Salvation is a necessity in this life, though not everyone realizes it. But to be saved, you must believe in Jesus Christ. This study explains what that means.
Introduction
Jesus Christ came to this world to save sinners. But the whole world is not automatically saved because Christ has suffered and died for sins. To be saved, everyone still needs to respond to what He did.
We are told in John 3:16: “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Believing is essential for salvation. But you must believe what the Bible commands, not any other message. This is where many people stumble, they do not understand exactly what and how to believe.
Therefore, this article is written to address both the problem of wrong belief and that of unbelief.
My Testimony in Brief
Once upon a time, before I knew the truth, I used to believe false gospels. And then one day, God led me to a message that clearly explained the true gospel to me. I understood exactly what to believe, and I believed right on that day.
Not only do I have the knowledge of salvation today, I also have the assurance of salvation and that of eternity with God. I realized that day, that all those times when I claimed to believe in Jesus, I did not know what it meant to believe in Jesus.
Then I went to the people whom we used to believe the same thing, and started asking questions. I quickly found that I was not the only one who had no idea what to believe or what it means to believe. It was a straight-forward question that I asked:
Question: What does it take to get to heaven?
Answer: You have to be born again.
Follow-up: What does it mean to be born again?
Answer: It means you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior
Follow-up: What does it mean to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
Answer: It means you’re born again
99% of the people that I interviewed could not explain what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. They would begin with the words “born again” and circle back to it.
Although they were all able to use the expressions “born again”, “give your life to Jesus”, etc., nobody was able to give me the answer that I was looking for, which was the explanation of what to believe, and what it means to believe in Jesus.
The reason for this was that these people were taught wrong. They were given the gospel of works and they believed it. To them, salvation is that you come to Christ in order to do the works of righteousness that will take you to heaven. Their mentality is that you cannot have the assurance of eternity with God now.
To them, salvation is that you come to Christ in order to do the works of righteousness that will take you to heaven.
They are fond of praying to God to please count them worthy for heaven. In the meantime, they are trying to make sure they do enough works to merit heaven. This was the false gospel that I used to believe until I was delivered.
My goal with this article is to help such people as are still believing these false gospels. If you cannot clearly explain what it means to believe in Jesus Christ, according the Scriptures, then this article is for you.
Not only do I have the knowledge of salvation today, I also have the assurance of salvation and eternity with God.
It Is Essential to Believe in Jesus Christ
TEXT: John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Why Did Jesus Christ Come to this World?
Jesus Christ came to this world to save sinners. The word “world” in the above text is from the Greek word kosmos, which means an orderly arrangement, the word refers to our universe and its inhabitants. Our sin was the reason why Christ came. Therefore our response to His work will determine whether we will be saved or condemned.
Verse 16 of John 3 begins by telling us about the love of God for us, “For God so loved the world”. He demonstrated that love by giving His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The word “gave” in the verse is more painful and wrathful than it sounds. God did not send Jesus to this world to party or have fun. He sent Him to suffer and die a painful death, for our sins.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…
But the whole world is not automatically saved because Christ has suffered and died for sins. To be saved, everyone still needs to respond to what He did. We are told in the verse: “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Believing is a requirement for salvation. But you must believe what the Bible commands not any other message. This is where many people stumble, they do not understand exactly what and how to believe. Therefore, this article is written to address both the problem of wrong belief and that of unbelief.
But the whole world is not automatically saved because Christ has suffered and died for sins. To be saved, everyone still needs to respond to what He did.
The Meaning of the Word ‘Believe’
The word believe is from the Greek word pist-yoo’-o, which means to have faith in a person or thing; to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ); commit (to trust), put in trust with. So, believing in Jesus Christ is more than just having a mere head knowledge of who He is. It is wholeheartedly trusting Him with your life, that is, entrusting your life to Him.
Trusting in Christ’s Redemptive Work
Putting your trust in Christ is way more than just believing in God or believing that Jesus is the Son of God. The Bible tells us that even the “devils” (demons) believe in God and they tremble before Him.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
The demons recognize Jesus Christ. They know who He is:
Matthew 8:28-29 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
See also Luke 8:28. As you may have noticed, no one introduced Jesus to these demons, they knew who He was. But they are still not saved. Not to mention that the devils are better than some people because the devils at least tremble before God, some people don’t. Simply believing in God will not save you. You have to trust in the work that He did on your behalf. That is what the remaining part of this article will explain.
Putting your trust in Christ is way more than just believing in God or believing that Jesus is the Son of God.
The Redemptive Work of Christ
Prophet Isaiah foretold the suffering of the Messiah and the purpose for which He will suffer and be put to death.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.” Jesus suffered and died, not for anything else, but for our sins.
Isaiah 53:10-11 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
On the cross, our sins were placed on Christ “who knew no sin”. He was “bruised” and offered up as a sacrificial Lamb to take away our sins. God the Father looked down on Him from heaven as He suffered on the cross, and He was “satisfied” by the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. Christ has totally borne our iniquities. He paid the full penalty of our sins. This is good news for us who cannot save ourselves!
One of the amazing things about the love of God for us is that He did not wait for us to become good before He sends His Sons to dies for us. Christ died for us while we were still contrary to Him. This is true love!
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Think about all those who were against Christ during His earthly life and ministry: from the false religious leaders who always wanted to get Him in trouble, to Judas Iscariot, one of His very own who betrayed Him, to the Romans soldiers who scourged Him and those who literally nailed Him to the Cross. He died for them all! This is true love.
Christ has totally borne our iniquities. He paid the full penalty of our sins. This is good news for us who cannot save ourselves!
Our Respond to His Works
Through His redemptive work, that is, His Death, Burial, Resurrection, Christ reconciled us back to God. The Bible says that we are saved when we believe in Jesus. What that means is that we believe that He suffered and died for our sins. He was buried and He rose again for our justification. We read about the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
According to the above passage, we’re saved by the gospel, when we believe, unless we have “believed in vain”. Believing in vain is having mere head knowledge without trusting with the heart. But not only must we believe with the heart, we are also to “stand” (or remain, abide) in the gospel. Therefore, salvation is not to believe in Jesus Christ today, while you spent the rest of your life trying to merit the love and acceptance of God.
It was Christ who died and paid for our sins two thousand years ago. It is also Him who makes intercession for us with the Father today.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Trusting in His blood
When you come to terms with the truth that you’re a sinner, and that there is nothing you can do to save or forgive yourself, the only option left for you is to run to Christ who truly have the power to save. John 3:16 says “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. This life is found only in Christ. All who desire it must come to Him by faith.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
What it means to trust or believe in Jesus is that you believe that He died and paid the penalty of your sin. And that He was buried and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. When you believe this with all your heart, your sins and will be forgiven and you will receive the gift of eternal life at the moment.
Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Believing in what Jesus Christ did for you means that you’re trusting in His blood. It is through the blood which He shed that we receive remission or forgiveness of sin. Without the shedding of blood, no one can be forgiven. It is only the shed blood of Jesus Christ that is accepted by God on our behalf.
Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Colossians 1:12-14 ¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Salvation By Faith Alone Through Christ Alone
The forgiveness of our sin is connected to the blood that Christ shed on the cross. The sinners must trust in it for their salvation. Also, the believers must continue to trust in it. It is through the blood that we’re saved. It is also through the blood that we’re kept saved. None of these has anything to do with our good works or self righteousness.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
1 John 2:1-2 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Therefore believe only in what He has done for you as the only reason why you’re forgiven and are going to heaven. This is what it means to believe on Jesus. Believing in Jesus is not trusting in Him today while you hope that you do enough to merit heaven some day. Believing in Jesus gives you the knowledge of salvation and the assurance of eternity with God, all of which are on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work.
For those who might still be rejecting Christ or procrastinating today, you need to remember that those who refuse to believe will perish. What that means is that you will die and go to hell where your soul will suffer for all eternity. There is a curse placed on those who reject Christ, and you simply don’t want to be one of them.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Hell and the wrath of God are reserved “for the Devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). There is no reason for you to partake in their sufferings. So believe today, trust only in Christ, and you will be forgiven your sins and receive everlasting life. It is the promise of God that is backed by His sure Word!
Thank you for reading!
