Believe
Let’s examine the word “believe.” If we are going to understand salvation, then we have to understand this word. The Bible tells us over and over again that the way to be saved is to believe in Jesus Christ.
For example:
John 3:15, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16, “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.”
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.”
John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”
Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Acts 13:39, “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Acts 16:31, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
The word “believe” in the Bible means to “trust.” The Word of God teaches that I will be saved if I “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul and a man that he was working with named Silas had been put in jail. In Acts chapter sixteen, and verse thirty, the jailer came to them and asked the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Now, if you ask the average person that question today, he will give you fifty-dozen things that you have to do to be saved. I have heard a preacher say that you had to walk down a church aisle to be saved. There are people who say that you have to confess every sin in order to be saved. We are not concerned here with what people say. What does the Bible teach? I could say that in order to be saved, you had to stand on your head and count to a thousand and then run around town screaming at the top of your lungs for four hours. It wouldn’t make any difference.
The Bible says,
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
When I read this Scripture and say that the way to be saved is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, people begin to object. I am a Baptist and I mean that I have seen Baptists object to this. I quoted some verses that taught that salvation was by believing in Jesus Christ to a Jehovah’s Witness one time, and he kept on saying “No, No, No.” I quoted “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” to a man who believed that people had to be baptized to be saved, and he objected because I kept on quoting the same verse over and over, as if God didn’t really mean what he said in that verse. It doesn’t surprise me when cult members object to salvation by faith alone, but when supposed “Bible-believing” Christians object to it, it is a little unnerving to say the least. Why would you object when the Lord Jesus Christ presented the way of salvation as through faith in Him? Why would you object when the apostle Paul presented the way of salvation as by faith in Jesus? Perhaps Jesus Christ and Paul were not as skilled as we are at presenting the Gospel. Maybe we could teach them a thing or two.
The Word “Believe” Means To “Trust”
As we said before, the word “believe” means to “trust.” I could say, “I believe in Santa Clause.” Or, “I believe in the Tooth Fairy.” In other words, I am saying that I believe that they exist. That’s not what the Bible is talking about here. People are not saved because they believe that Jesus exists. They are saved because they trust in Him for their soul’s salvation. A father has a son who plays little league ball. His son is up to bat and the father says, “Son, I believe in you!” Now, everyone knows that he doesn’t mean, “I believe you exist.” He means, “I have faith in you; I have confidence in you. I believe that you can do it.” That is what the Bible means when it says, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...” (Acts 16:31) It is the idea of putting your faith in Him, of placing your trust in Him. It is the idea of having confidence in Him that He will save you and keep you saved. Second Timothy 1:12 explains this idea very clearly. “…I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Here, the words “believe” and “commit” are interchangeable. To believe in Jesus is to commit the matter of my salvation into his hands. It is to trust in Him to save me from hell and to get me to heaven.
A Question of Faith
Here’s a question to think about. How can someone believe in Jesus if they don’t believe His words? I was talking to a man in prison one time who professed to be a Baptist. I asked him what he thought a person had to do to go to heaven, and he said something to the effect of, “Love your neighbor.” It amazes me how people who are in jail would think that they could be saved by good works, but self-righteousness is everywhere. I took him to John 3:16 and showed him what Jesus said about getting to heaven. Jesus did not say that we have eternal life by “loving our neighbors.” He said that we have eternal life by believing in Him as Savior. “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.” (John 3:16) He saw the words of Jesus, yet he would not change his mind and reject his false idea about salvation. He said that I had given him something to think about, but he refused to believe the simple words of Jesus Christ at that moment. How can a person really believe in Jesus and be a Christian if they don’t even believe John 3:16? Believing in Jesus means that I trust what He has promised. I know that I have eternal life and that I will go to heaven simply because I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. That is what Jesus said, and I believe His words.
Synonyms For “Believe”
Several different words are used in the Bible interchangeably with “believe.” Often times, preachers have taught that these words express different requirements for salvation. For instance, in John chapter one, verse twelve, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Some well-meaning preachers teach that it is not enough to believe in Jesus as Savior. You must also receive Him. God makes it clear with the expression; “even to them that believe on his name” that receiving Jesus as Savior means to believe on Him. The words are synonymous. Also, to “call upon the name of the Lord” in Romans 10:13 is just a way of expressing faith. Read verses thirteen and fourteen together to get the full meaning. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed…?” (Romans 10:13-14) We cannot call unless we believe, or trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. We put far too much emphasis on getting people to pray a prayer when they are saved. When I was young and wanted to be saved, I thought that there was a certain prayer that I had to pray. I wanted to know what that prayer was. But a prayer will not save anyone. The moment we trust in Jesus Christ for our soul’s salvation, He saves us. Prayer is an outward expression of inward faith. Putting our faith into words is good; but faith alone in Jesus Christ saves.