Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved

How is it that believing is what gets us saved? First of all, what does the Bible mean by “believe”? According to the original greek, it means confidence and trust. Both words speak to having a clear understanding. The dictionary defines trust as “believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of”. So believing is not something that comes without knowing enough about Jesus to trust Him with your life.

Faith is very similar to believing and seems to be used almost interchangeably with believe. Observe in this verse how both are used for the same point: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) The greek for faith is persuasion or convinced - again speaking to the need for processing the information before it happens. The Bible further defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) When we truly believe, we act on it and God then rewards us by inwardly proving what we cannot see. Our faith starts small, and it grows as He continues to prove Himself to us after we trust Him step by step.

When we believe, we are tapping into His power. It could be compared to plugging a cord into a power outlet. Whatever the cord is attached to (a lamp, fan or an appliance) has no power in itself, but the moment it is plugged into the outlet, it has access to unlimited power. Please note, being able to tap into God‘s power only applies to things that are His will for us. He is not a genie that grants our every wish. In the case of salvation, we know that it is His will that all be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Beyond that we have to be operating in His will for faith to access His power. Observe what happened to the suffering woman who touched Jesus’ garment:

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth and He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:25-34)

Jesus came to earth to provide salvation for our souls. However, in order to prove that He was able to do this, He healed many of physical illnesses. Read here the account of Jesus explaining this: “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. (Matthew 9:2-7)

In the accounts detailing specific instances of healing, the only thing required of the person being healed was that they believe. “And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.” (Matthew 9:28-30a) For those who would not believe, there was not healing. “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58)

As stated earlier, the physical healings were proof of His power to save our souls, and a picture of how we get access to this salvation (when we believe). Though He died on the cross for everyone, it is only applied to those who believe. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) You might say that He uses the filter of needing to believe by faith as a way of sorting out those who have the right kind of heart to be part of His kingdom.

”Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Also in Matthew: “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.” (Matthew 11:25-26) “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (I Corinthians 1:20-21,26-29)

Finally, let’s take a look at many of the verses that simply state that we are saved when we believe.

”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)

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18-19)

“And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-31a)

“Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:8-9)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” (I Corinthians 1:21)

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22a)

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:8-9)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

“But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:24)

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (I John 5:13)

“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:39)

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13)

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:19)

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:39a)

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)

“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12)

“Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31) 

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46) 

That was 25 clear instances of believing in order to be saved. If you still hold to some other means for salvation other than believing, I challenge you to find as many verses as possible to support what you hold to. I’m guessing you’ll find just a few, if that.