for the good of others, in the family circle, in the neighborhood, in the church, and wherever we may be, then whatever our profession, we are not Christians. DA 504.