top of page
Search

What Does It Really Mean 'To Believe?'

  • 3 hours ago
  • 4 min read

11th March 26 l Ava J Dearden

We are to believe to be saved. But what does it mean to believe?
Salvation...eternity, Heaven or hell depends on our belief in God, it's that important. But what does it really mean 'to believe'

God's offer of salvation to the whole world is clothed in believing and having faith in Jesus. We must believe in order to be saved, but what exactly is it that we must believe? Is belief passive or does it require action? Is it just words we say, a one time event where we declare our belief or must we keep on believing?


What is belief, in brief:


  • Believe whatever God reveals to us at any given time.

  • Love God with everything we are. Believe in His Word and commands. Follow Him in everything we do.

  • Believe that He is who He says is. God is all powerful, sovereign over all.

  • If He speaks to our heart - believe it was His voice, don't doubt.

  • If we see a miracle, no matter how big or small - believe it was from God, nothing is impossible for Him.

  • If His Spirit convicts us - obey. Believe that He really did say that, no matter the discomfort.

  • If He opens and closes doors - believe that we need to walk through or leave remained shut




What must be believe to be saved?





Who 'is' the God of the Bible and what does He want us to believe?


Believing in God isn't just words. Belief commands action. Do we believe in His absolute sovereignty and control. Do we believe in His story of salvation, of how He created the world, us and everything in it. Do we believe in His account on the fall of man and how He made a way of reconciliation back to Himself through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross? 


Do we believe that Jesus is God's Son... one with God and that He came to earth to teach us His ways, to make Himself known to us?

Jesus Himself tells us what it means to believe:


John 14 (paraphrased) - “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me...


Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”...


Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves....


 “If you love me, keep my commands...


"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”...


“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.



Why is it so important to 'believe' and obey?


Disobedience was the reason for the fall of man. It's why we suffer, why there are wars, why there is cruelty and evil in the world. Without God, we have no morals, and no rules which leads to no hope as the sin that envelopes us, in the end leads to death.

Believing is not a one time declaration


We declare our belief in God when we are saved. But that's only the beginning of our journey with Jesus. He takes us to new levels that require greater declarations of belief as we start to step out in the faith that He has gifted us with. If we obey in a little, He opens up new levels, new opportunities to grow and learn. We start to pray more, read more. He starts to honour our efforts. He manifest Himself to us in the most glorious, miraculous ways.


luke 16:10 - “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.


God opens up new levels as we continue on our faith journey. The requirement to believe does not end, it increases as does God's test of faith.
God opens up new levels as we continue on our faith journey. The requirement to believe does not end, it increases as does God's test of faith.


Our eternity depends on our belief. It's that important


We must believe to be saved. We must continue to believe whatever God reveals to us at any given time in our journeys in order to be sanctified. To learn and grow, to become who He created us to be, to prepare us for our eternal home in Heaven.


This is only made possible by the indwelling power of God's Holy Spirit as born again believers. If we don't believe in someone, we don't trust. If we don't trust, we can't build a relationship. If we don't have a relationship with God, we don't with Jesus either. If we don't know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He tells us plainly there are consequences. We will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven and we will be subject to judgement from God.


Matthew 7:21`-23 - Jesus warns us that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, saying, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness".


2 Thessalonians 1:8 There will be Judgment for those who don't know God: Describes "flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ".



Start your journey with Christ. Get to know Him, and to believe



 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page