Romans 10:8-13 – “…The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”   12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”   NKJV

Although I have not personally counted the occurrences of the word ‘IF’ in the Bible some research revealed that in the KJV it appears 1,595 times in 1,420 passages.  It appears more in versions like the NIV but almost 1,600 times should cause more than a passing view of the word in the Bible.

The word is a conditional word and I fear that we sometimes quote passages and claim promises from God without regard to the ‘condition’ that ‘if’ places on it.  I joyously cite passages containing promises but even when the word ‘if’ is not present there is an obvious condition contained in the promise.  I love the passage where Jesus declared that we will ‘know the truth’ and the truth will make us free but there is an ‘if’ clause preceding, it that some miss.  In John 8:31 we find the words of our Lord, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”  Then the promise we quote in verse 32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  The “condition” is unavoidable.  IF we believe on Him as Messiah!  IF we commit our lives to Him as Savior!  IF we abide in His word and His word abides in us THEN…  Then we are disciples, recipients of truth that makes free.  

Old Testament Israel was given incredible promises but that pesky little word “if” continued to show up.  In Deuteronomy 7:12 we read, “IF you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep His covenant of love with you, as He swore to your forefathers.” (NIV) Then in 8:19 we find, “IF you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”  Then in 11:26-28, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse – the blessing IF you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse IF you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.”  The ‘condition’ cannot be missed.

In the New Testament that pesky little critter continues to surface and we dare not miss it.   There is a most powerful positive and negative given by our LORD in John 15:6-7, “IF anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown in the fire and burned.  IF you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask what you wish, and it will be given you.”  Then what do we do with the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:2, “By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.  Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”  Remember the LORD’s words in John 15:10, “IF you obey my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love.”  In Romans 10:9 we find a powerful promise and hope, “…IF you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  The heart and mouth are both involved in the process.

IF in the Bible is an incredibly powerful word and while Grace is freely given and cannot be earned God’s places conditions on virtually all His promises which require our active participation in the process and life.

            May God be with you as you go through this day!