Page 56 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

BEHIND - BELSHAZZAR

became extinct due to the earth’s more rigorous climate rests upon the sure Word of God (Jn. 20:30-31; Ac.
and vastly depleted resources after the flood.” [See 1:3). To have saving faith a person must hear and
Dragon, Leviathan.] believe the words of the Bible concerning God’s
BEHIND. (1) In the rear (2 Sa. 10:9; Mt. 16:23). (2) promises in Christ. To have daily, serving faith, a
Inferior (2 Co. 11:5; 12:11). (3) Lacking (1 Co. 1:7; Col. Christian must read the Bible often and believe its
1:24). words. “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by
BEHOVE. Necessity; obligation (Lk. 24:46; He. the word of God” (Ro. 10:17).
2:17). What Saving Faith Is Not: 1. Mere knowledge; mental
BEKAH. [See Money.] assent of the facts pertaining to Christ (Ja. 2:19-20). 2.
BEL. [See Idolatry.] A spiritual heritage; second generation Christianity (Jn.
8:39; 1:13). 3. A Christian lifestyle and profession (Mt.
BELA (destruction). Ge. 36:32. 7:21-23).
BELIAL (worthless, wickedness). In the O.T. “Belial” What Saving Faith Is: 1. Receiving Jesus Christ (Jn.
is used as a proper name to refer to the devil (De. 1:12). Biblical salvation is a personal relationship with
13:13; Ju. 19:22; 1 Sa. 1:16; 2:12; 10:27; 30:22; 2 Sa. the living Christ. 2. Coming to Christ (Jn. 6:35). 3. To be
16:7; 20:1; 23:6). It is also used as a personification of sure of Christ (Jn. 6:66-69). 4. To know Christ (Jn.
evil to refer to a wicked person. The same Hebrew word 17:3). 5. Confidence in Christ (He. 3:6, 14). 6. Ceasing
translated “Belial” is also translated “wicked” (De. 15:9; from one’s own works (He. 4:10). 7. Fleeing for refuge
Nah. 1:11), “ungodly” (2 Sa. 22:5; Pr. 16:27; 19:28), in Christ (He. 6:18). [See Bible, Confidence,
and “naughty” (Pr. 6:12). In 2 Co. 6:15 the word is used Consolation, Gospel, Hope, Inspiration, Joy, Rejoice
of the devil. [See Devils, Satan.] Repentance, Salvation.]
BELIE. To lie; falsehood (Je. 5:12). BELL. The O.T. priest had bells on his robes (Ex.
BELIEVE. Man’s part in salvation is to believe in 28:33-34), which allowed the people to hear him
Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16; 6:28-29). What does this mean? ministering for them in the holy place (Ex. 28:35). This
In the English Bible, the Greek word commonly pictures the Holy Spirit’s witness of Jesus Christ during
translated “believe” (pisteuo) is also translated “commit these days when He is in heaven. Though we cannot see
to one’s trust” (Lk. 16:11; Jn. 2:24; Ro. 3:2; 1 Co. 9:17; Him with our eyes, we know our Great High Priest is
Ga. 2:7; 1 Th. 2:4; 1 Ti. 1:11; Tit. 1:3). This is the basic there ministering for us because of the Holy Spirit’s
meaning of believing in Christ. It means to commit witness (Jn. 16:13-15; Ac. 5:31-32). [See High Priest.]
myself to Him, to fully trust Him for salvation. It means BELLOWS. A leather bag used for blowing the fire of
to believe in such a way that I actually turn away from a smelting furnace (Je. 6:29).
sin and idols and false religion to receive Jesus Christ as BELLY. (1) That part of the human body which
my only Lord and Saviour. Another Greek word extends from the breast to the thighs, containing the
translated believe or trust is peitho. It means to be bowels; the stomach (Nu. 5:21; Ju. 3:21; Je. 51:34; Mk.
confident, to be fully persuaded (Ro. 2:19; 8:38; 2 Co. 7:19; Lk. 15:16; 1 Co. 6:13). (2) The womb (Ps. 22:10;
2:3; 2 Th. 3:4; 2 Ti. 1:12). This is the type of faith Je. 1:5). (3) The innermost being; the heart (Pr. 20:27,
which is required for salvation. To be saved, a person 30; 26:22; Jn. 7:38). (4) Used symbolically to describe
must be fully persuaded that Jesus Christ is everything man’s natural appetites (Ro. 16:18; Ph. 3:19). “Slow
the Bible says He is. He must be confident that Jesus can bellies” refers to gluttony and slothfulness (Tit. 1:12).
and will save him from sin (He. 3:14). This biblical [See Heart.]
meaning of “believe” clarifies the problem of faith and
works in salvation. It is faith alone, not works, which BELSHAZZAR (Belus the splendor of brightness, Bel
saves (Ro. 3:4; Ga. 2:3; Ep. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:3-7); but real has formed a king). A king of Babylon at the time of its
Bible faith always results in a changed life and in good fall to the Medo-Persian armies (Da. 5:1-30). Skeptics
works (Ep. 2:10; Tit. 3:8; 2 Co. 5:17; 1 Jn. 3:1-3). such as Ferdinand Hitzig doubted the existence of
Those who profess to believe in Christ, but whose lives Belshazzar, but archaeology confirmed that Belshazzar
remain unaffected by their profession, do not have the was the son of and co-regent with Nabonidus and that
type of faith required for salvation. True faith is based Belshazzar was ruling in Babylon when it fell to the
upon God’s Word, the Bible (Ro. 10:17; He. 11). True Persians. This is stated in the Nabonidus Cylinder and
faith is not a blind wish or uncertain hope. The lost the Babylonian Chronicle, both of which reside in the
man, for example, often believes everything will be all British Museum. These artifacts confirm the Bible’s
right with him after death no matter what religion he accuracy (1) in calling Belshazzar king of Babylon, (2)
follows, because he “feels” that he is O.K. with God. This in not mentioning Nabonidus in reference to the fall of
is blind faith. The Christian’s faith, on the other hand, Babylon (because he wasn’t present), and (3) in saying

56 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity