When it comes to belief in God, I have both good and bad news for you.

The good news is that According to Pew Research“Nearly nine in ten U.S. adults believe in God or another higher power, with 54% saying they believe in “God as described in the Bible” and 34% saying they do not believe in the biblical portrayal of God but I believe there is “another higher power or spiritual force in the universe.”

So what could be bad about these numbers? Although they may seem good at first, we need to remember two things.

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First of all, consider the sad situation our country is in right now; It certainly doesn’t appear that Christian values ​​are large and influential. Therefore, do not become too proud or excited about superficially expressing your faith in God, and remember the biblical warning: “This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matt. 15:8; Is. 29:13).

Second, remember what Jesus said about the number of those who spend eternal life with God: “For small is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few find it” (Matt. 7:14).

So how do we reconcile Jesus’ statement with the figures claiming that the vast majority of Americans and other people around the world believe in God or a higher power?

Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas He advised that the first rule that every philosopher should follow in his search for truth is discrimination. In our case it’s this: There’s a Grand Canyon difference. believe in god And believe in god.

The twin nature of faith

As Christians we constantly talk about “faith” in God, often never realizing that this word has a twin nature. If we consider Aquinas’ advice again, we find a distinction between faith and belief when it comes to belief. HE vs faith inside.

When we see statistics that say nearly nine out of ten U.S. adults believe in God, we are seeing a very loose sample of belief. HE. But the disconnect with Jesus telling us that only a few find the way to life is faith inside.

You see both intertwined in a statement made by the writer of Hebrews: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever comes to God must believe that He is (faith) and that He is a rewarder of Him.” those who seek (believe)” (Hebrews 11:6).

First, we believe “He is,” which has to do with God’s existence, but then comes the next part, which has to do with trusting God and what He says. This is what distinguishes Christians from those who simply say they believe in God or in a “higher power.”

As a brief aside, skeptics constantly berate Christians for having “faith” in God; They think we’re talking about a kind of blind, evidence-free belief that there is a creator when nothing could be further from the truth – there are plenty of rational reasons to believe God is real.

When Christians often say “faith” in God, we mean trusting in what God says and promises. And there are good reasons to have this aspect of faith.

For example, when I say I trust my wife, I am sure you do not think that I am saying that I believe in her existence, on the contrary, I trust and believe in her character and what she says. And you understand that I have good reasons for this belief, but I most likely cannot physically show you the evidence that supports this belief.

As for the important and practical difference between the two, have you ever met someone who says they believe in God but also says they don’t believe what the Bible says about most things? If so, you have a vivid example of the distinction between believing and believing. inside God vs. to believe God.

Scripture is full of examples and warnings that only the first side of the coin of faith is included.

James says: “You believe that there is one God. You are doing a good job; and the demons believe and tremble” (James 2:19). So do you even believe in God, the one true God? Great, now you’re on par with just the demons’ belief and it won’t get you very far.

Therefore, James continues: “But are you ready to admit that faith without works is useless, you foolish man?” (James 2:20). In other words, belief HE unbeliever insideWhat happens in a changing life is only half the story.

The Pharisees certainly believed in the righteous God, and yet Jesus said to them, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the punishment of Hell?” (Matt. 23:33). From where? Because they rejected what He told them about His Messiahship.

The Bible says that not believing what God says is a sign of those who are lost. For example, Jesus asked his critics: “Why do you not understand what I say? For you cannot hear my voice” (John 8:43), and then he continued by saying, “He who is of God hears the words of God; Therefore you do not hear them, because you are not of God” (John 8:47).

What about you? Do you hear and believe God’s words?

If so, Paul says you are following the Old Testament pattern of faith: “What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’” (Romans 4:3) and “Therefore be assured that those who believe are the sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7).

But if not, you probably just have faith HE There is a God who falls short of saving faith, exemplified by these terrible words that Jesus said some would hear on the day of judgment: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many mighty works in your name?’ he will say. And then I will say to them: ‘I never knew you; ‘Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21–23).

Please don’t just be a believer in GodBut instead be the person that believes in god. According to Jesus, your eternal destiny depends on it.