What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus Christ?

by Kent Brandenburg @ http://www.jackhammr.org

Doctrine is practical. Clarity, accuracy, and thoroughness in doctrine while evangelizing is practical. We are justified by Biblical faith, not some kind of fraudulent faith. Someone may say that he believes in Jesus Christ, but the belief must be actual belief. We know that some faith does not save (James 2). The parable of the sower (Matthew 13) says that some might “receive” the Word in a non-saving way, specifically the examples of the stony ground and the thorny soil. Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25) provides an occasion of faith that falls short of conversion.

Getting into Heaven instead of Hell is as practical as it can get. Someone whose doctrine sends him to Hell will agree that it hasn’t been very practical. On the other hand, someone in Heaven will thank God for the practicality of the position he was taught. A profession isn’t practical if it doesn’t save anyone. It might make someone look good, and that might have a kind of practicality, but in the end it will mean practically nothing. A church growth seminar won’t do anyone any good at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20) if his name isn’t in the Book of Life. So thinking about this can reach maximum practicality.

EXPLAINING BELIEF IN CHRIST

When I preach the Gospel, near the end of the presentation I’ll say, “We must believe in Jesus Christ. A whole lot of people will say they believe in Jesus Christ today, but it is important that we understand what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.” Then I explain. What is it that I tell someone?

First, we must believe in Jesus Christ. I quote John 3:36, then John 3:18 and 3:16. Each of those say “believe in Jesus Christ.” They don’t say “accept Jesus as your Savior” or “ask Jesus into your heart” or “ask the Lord to save you.” We’ve talked about Jesus being the Jesus of the Bible, but is the belief the belief of the Bible? To start, however, it is clear that the only way of salvation comes through faith in Christ.

Second, what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? Just because people say they believe in Jesus Christ, doesn’t mean they do. Part of what it means to believe in Jesus Christ is found in Luke 13, which says in v. 3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” and in v. 5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” If someone does not repent, he will what? He will perish. In John 3:16, the Lord says that if someone believes in Him, He will not what? He will not perish. If we believe, we won’t perish, but if we don’t repent, we will perish. Belief and repentance are talking about the same thing. We can’t believe in Jesus Christ and in ourselves. To repent means to turn. That’s part of the history of the word “repent.” Unless we turn from our way, relinquishing our will, and stop believing in anything else but Jesus Christ, we will perish.

There are a few passages that will make this clear. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 says, “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” The word “repent” doesn’t occur here, but ”turn” is synonymous with “repent.” We can’t serve the world or ourselves. No man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). We can’t put Jesus on the shelf with all the other gods. That’s not believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way (John 14:6), so we can’t go our way; we must turn from our way. This is the message of something that Jesus said repeatedly in the New Testament.

LOSING LIFE

One place the Lord Jesus used an often repeated truth was Matthew 16:25-26:

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

The word “life” is psuche, which is found in v. 26, but translated “soul.” A believer must offer His soul to God for saving. This is the idea of these two verses (Psalm 23:3; 19:7a):

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.

Our soul is cleansed of sin when we give it to God, that is, it is restored or converted. We can’t hang on to our soul and expect to be in heaven. A person cannot keep his life for himself and get to heaven. He must relinquish his life to the Lord. This is part of what it means to believe.

CONFESS THE LORD JESUS

Fitting right into this Scriptural understanding of “believing in Jesus Christ” is Romans 10:9-10.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If Jesus is Lord, then we are not. He rose from the dead. How? He is God. He is the Messiah. Confessing Him as Lord is confessing that we are not Lord.

HAVE YOU EXPLAINED FAITH?

This is what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. When I present this to people, I have found that when I am done, they understand what it means to believe. They are under conviction. They know that if they hang on to their life, they are rebelling against the Lord. They know what He has done for them. They know He deserves their allegiance. Working against this within them is their desire to control their own life. They love the world. They’re tempted to procrastinate. They see the goodness of God, His love for them, but they understand how their life will change. When I see this, I believe I have succeeded at explaining what belief in Jesus Christ is.