What Do You Believe

I have learned through teaching and communicating with others that the meaning of the words you are using is a real key to ensuring you both understand what you are saying. An example of a word that needs clarification when speaking to others is “love”. We say we love our family, and we say we love ice cream. Our meaning of “love” in those two examples is very different.

That brings me to a very familiar verse that I think gets misunderstood frequently. John 3:16.

“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.”

It is the phrase “believes in Him” that needs clarification. I grew up going to church. I went to catechism classes every week until I was 18. I believed all the basics of Christianity; Jesus is the Son of God, the virgin birth, His death on the cross, His resurrection from the tomb, His ascension into heaven. They were all merely facts to me, like Abraham Lincoln was a President. So, what I believed about Jesus were facts. Not until I was in my late 30’s did the Lord open my eyes to truly understand what Scripture says about believing in Him.

Here are statements from Scripture about demons believing who Jesus is. These demons clearly “believed” Jesus is the Son of God, but they are not destined for eternal life with Him.

James 2:19

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Luke 4:34

“Go away! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Mark 3:11

Whenever the impure spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

Matthew 8:29

 “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

However, the verses that concern me the most are in Matthew 25:31-46, the passage titled “The Sheep and the Goats”. This to me represents the Church today. Both groups called Him Lord and say they did many things in His Name, but only one group goes with Him into eternal life.

When I first started back to church in my mid 30’s, a pastor led me through the traditional questions about where you are going to spend life after death. He asked me if I “believed” Jesus was the Son of God. I said I had believed that as long as I can remember. He then said that is all it takes to go to heaven. Today I now know that is not what Scripture says.

In Matthew 7:16 Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”

In my early years I was truly a thornbush. I only lived for myself and hurt many people in my early years. I have come to recognize the “believe in Him” that John 3:16 is talking about is believing He is Master and Lord of my life. Until He opened my eyes to these truths of His Kingdom, I didn’t understand that. I now know what “believe in Him” means.

In the Matthew 25 passage, Jesus clarifies the difference between following Him or living for yourself. It comes down to your focus. Are you self-focused or other focused? Do you naturally help others or are you just trying to impress Jesus and other people?

To the sheep (righteous) He said,

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? ³⁹ When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’

To the goats (non-righteous) He said,

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

That clarifies what “believe in Him” means to me. We are to be His “hands” in this world. I am a person that has certain songs that really speak to me. Here are lyrics from a familiar song,

There’s Something About That Name, by Bill Gather

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there’s just something about that Name.
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there’s something about that Name.

I love that song. Just the mention of His Name brings me deep feelings of love and peace. Nothing in this world can overcome Him. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings.

So, I ask again, what do you believe?