What does it mean to Believe in Jesus?
Acts 16:31
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Believe is one of the words we use as Christians that we use to describe our relationship in Jesus Christ. So, what does it mean to believe in Jesus?
Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines faith as a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to his will for one’s life. Nelson also says belief is to place one’s trust in God’s truth. A person who believes is one who takes God at his word and trusts in him for salvation.
Over the years associates have said they must be a Christian because America was a country founded on Christian beliefs. They heard that Jesus was born because we celebrate Christmas. They heard that Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave that is why we celebrate Easter. People have all types of what I call “intellectual knowledge” about Jesus. So to believe in Jesus, goes beyond having a “intellectual knowledge” that Jesus was born, lived a sinless life, died on the cross and was risen again. The bible tells us the demons believe and tremble.
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
For a person to believe is to place one’s trust in what God did for us on the cross. It means to trust that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. To receive the free gift of salvation that is saving me from the consequences of my sins, which Jesus did when He shed His blood on the cross for my sins. Then to accept this free gift of salvation. Based on this we are exercising our faith when we believe and place our trust in Jesus Christ. At this moment Christ indwells a believer with the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
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