“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men” (Acts 17:11-12).

The Bereans have provided an example for all of us for many years. They demonstrated three stages in coming to faith in Christ. First, they eagerly received the message. They weren’t cynical or skeptical. Neither were they naïve. Their hearts were open to the truth, but they took another step. They examined the Scriptures.

There is no safer way to approach our relationship with God than to go to the Scriptures! When the Secret Service trains staff members to identify counterfeit bills, they are not required to study fake money. Instead, they undergo a thorough study of genuine currency as the best preparation to identify counterfeit money. Believers should approach truth in the same way.

Being open to the message about Jesus is the beginning of a process that leads to spiritual life. Knowing Scripture protects us from being either skeptical or gullible. It helps us build our lives on the truth. That leads to faith. John concluded his Gospel by explaining what happens to those who believe. He summed up his message by writing, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Believing in Jesus results in life.

Faith isn’t wishful thinking or some vague hope that our circumstances will work out in some way. Faith produces results! It is built on the foundation of God’s Word. When we hear the message and examine the Scripture to be sure of the truth we come to a faith that can’t be shaken. That faith, then, leads to life. That’s how this Christian life works.