What does it mean to believe in vain?

The subject of this Blog is about what the Bible teaches about believing in vain. When I speak of believing in vain I speak of "not actually" believing in Christ. What does it mean to believe in Christ? What does it mean to believe in vain? The Bible says...

James 2:19...the devils also believe, and tremble.

Anyone knows that devils do not believe enough to be converted yet the Bible says they believe. Many people say they believe in Christ...but they actually don't show belief in their actions. Unbelief is shown in the action of man. An unbeliever who professes Christ with his mouth, yet lives a life of disobedience to Christ could very well be believing in vain. The proof of belief in Christ...is obedience to God. Obedience flows from belief in Christ. Belief is an action from the heart of a broken man...toward Christ. The action of belief is caused from the broken will of a sinful man in repentance and godly sorrow. A broken man is a man that truely believes and "knows" Christ for personal forgiveness. The Grace of God teaches this man to deny ungodliness. A broken believer gives consent of his will to Christ, he renounces sinful conduct, and he understands who Christ is and what Christ did for him personally. Forgiveness of sins is "found and experienced" through man's present tense belief in Christ. Belief brings obedience of conduct because the believer "keeps in memory" the things about a Saviour. Christian's have to believe daily unto Salvation. Keeping Christ in memory is a daily thing...not something you did 17 years ago. Daily keeping in memory permits daily belief in a Saviour's holy presence. Daily belief and daily accountability keeps us from...believing in vain.

1 Cor 15:1-4...Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The verse says this is the , "True Gospel" according to the scriptures. The true Gospel is what our faith is based on. The Gospel is a Christ centered truth that gives us something and someone to believe in and trust. Keeping Christ in memory is the secret. The Gospel brings us this blessed revelation from God.

The Gospel is declared...
The Gospel is preached...
The Gospel is received...
The Gospel "saves" the human soul...
"If" you keep in memory what is preached..."UNLESS YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN"...

Notice it says you have to keep Christ in memory...
Notice it says you can also believe in vain...

Believing in Christ is knowing Him; experiencing Him; experiencing personal forgiveness; understanding your accountability to Christ.

When personal forgiveness is found inwardly through the person of Christ you receive it through belief...
When the heart is made right (cleansed) you receive it through belief...
When you walk in obedience like a child of God should you do it through belief...

This type of belief is a belief that never wants to let go of Christ and His holy presence in their life. Belief brings the power of God's Divine Grace. Belief is actual trust in the redemptive work of Christ at Calvary. Belief is an actual acceptance of a living Christ for personal holiness of heart and conduct. Actual belief in Christ is a reality of clean living with a conscience freed from the guilt of sin.

If you are not experiencing the power of the Gospel in your heart and life you could be believing in vain. The Word admonishes us to examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith. Just a simple examination of self in light of Christ can sometimes allow God to show man what he really needs. Devils believe...but they are not saved. They reject the truth about Christ. They deny the power of Salvation of the human soul. They miss the saving Grace. Keep yourself from believing in vain... believe, accept, and trust Christ as as your personal Lord and Saviour from the heart. Then the Spirit's witness will confirm in your heart that you have it made. You will never turn your back on God. The devil won't be able to pry you out of Christ with a crow bar. You will be immovable.

Col 1:21-23...And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,