I believe every Christian needs to know what they believe and why they believe it. Faith is not meant to be built on feelings, opinions, trends, or what sounds good in the moment. Our faith must be anchored in Jesus Christ and grounded in the Word of God.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12, “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” This was not a weak faith. This was personal conviction. Paul did not just know about God; he knew God for himself.
That is the kind of confidence we need today. We need to be able to say, “I know who I believe in.” Not because someone else told us, but because we have walked with Him, trusted Him, studied His Word, and seen His faithfulness in our own lives.
Job declared in Job 19:25, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.” Job said this while he was suffering. His situation was hard, but his faith still had an anchor. He knew his Redeemer was alive.
Test What You Hear
Knowing what we believe also means we cannot accept every teaching just because it sounds spiritual. 1 John 4:1 tells us not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Every message, every doctrine, and every voice must be measured by the truth of Scripture.
If a teaching pulls us away from Christ, weakens the truth of the gospel, feeds pride, excuses sin, or ignores the Word of God, we need to pause and examine it carefully. Truth will always agree with the character of God and the message of Jesus Christ.
The Bereans give us a strong example in Acts 17:11. They received the word eagerly, but they also searched the Scriptures daily to see if what they were hearing was true. They were not careless listeners. They were serious students of the Word.
2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us to take every thought captive to obey Christ. This means we do not let every idea rule our minds. We bring our thoughts, beliefs, questions, and opinions under the authority of Jesus.
Study the Word and Stay Rooted
Colossians 2:7 tells us to be rooted and built up in Christ, established in the faith, and overflowing with thanksgiving. A rooted believer is not easily moved. When our roots go deep in Christ, we can stand when confusion, pressure, or false teaching comes.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:24 that the person who hears His words and does them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The storm came, but the house stood because the foundation was strong. In the same way, our lives must be built on obedience to the Word, not just hearing it.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches that all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, correction, instruction, and equipping us for every good work. The Word of God shapes us, corrects us, strengthens us, and helps us grow in truth.
This is my conviction: I do not want a borrowed faith. I do not want to only repeat what others say. I want to know the Lord for myself, love His Word for myself, and stand on truth with confidence. I want my beliefs to be tested by Scripture and my life to be anchored in Christ.
When we know what we believe, we do not have to be ashamed. When we are anchored in the Word, we do not have to be easily shaken. And when our confidence is in Jesus, we can stand firm, because we know whom we have believed.
Minister A Francine Green, October 2026