Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
This is the ultimate question. It reveals everything about a person’s relationship with Christ. Jesus’ critical question requires everyone to answer. It is the test question of Christianity. Do you believe?
Belief is where we begin as a Christian. If we don’t believe Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that He is the only way to Heaven, then you haven’t become a Christian yet.
Jesus said,
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
So, much earlier in His ministry he told Nicodemus, a rabbi and teacher of the law, who He is and how to have everlasting life. We must believe in Him.
Jesus came to earth to die for us as we are all sinners in need of a Savior.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
Since we have fallen short of God’s standards we need forgiveness of those sins.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
God made a way to pay for our sins so we can live in the glory of God for eternity.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Jesus stands at your heart’s door, knocking to be let in. It is by asking Jesus for forgiveness and asking Him to live in us we are saved.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:19
And we come full circle to belief. Belief in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world is called faith. We cannot work for salvation. We cannot be good enough to get into Heaven. There is only one way and that is the grace of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation he gives to all who believe.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8
Contemplation: Have I accepted God’s gift of salvation? Do I believe?
If your answer is no, but I want to then pray this prayer. Jesus, I believe you are the Savior of the World who came to make a way to forgive my sins. Please forgive me for my sins. I ask you to come into my heart and live in me. Fill me and refresh me with new life. Help me to live for you. Amen.
