“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
John 20:30-31 ESV
The Bible, and the Gospels in particular, are written so that we might know who Jesus Christ is and believe in Him as the Son of God and Savior of the world. What does it mean to “believe” in someone or something? Too many people do not stop and consider what this vitally important word really means. Let’s work to define the three aspects of belief so you can be sure you really believe in Jesus.
Belief begins with right knowledge. For belief in something, or someone, to be praiseworthy, honorable, and good the object of that belief must be real, honorable, and good. Belief in something does not make the thing real. For instance, belief in Santa Claus, Leprechauns, or unicorns will never make them real. Fantasy can never be a proper object of faith. Also, factually wrong knowledge can never be corrected by a person believing with all their heart. A woman cannot become a man (and visa versa) no matter how hard she may believe it is possible. A pet cannot become a person no matter how much a person may believe that they are. These examples represent deception coming from wrong knowledge. Passionately believing in deception (falsehood) will never make it true; it will only lead to deeper commitment to deception. True belief begins with right knowledge. True belief is based on objective truth; this means belief placed in a real and trustworthy object.
Second, belief has to do with the emotions and affections of the heart. Belief is not just an agreement with knowledge, but a hope in the unknown based on a solid foundation of right knowledge. When we believe in something faith is involved. Belief means passing from truthful knowledge into faith that something else is real based on that knowledge. Belief, faith, trust, and hope are very closely related. I deeply trust and believe in my wife because of knowing her deeply for almost 30 years. Based on knowledge of her life and character, I trust her future actions. I know that each day I come home she will have been faithful with her time, the finances of our home, and working to bless our family – because she has been about this for nearly 26 years! In personal relationships, belief also has an aspect of emotional encouragement. When our heart and emotions are invested in believing in a person, our hope in them encourages them. This is true most significantly with our closest relationships (spouse and children). Based on real knowledge of them, we trust them, and believe that even greater things are possible for them in the future! This is where belief and hope begin to connect with each other.
Third, belief in right knowledge affects the heart and changes our future actions. When you truly believe in something, or someone, it will change your actions! Belief is not disinterested. The most significant aspects of belief in our lives are very focused, and our change of action based on belief in the object shapes our lives. People who believe exercise is essential to a good and healthy life, exercise regularly and do so with intent and vigor. People who believe in the potential of their children act in ways that support their children and strive to give them opportunities to thrive. People who believe in God act as though He is objectively real and strive to conform their lives to His good and perfect will.
When it comes to the things of God, you are called to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin. May you learn right knowledge about Jesus from Scripture. May you agree with that knowledge in your mind. May the awareness of the life, love, and perfection of Jesus Christ change your heart by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. May you be moved by the thought of the merciful Jesus caring for the sick and poor. May you be moved in your soul by the thought of Jesus crucified. May you rejoice at His resurrection and the real forgiveness of sins! May you believe that Jesus is the merciful Son of God, come to forgive lost sinners, and give eternal life. As a result of this belief, you will want to follow after Jesus with a true heart. All believing Christians willingly, and with a joyful heart, act on this belief and obey the will of Jesus. As a result of this true belief, they are each baptized to obey and publicly proclaim this belief! This is true belief! This is true Christianity!
Let’s close with a very clear example of true belief versus false belief (empty religious practice). Let’s compare Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, with Samuel from 1 Samuel 2-4. We are told from Scripture that Eli’s sons wrongly took from the offerings the people brought to the Lord. They treated the religious ceremonies of the tabernacle with contempt. They were sexually sinful in the context of the tabernacle with women serving at the tabernacle. They were disobedient and dishonoring to their father. They did all these things because they did not believe in the reality of God. Their entire lives the sons were surrounded by the outward expressions of true religion, but they did not believe in its reality. As such, they were put to death by God for their extreme blasphemy and unbelief. The end of all unbelief in God is death.
Samuel is raised up by God to stand in direct contrast to Hophni and Phinehas. From childhood Samuel learns of God and believes in His reality. Samuel honors his parents. Samuel treats the religious ceremonies of worship unto God with complete honor and integrity. Samuel is honest in his dealings with the people. Samuel lives a sexually pure life. In his true belief Samuel is honored by God and raised up as a prophet before the people (1 Samuel 2:30b, 3:19-21).
Hophni and Phinehas had right knowledge of God, but they did not recognize it as real. They were not moved by the knowledge of God in their hearts. They did not believe. They did not honor God through obedience to His will. But the human heart is never neutral. By choosing to not believe in the reality of a holy God, they chose to believe in a God of their own imagination. They turned away from truth to deception, and so it is with every person that rejects the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. I write these things that you might learn about Jesus from the Bible and be moved in your heart to turn away from this dying world and to Jesus, the Savior of the world. In this true belief you will pursue the ways of Jesus with joy and hope all the days of your life – even unto eternal life!
May you believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord,
Pastor Vic