What does it mean to BELIEVE IN JESUS?

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watcher2013

Senior Member
Aug 6, 2013
1,931
108
63
#1
How can person Believe in Jesus? What does it mean to believe in Christ?
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,862
4,513
113
#2
How can person Believe in Jesus? What does it mean to believe in Christ?
Belief involves both the actions of the mind and Spirit.

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16. In Roman's 1:18-20 we see people are without excuse. In John 6:44 we see God must first do the calling. By these 3 verses we understand all can have salvation, all are drawn without excuse, but will everyone respond? Obviously no. But the ones who respond do so in faith. A faith that came from hearing the Gospel. A living faith will be a heart, soul and mind response. A emotional desire, a spiritual and intellectual response.

A triune response involves faith and putting ones belief in Christ. Hebrew 11:1 states confidence and assurance is part of faith. Thomas doubted Jesus's resurrection and had to see but also feel the resurrected Jesus. He was assured and that gave him the confidence needed to except in faith the many things he didn't understand but God gave him just what he needed to believe. Paul had to have a vision. Jesus's brother James had to see the resurrection events in order to believe.

But all of these examples first took these people hearing the message spread even if they first doubted or denied it.

Romans 1:18-20 New International Version (NIV)
God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.


John 6:44 New International Version (NIV)
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:17
New International Version

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Matthew 22:37 New International Version (NIV)
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Hebrews 11:1 New International Version (NIV)
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
 

watcher2013

Senior Member
Aug 6, 2013
1,931
108
63
#3
Belief involves both the actions of the mind and Spirit.

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16. In Roman's 1:18-20 we see people are without excuse. In John 6:44 we see God must first do the calling. By these 3 verses we understand all can have salvation, all are drawn without excuse, but will everyone respond? Obviously no. But the ones who respond do so in faith. A faith that came from hearing the Gospel. A living faith will be a heart, soul and mind response. A emotional desire, a spiritual and intellectual response.

A triune response involves faith and putting ones belief in Christ. Hebrew 11:1 states confidence and assurance is part of faith. Thomas doubted Jesus's resurrection and had to see but also feel the resurrected Jesus. He was assured and that gave him the confidence needed to except in faith the many things he didn't understand but God gave him just what he needed to believe. Paul had to have a vision. Jesus's brother James had to see the resurrection events in order to believe.

But all of these examples first took these people hearing the message spread even if they first doubted or denied it.

Romans 1:18-20 New International Version (NIV)
God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.


John 6:44 New International Version (NIV)
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:17
New International Version

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Matthew 22:37 New International Version (NIV)
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Hebrews 11:1 New International Version (NIV)
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Can you stop believing?
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
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#4
We need something to save us from God. His wrath is over the world. Jesus is the only person who can save us by taking God's wrath meant for us upon his own self on the cross. If you can trust in his shed blood as the payment for your sins, you are one of few who have escaped God's wrath.

“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 3:36 (KJV 1900)
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,862
4,513
113
#5
Can you stop believing?
I believe you have free will to decide to respond to the Gospel and Spirit that is drawing you. Just as I believe free will is always at play. You can walk away. God doesn't force your love or forces you to stay against your will. But turning away is far worse than initially unbelief. Because after believing and taking part in the Spirit, it is very dangerous to act in plain rebellion instead of ignorance.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#7
I believe you have free will to decide to respond to the Gospel and Spirit that is drawing you. Just as I believe free will is always at play. You can walk away. God doesn't force your love or forces you to stay against your will. But turning away is far worse than initially unbelief. Because after believing and taking part in the Spirit, it is very dangerous to act in plain rebellion instead of ignorance.
In my experience one day from out of the blue I began experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit and became overwhelmed with joy and happiness. This continued for 3 days and I knew it was Jesus. There is no way I could walk away from this. It was too good and made my former life look pathetic.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,483
13,422
113
58
#8
Those who believe in Jesus (unto salvation) not only believe in who Jesus is and in the historical facts about Jesus, but they also trust in Jesus as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. The Greek word for believe is "Pisteuo" and means to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing) to entrust, (especially one's spiritual well being to Christ). So to "believe in Jesus" (Acts 16:31) does not merely mean to believe "mental assent" in the existence of Jesus, but is also to place confidence, trust and reliance in.
 

watcher2013

Senior Member
Aug 6, 2013
1,931
108
63
#10
In my experience one day from out of the blue I began experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit and became overwhelmed with joy and happiness. This continued for 3 days and I knew it was Jesus. There is no way I could walk away from this. It was too good and made my former life look pathetic.
But can you stop, believing in Jesus?
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#11
But can you stop, believing in Jesus?
You cannot stop believing in something you experience? Can you stop believing you are sitting in a chair while sitting in a chair? Do you need to choose you are sitting in a chair while sitting in a chair? So it is with Christ.
 

watcher2013

Senior Member
Aug 6, 2013
1,931
108
63
#12
You cannot stop believing in something you experience? Can you stop believing you are sitting in a chair while sitting in a chair? Do you need to choose you are sitting in a chair while sitting in a chair? So it is with Christ.
Did you believe in santa when you were a kid?
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
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#13
I'll clarify my question, Can you stop believing in Jesus?
Using the model Paul used in romans 5 12-19, if Adam free gift of a sinful nature was so powerful than no one can get out of it merely by stopping belief in Satan, how much more...
 

watcher2013

Senior Member
Aug 6, 2013
1,931
108
63
#15
Using the model Paul used in romans 5 12-19, if Adam free gift of a sinful nature was so powerful than no one can get out of it merely by stopping belief in Satan, how much more...
It does not answer the question at hand...
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,862
4,513
113
#18
In my experience one day from out of the blue I began experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit and became overwhelmed with joy and happiness. This continued for 3 days and I knew it was Jesus. There is no way I could walk away from this. It was too good and made my former life look pathetic.
Really? No way? How do you know? The Bible is quite clear many will fall away, be led astray, and lose faith. Do you face being martyred daily? Prison? Family torture just for your faith? Or how about a extremely horrible event happens in your life that emotionally destroys you? Etc. Etc.

We all say we would never but even Peter denied Jesus 3 times and went into hiding. Even went back to fishing. Thomas had to see and feel Jesus to fix his doubts. We see leaders of faith who fall into agnosticism or eventually atheism. My brother was very active in church but a life event pushed him away. A interesting interview by Lee Strobel was done with Billy Graham's crusade partner Charles Templeton whose doubts led him away. He even admitted he missed Jesus but couldn't believe any longer.

All I'm saying is even I would like to say I would never just like Peter. Thank God Peter didn't just give up. But I do not see the future and only in faith I hold that God will give me the strength to stand even if my head is about to be lopped off.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#19
Really? No way? How do you know? The Bible is quite clear many will fall away, be led astray, and lose faith. Do you face being martyred daily? Prison? Family torture just for your faith? Or how about a extremely horrible event happens in your life that emotionally destroys you? Etc. Etc.

We all say we would never but even Peter denied Jesus 3 times and went into hiding. Even went back to fishing. Thomas had to see and feel Jesus to fix his doubts. We see leaders of faith who fall into agnosticism or eventually atheism. My brother was very active in church but a life event pushed him away. A interesting interview by Lee Strobel was done with Billy Graham's crusade partner Charles Templeton whose doubts led him away. He even admitted he missed Jesus but couldn't believe any longer.

All I'm saying is even I would like to say I would never just like Peter. Thank God Peter didn't just give up. But I do not see the future and only in faith I hold that God will give me the strength to stand even if my head is about to be lopped off.
False believers will fall away. But you cannot doubt Christ when he lives in your heart.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#20
Do you know santa or ever heard of santa?
What religion were you before?
I was a typical punk not interested in religion. But I experienced Christ and believed in him for that reason. And even more so walking in the fullness of his Spirit.