What Does it Mean to Believe in Christ?

What does it mean to believe in something? This is the question that kept me awake at night after the Lord saved me many years ago. I had known many professing Christians who had claimed to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, but there were glaring inconsistences in their lives. They had no fear of the Lord. They had no sorrow over their sins. And their pressing into and seeking to know the Lord more deeply began and ended with Sunday morning worship. There seemed to be no passion for Christ nor a hunger for righteousness. Their profession of belief in Christ seemed to be disconnected from almost every area of their lives. 

True belief is followed by change. Years ago my family and I lived in Destin Florida. And every September, it was common for hurricanes to develop over the gulf coast. And as soon as the weather man reported that a hurricane had been sighted and was making its way towards our area, people would begin boarding up their homes and evacuating the city until the storm had passed.

I remember one year when we were preparing to leave Destin due to hurricane Dennis, which was a category 4 storm. As we were packing our cars to evacuate the city, I noticed that our neighbor was sitting on his porch just relaxing. I walked over and asked him where he was planning on going when he left Destin. He replied, “Oh Im not leaving. Im going to sit out here and watch the storm.” He believed the storm was coming towards his home. But he was ignorant to the danger that he was in. Our neighbor eventually did end up evacuating the city at the last minute when the storm was moments away from hitting Destin. And hurricane Dennis brought massive damage to the Gulf Coast.

If you believe that a storm is coming, you get out of it’s way. If you believe that your life is in danger, you take the necessary steps avoid harm. Anyone who would claim that they BELIEVED that they were in the pathway of danger yet REFUSED to take steps to avoid that danger is either insane or a liar. They are either crazy or they do not truly believe that their life is in danger.

Why then do we see so many people claiming to believe in Jesus, yet they have no fear of living in sin and no movement or change to avoid the wrath of God to come?

In the case of professing Christians that claim to believe yet do not live like it, I think many of them have failed to understand what true belief in Christ looks like. And the fault for this error is two fold. First, this fault is laid at the feet a many pastors who have neglected to preach the full counsel of God’s word. They call sinners to believe and repent, but they fail to explain from scripture what this looks like in application. And secondly, most of the fault falls directly upon the individual for not seeking the Lord themselves. Ultimately, those who have misunderstood what true belief in Christ looks like have no one to blame but themselves. 

In Ezekiel 36, we read that the Lord gives those whom He redeems a new heart. Salvation is not merely a human decision (John 1:13), but it is supernatural. We do not have the power to change our hearts. Only Christ can give man a new nature. And the byproducts of a new heart are new desires. When God changes a heart, he also gives new desires. Where once the sinner desired their sin they now hate their sin and desire to follow after Christ. And because of the Holy Spirit that resides in them, when they sin it breaks their heart. And they strive to turn and run in repentance to Christ.

Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Someone who truly believes has a reverent fear of the Lord. The understand that the commands of God are not to “ruin our fun.” Rather, the commands of God are given to protect us and lead us into greater joy in Him. And those who neglect to live their lives in obedience to Christ abide under His wrath. 

Another reason many today misunderstand what it means to truly believe in Jesus is a lack of contextual knowledge of the scriptures. In Romans 10, the Apostle Paul calls people to confess Christ as Lord and they will be saved. I have heard countless people attempt to use this verse to justify salvation apart from obedience to Christ. They will claim that they do believe and confess Christ as Lord, so therefore they believe they are saved regardless of how they choose to live their lives. 

But the context of Romans 10 destroys that argument. Paul was addressing Christians in Rome. And during this time, if anyone refused to confess that Caesar was Lord, they would be executed. When Paul wrote in Romans 10 that if those whom he was addressing (persecuted Christians in Rome) would confess Jesus as Lord, He was calling them to literally give their lives for the sake of their belief in Christ. In other words, their belief was accompanied by sacrifice and self denial. Their confession was not merely a congnative expression, but it had implications upon their lives. 

Do you truly believe in Jesus? What has your belief in Jesus cost you? What former practices of sin have you set aside in your life to follow Christ? Does your belief stem from a new heart that hates your sin and desires to know and follow Christ? Or is your belief just empty words. Remember, even Satan and his fallen angels believe in Christ. But they have not been changed by the grace of God. And their belief is one that does not save. Does your belief in Christ reflect a life that had been changed and is continuing to change more and more into His image?

In Matthew 7 Jesus says that the way to eternal life in Christ is narrow and broad is the road that lead to destruction. The Lord says in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” So many who claim to believe in Christ think that they are traveling the narrow road. But because of their refusal to understand what it means to truly believe, they ignorantly walk the broad road. And their lack of knowledge regarding true belief will prosecute them when they stand before the Lord. 

True belief is proceeded and followed by repentance, which is a turning from sin and a desire for the things of God. Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.