Many people feel internal resistance to believe Jesus Christ our Lord. Perhaps they might have seen or heard reasons why they should but still struggle with coming to the consciousness of actually accepting Jesus into their hearts. If this is how you feel presently, we assure you that you are certainly not unique to this reservation.
How to believe Jesus Christ
After Jesus resurrected, one of His disciples, Thomas, refused initially to believe even though he had the same proofs other disciples had. But he became convinced when he had a personal encounter with Jesus (John 20:28). If you examined what changed him, you will notice it’s not just his feeling but the point that Jesus was alive and cared about him.
Often our faith is based only on our sentiments; sometimes we feel God is near us or we believe Jesus Christ but sometimes we don’t feel that way. But feelings are not a pointer to the truth! Our feelings come and go but the facts remain the same.
The word ‘believe’ defined as act of trust. It is an act of the mind that involves an understanding of some truth, to at least a certain degree. The Bible specifies that the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and enables us to understand what we should believe to be saved (John 16:7-11).
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me
There is only one way to be saved. Jesus said in the book of John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.”
The crux of what we are saying is that you should believe Jesus Christ, and keep focusing on Him as it is shown in the scriptures. Trust what Bible says, not your feelings – Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, rose again and promises to save all who turn to Him in their faith.
Paul told the jailer when he requested to know what it takes to be saved: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31).
Here are guidelines on how you should begin unraveling the solution to your heart inquiry:
- Trust Jesus Christ today!
- Acknowledge that you are a helpless sinner that needs God’s help.
- Be willing to turn from your sin.
- Believe Jesus Christ died for you and resurrected.
- Through prayer, invite Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and personal Savior.
- Read your Bible every day to get to know Jesus Christ better.
1. Trust Jesus Christ today!
Are you ready to accept the fact that you cannot save yourself by anything you do? Then it’s time to trust and believe Jesus Christ to help. Let Him know that you are going to trust in Him to pay the penalty for your sins and to cleanse your thoughts, actions, and words. He will do it! So believing in God is not about trying harder; it’s about resting in the guarantee that He will do what He has promised (Psalms 18:2).
2. Acknowledge that you are a helpless sinner that needs God’s help.
Man is a sinner by nature due to the fact that men universally have sinned, and as a sinner is far from God. Apparently, the problem of salvation is how to deal with sin. True faith involves believing something about yourself: that you are a sinner.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
“ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)
You can’t save yourself. Your good works also can’t save you. It is Faith in Jesus alone that can save you. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). So believe Jesus Christ!
3. Be willing to turn from your sin.
If you identify that you have been cheating on God by following your own path and that you feel helpless to find your way across that, then it’s time to accept God’s solution. You need to trust your salvation into the loving hands of the one who died in your place.
Jesus said: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is where faith comes in: by faith we trust that Jesus will do what He promised. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
4. Believe Jesus Christ died for you and resurrected.
Belief is a willful act because it involves a decision on our part (John 7:17). Are you willing to trust the written truths about the person and works of Jesus Christ? The Bible clearly presents facts that He was the sacrificial lamb for our sins (John 1:29). He bore our sins (1 Peter 3:18), He reconcile us back to God.
”Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Believing is committing your own future to the promises of God to save you — simply believe Jesus Christ. God, recognizing we could not do it ourselves, provided a Savior to die in our place.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
5. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and personal Savior.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“Lord Jesus, I come to you today as a helpless sinner. Forgive me my sins, cleanse me with your precious blood, and deliver me from sin. Today, Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Lord, and my savior, thank you, Jesus, for saving me now! Amen!!
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” [new life begins]. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
6. Read your Bible every day to get to know Jesus Christ better.
Study the Holy Bible, the guide to revealing spiritual truths and the right path to eternal life. As you go through the pages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit that now lives in you will convince your heart to fully believe the written truths about Jesus.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Truly, believing Jesus Christ is your only answer to the way of eternal Salvation. Salvation by grace recognizes that man is a sinner and that he cannot save himself.
Related article: My Faith in God is fading. Help me!
