Thus far I have sought to establish two basic ideas. The first is the way in which our lives were corrupted with inherited sin. The second is that Jesus came as the remedy. According to the Bible, these are completely dependable facts.
Now, I want to consider the relationship between these two realities and the possibility that we can build on them to be personally transformed.
The key in appropriating these truths is to believe them and apply them to ourselves. (The word “believe” conveys the same meaning as “have faith in…”) Let’s look more closely at the concept of believing as it is used in the Bible, for in the New Testament we find the word used nearly 250 times!
First, what believing is not. Believing is not wishful thinking or unfounded hope. It is not about earning a relationship with God. It is not about doing good deeds or just being a “good person.” We do not become believers simply by affiliation with a religious institution or by following tradition or by being born into a Christian family.
Believing requires an object. It is to place our confidence in someone or something. It is an action word. It involves making a conscious decision. We choose to believe – or we choose not to believe. Both involve a decision.
In the biblical meaning, believing engages the depths of our hearts, not just our minds. When we believe, we link the realities mentioned earlier with a commitment to anchor our hope in the person of Jesus.
When we believe, we are responding to God’s love towards us. That love is so profound and so comprehensive it provides the overarching context for all he has done for us, and all he expects of us. Jesus passionately wants us to be complete in our relationship with him.
