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July 8, 2024

What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus?

Dr. Jason Neill

Scripture reading: John 6:22-71

We Christians, if we are not careful, can use “Christianese” when we talk to one another and to others. You know what “Christianese” is, right? It means to use words or phrases that are part of our Christian culture which “we” understand; however, it may not be clear to those who are not familiar with Christian language/terminology. Let me provide a few examples. Have you ever heard or used, at any time, the following phrases?

“I’ve been bought with a price.”

“I’ve been washed in the blood of the lamb.”

“Have you found Jesus yet?”

“I sense/feel the Spirit leading me to do so-and-so.”

“The Lord spoke to me.”

My intent is not to cause guilt or to mock you if you’ve ever used those phrases, but to illustrate a point. Those phrases can be confusing. Similarly, what do we mean when we tell others to “believe in Jesus,” or we say, “I believe in Jesus”? This too can qualify as “Christianese.” I would like to demystify the phrase “believe in Jesus”; however, before I do that let’s talk about what it means to believe something.

To believe something means to be convinced or persuaded that something is true. For example, if I said I believe George Washington was the first President of the United States that means I am persuaded/convinced that statement is true. If I said I believe 2 + 2 = 4, then I am persuaded/convinced that equation is true. If I said I believe God, then that means I am persuaded/convinced that something God has said is true, although I didn’t specify what (the content) I believe God for. 

When it comes to believing in Jesus, the New Testament is very clear that we believe in Him for something specific. I can believe several facts about Jesus but not believe in Jesus. For instance, I am persuaded/convinced that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I am persuaded/convinced that Jesus lived a perfect life. I am persuaded/convinced that Jesus healed numerous people during his earthly ministry. I am persuaded that all those facts are true. Those are examples of what it means to believe something about Jesus, but that is not what the New Testament means when it encourages us to believe in Jesus.

To believe in Jesus, as seen especially in the Gospel of John, is to be persuaded/convinced that He guarantees everlasting life to all who simply believe in Him for it (see John 3:16-17, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26; 1 Tim. 1:16).

According to one New Testament scholar, there are three implications to the assertion that Jesus guarantees everlasting life to all who simply believe in Him for it. First, I need to believe that all I must do is believe in Him for everlasting life. It isn’t believe and something in addition to believing (e.g. saying a prayer, walking an aisle, signing a commitment card, etc.), but simply believing in Him for everlasting life. Second, I need to believe that what I get when I believe is everlasting. It cannot end or be taken away. To quote this New Testament scholar, “until a person understands that what he/she gets is eternal, he/she hasn’t understood the gospel.” Third, I need to believe that when I believe, I have everlasting life. I do not have to wait to find out, bear fruit, persevere, etc. I know I have everlasting life the moment I believe in Jesus for it, otherwise I do not believe Him.

Again, to believe in Jesus is to be persuaded/convinced that He guarantees everlasting life to all who simply believe in Him for it. That is what the New Testament means to believe in Jesus.