Unlimited: Believe in Jesus
Jan 11, 2022 1664
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life (John 5:24, NKJV).
Nearly one hundred times (98 to be exact), and in almost every chapter, John’s Gospel uses the word, “believe.”
Believing is receiving, and receiving is believing. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them who believe on His name” (John 1:12, KJV). Chapter after chapter, John asks, “Do you believe?”
The person who believes in Jesus is not condemned.
He who believes on Him is not condemned: but he who does not believe not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18, NKJV).
Do you believe in Jesus?
We have eternal life now (John 5:24), in Christ. The moment I believe, I am not only not condemned. I am justified!
Justification is not forgiveness. In a practical sense, it includes forgiveness, of course. But the word means much more. It means to be treated as innocent.
The essence of the Gospel – the Good News – is that God calls the repentant sinner perfect the moment he or she believes. Though we are not good, God declares us righteous, for Christ’s sake.
John’s Gospel is asking, “Do you believe? Have you received? Do you have life eternal? Have you received the favourable verdict of the Last Judgment now?” – Des Ford (adapted)
Reflection: What does to believe in Jesus mean for you? Try to describe it in a few sentences. Share it with your Christian community.
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