The question has been asked, in spiritual things, What is the difference between believing with the head and believing with the heart?
The term “believing with the head” is thought by some to be an objectionable one; nevertheless, we surely find in Scripture that which is conveyed by the expression. In John 2, for example, our blessed Lord exposes mere head belief. “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, and needed not that any should testify of man; for He knew what was in man” (John 2:23-2423Now 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. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:23‑24)). “Many believed in His name,” yet their hearts were untouched and their consciences unreached. There was no sense of sin and no turning of the heart to Christ.
Natural Understanding
The mind, or natural understanding, was convinced that He who wrought such miracles must be God, but although the understanding was thus convinced, there was no subjection of heart to God and no confidence in Christ Himself. They could appreciate the miracles which He did and imagine that they were honoring Him who wrought them. But He who knew “what was in man” could not accredit such a profession of faith, however fair in appearance. It might have passed as genuine in the estimation of man, but God looks on the heart, and He must have “truth in the inward parts.” Their belief was a mere human persuasion, founded, as our Lord hints, on what was in man. The faith that connects the soul with Christ is founded on the testimony of God to Him. This makes all the difference.
But there is one thing which marks this merely human faith — it produces no movement in the soul towards God. There was no question on the part of these Jews as to man’s sinful state, but they had no exercise of conscience as to pardon and eternal life. They never got away from themselves and did not understand that salvation was to be found in another.
The Case of Nicodemus
If we now turn for a moment to the case of Nicodemus in John 3, we shall see the perfect contrast to all this mere surface work. The essential difference between Nicodemus and the Jews in John 2 is that he came to Christ under a sense of need. He saw the miracles as they did, but a desire was awakened in him to know God’s mind on these matters. This is a sure sign of genuine faith, for it leads the man outside of himself. He has learned, in some measure, that there is nothing good in himself and that blessing is to be found alone in Jesus. In all such cases, there can be no question that God is at work in the soul.
When truth acts on the heart in the power of the Spirit, it creates a want. Nicodemus evidently felt a lack which nothing in himself or in his own religion could ever meet. He had been a high religionist and was doubtless well acquainted with the doctrines and forms of his religion, but now his conscience was reached by the blessed Jesus, and a new desire was awakened in his heart. He felt there was something wanting, and to rest content in this state was impossible. The One whom he had seen do such wonderful works and speak such wonderful words was the right person to approach in his perplexity. There may be great tardiness in making a decision and a fear of others, but when there is a true sense of sin in the soul and Christ is the object of its desires, the full expression of faith will come.
This was the case with Nicodemus. He came to Jesus by night; he was afraid of the world and of his fellow professors. Yet the vital germ was there, and though surrounded with dangers, it increased in power, and in time manifested its divine origin. In chapter 7, we find him standing up for Christ before the council, and chapter 19, he is bold enough to face the world for the rejected and crucified Jesus. Such is the difference between that kind of belief which rests on the mind of man and the faith which is grounded on the truth of God. The one gives way under adverse circumstances; the other is deepened by them.
Belief in the Heart
It is perfectly plain from the Word of God that all outward expressions of faith are utterly worthless, unless they flow from an inward work of grace in the heart. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9-109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‑10)). The term “heart” in this passage may embrace the entire inner man, as contrasted with the confession of the mouth, or outward expression. When the work is of God’s Spirit, by the Word, the mind is not only instructed, but the heart is touched, and the conscience is reached. It is by the conscience that the light comes in and reveals the sad state of the soul. This makes a man serious.
But as the Spirit of God works very differently with different individuals, it becomes us, wherever we see the least sign of a divine work, to be slow in judging. While angels are celebrating a new birth, we may be looking on with unbelieving suspicion! How sweet and strengthening to the heart at such a moment is the spirit of Christ! He gathers the lambs with His arm and carries them in His bosom. Should we not seek to follow His example?
C. H. Mackintosh (adapted)