Believe

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved….” Acts 16: 31

Believe is a little word full of much meaning. As often used in the Bible it calls for action.

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines faith as a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one’s life. 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.  

Believe (with a “v”) is a verb. A verb is an action word. It means to have confidence in the truth resulting in action. 

Belief (with an “f”) is a noun. It means a religious faith or the feeling of being certain that something is true.

To believe in is to accept something as true, genuine, or real ideals we believe in.

It is to have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion, to regard the existence of God as a fact and His Word as truth.

Believe comes from old German words meaning to have trust. Belief doesn’t require proof, just acceptance.

Faith in Jesus is an active participle. If we believe in Jesus, our actions will testify to our faith. James says: “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18). Likewise, the psalmist says: “I believe therefore I speak.”

If we truly believe, everything we do and don’t do will be derived from our belief. Indeed, anything and everything that does not come from belief in Jesus is a sin. (Romans 14:23)

This story illustrates belief resulting in salvation.

Suppose we become friends and you come down stairs in the morning looking ashen with perspiration on your brow claiming to have a severe pain in your right side and nausea. With an elemental understanding of appendicitis I recognize the symptoms.

I say, “My very good friend is Dr. Ramond, who is a surgeon. His office is at 1234 Broad Street, Zip 13929, phone number 760-423-2564. Do you believe that?” Your reply is yes. My response might be “Wonderful you are healed, the pain is gone, you are well.”

No, I called Dr. Ramond and he said for us to meet him at the hospital. The diagnosis is appendicitis. Then you must trust the surgeon to perform the surgery.

Salvation involves belief in the facts AND trusting the Great Physician.