Not Seeing Is Believing but Believing Is Seeing
Having saving faith means trusting God's promises without physical evidence, and it is the key to doing great exploits for the Lord.
Timothy Tow preaches about the importance of believing without seeing, using the story of Thomas the Doubting One as an example. He emphasizes that true faith is not based on signs and wonders but on a firm belief in God's promises, citing Abraham as a model of saving faith. Tow challenges the congregation to have a faith like Thomas, who transformed from a doubter to a bold missionary, emphasizing that even with weak faith, believers can accomplish great things for the Lord.
Text
Text: "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (Jn 20:29 )
On Easter Sunday evening when Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not present with them. When they told it to Thomas, the Doubting One, he said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (Jn 20:25 ). On the following Sunday when Thomas was present with the Disciples (deliberately) our Lord appeared again. Then yield as Thomas did (on bended knee), "My Lord and my God."
Not seeing is believing, but believing is seeing. Seeing is believing is not good enough. In Jn 2:23, 24, "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men." The people because of the miracles of Jesus which they saw believed, but Jesus did not believe them.
Now there are "Christians" who join the Church because of divine healing which their leaders practise, and believe through speaking of tongues. To rely on seeing and practising "signs and wonders" is an inferior faith. It is no saving faith. But those who believe without seeing have saving faith. Heb 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." An example of one who believes firmly is Abraham. Such faith as Abraham's, the Father of all who believe, is saving faith. For though he did not have strength to begat a son, he believed God who promised him to have sons like the stars of heaven (Gen 15:5,6).
If Thomas had believed without seeing Jesus, he would have the superior, saving faith. Do you believe that Christ rose from the dead in the same body he was crucified? Many Anglican Bishops do not believe like Westcott and Hort and they will die in their sins. But, by simple faith in Him, not seeing Him with our naked eyes, we shall be saved according to I Cor 15.
An unsaved "Christian" will not only doubt the Resurrection but every miraculous event in the Bible. But we who are saved believe literally whatever the Bible says.
Thomas the Doubter now became the Doughty. After his conversion he became missionary to India where tradition says he founded seven churches in South India . He is said to have also visited China . He died a martyr of Jesus his Lord in Madras . Though our faith is weak, if it is saving faith, we can do great exploits for our Lord and Master. Amen.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Doubting Thomas
- A. Thomas' condition: not present at Jesus' first appearance
- B. Thomas' requirement: physical evidence to believe
- C. Jesus' appearance to Thomas: a turning point
- II. The Difference Between Seeing and Believing
- A. Seeing is not enough: Jesus did not commit Himself to those who saw miracles
- B. Believing is seeing: faith without physical evidence
- C. Saving faith: faith that comes from trusting God's promises
- III. Examples of Saving Faith
- A. Abraham's faith: believing God's promise despite impossible circumstances
- B. The importance of faith in the Bible: Heb 11:6
- C. The result of saving faith: doing great exploits for the Lord
- IV. The Consequences of Unsaved Faith
- A. Doubting the Resurrection and other miraculous events
- B. The danger of unsaved 'Christians'
- C. The importance of trusting the Bible literally
Key Quotes
“Not seeing is believing, but believing is seeing.” — Timothy Tow
“Seeing is believing is not good enough.” — Timothy Tow
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” — Timothy Tow
Application Points
- We should not rely on physical evidence to believe in God, but rather trust in His promises.
- Having saving faith means trusting the Bible literally and not doubting its miraculous events.
- We can have saving faith even if our faith is weak, and it is the key to doing great exploits for the Lord.