In my personal devotion this morning I reflected on Jude’s beautiful doxology in Jude 24-25, and I spent some time reflecting on the final word of his letter, ‘Amen.’ We say it at the end of every prayer we ever pray. We say it when we agree with what has been said by others, we give a hearty ‘Amen!’ I say it at the end of my sermons. But amen is a declaration that what is said is true and reliable, that it is sure and certain. It’s saying that we actually believe what has been said.

I love Reformed Theology, but the question I constantly have to ask myself is do I really believe it? Do I really believe that people are saved by faith alone? Do I actually believe that people are saved, not by their works, but by God’s grace alone? Do I truly believe that people are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not by some other way? Do I wholeheartedly believe that Scripture alone teaches what is true and right? Do I really believe that life is meant to be lived for God’s glory alone? Because if we really believe the things we confess to believe as Reformed people it will change how we see the lost.

If the average Aussie person doesn’t accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour they will spend eternity separated from God in hell. If our neighbours don’t hear the gospel they will never know the Good News that they can be saved from their sin through faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work on the cross. If we don’t declare the truth of the Bible people will never know the eternal consequences of their sin, God’s plan of redemption and the love of God in Jesus, or the hope of eternal life.

Jesus often used the word amen, in fact the Apostle John remembers that he often used it twice. He records Jesus saying, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. (Jn 5:24a)’ Do we really believe that? Do we really believe that whoever hears the words of Jesus and believes them will have eternal life? Then why aren’t we proclaiming the words of Jesus? Why aren’t we calling our family and friends and workmates and neighbours to believe in Jesus?

In the very next verse Jesus says, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (Jn 5:25)’ Do we believe that is true? Do we believe that people who are spiritually dead will hear Jesus’ voice and live? Do you believe that Jesus speaks through his people? Do you believe that Jesus speaks through you? Do you believe that people will be ‘born again (Jn 3:3, another ‘amen, amen’ statement)’ and receive eternal life through the gospel of Jesus?

Maybe it’s time that we really started believing what we’ve always said we have. The Reformed Church has always prided itself on holding up the grace of God in Jesus Christ, may we become just as passionate on holding out that grace to those who so desperately need to hear it!