What Does It Mean to Believe in Christ?
Answer: To do the will of God
Jesus said: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.1 Likewise, he told the Pharisees: You are from beneath; I am from above; you are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore to you that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.2
Jesus explained that salvation does not depend on an intellectual belief. On Judgment Day, many will say to him: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name done many wonderful works? But, Jesus will reply to them: Depart from me, you that do iniquity.3 Believing in him, Jesus said, is doing the will of God; and, his will is that we love one another as he has loved us.4 John wrote: For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.5
Even Thomas, an apostle, could not intellectually accept that Christ had risen from the dead except he touch him with his own hands.6 Similarly, when Christ told a man he would heal his son if he believed, the man replied: I believe; help my unbelief.7 James wrote that even the devils, with fear, (intellectually) believe in God.8 What king cares whether his servants know for certain from whence he came? Rather, he cares only whether they accept his authority and carry out his will. That is what determines whether they live or die.
John wrote that God is love and everyone who loves is born of God.9 To love one another from the heart is to believe in Christ. As Paul wrote: For with the heart man believes unto righteousness.10 For this purpose, God sent his Son into the world that through the love of God's children for one another the works of the devil in the heart of mankind might be destroyed.11
References
1 Jn 3:16
2 Jn 8:23-24
3 Mt 7:22-23
4 Mt 7:21; Jn 15:12
5 1Jn 3:11
6 Jn 20:29
7 Mk 9:24
8 Ja 2:19; See also: Mt 8:29
9 1Jn 4:7-8
10 Rom 10:10
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