"Martha said to [Jesus], 'I know that he [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.' "
Here is an example where good theology informs a living, vibrant, and saving faith. Martha believes in a bodily resurrection, on the last day. She also believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. But even the demons believe these objective, historical facts, as matters of indisputable truth--but, instead of being blessed by them, they "tremble" at them, (cf. Jas. 2:19).
Martha married good doctrine with a heart that truly depended on it.
The difference between her faith and the demons' faith is that hers was one of trusting love of Jesus; theirs was one of the fear of His wrath.
[Puritan quote of the day: "In a heathen nation, first teach, and then baptize them; but in a Christian church, first baptize, and then teach them." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Commandments"]
