What does it mean to "believe" in Jesus?
Bible Study Network

   Salvation through “belief” is not simply some detached, intellectual
acknowledgment of who Jesus was and is.  The Bible makes clear that
we are to deeply identify ourselves with Jesus and invite Him into every
aspect of our lives so that His Spirit abides in us and so that we also
abide in the “body” of Christ. Let’s look at some of these passages:

     “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
(Galatians 2:20 NASB.) “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead
because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:
10.)

     Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you
abide in Me.” (John 15:4 NASB.) “By this we know that we abide in
Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:13.)

     “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
(Ephesians 5:30, 32.)

      “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the
members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into
one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13.) “In the same way, we are many,
but in Christ we are all one body. Each one is a part of that body, and
each part belongs to all the other parts.” (Romans 12:5 NCV.)  

     Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me
draws him.” (John 6:44)  But, how does the Father draw a person to
Him?  This is one of the great mysteries of God.  Here is what Jesus told
the teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, who came to Him in the night: “Jesus
answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and
the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of
the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not
marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows
where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it
comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the
Spirit.’” (John 3:5-8.)

     Jesus did say, however, “'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and
will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 NASB.) Perhaps,
that “knock” is a small voice deep inside us at a time of quiet reflection;
perhaps, it is conviction from the Holy Spirit that there is unforgiven sin
in our lives; perhaps, we have never really turned to face Jesus and
invited Him into our lives as our Lord and Savior.  Perhaps, you are
feeling drawn or attracted to a relationship with Jesus right now.

     The Bible tells us: “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.)  Then, we can pursue that special
fellowship with the Creator of the Universe—a fellowship which
transcends all human understanding.

     The Bible tells believers in Jesus—those who have truly turned their
lives over to Him: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about
everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in
Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT.)

     If you have not turned your life over to Jesus yet, do it now.  Pray a
prayer like this one right now:

     
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my
sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart
and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Please send
your Holy Spirit to me and help me to do those things that are
pleasing to God.  I can’t change myself, but I know that you have the
power to change me.  Thank you for saving me. Amen.

     If you prayed this prayer, go and tell someone about it.  You can
also send us an
e-mail.  We will respond with encouragement and love.  
God bless you.

      See,
A Savior From Outside of Time.

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