I Believe

In the Christian life, one of the most common and profound names we carry is “believer.” It’s more than a label; it’s our identity. It’s not just something we do; it’s who we are. We are those who believe in the name of Jesus. That is how we are known to one another and to the world around us. We are not primarily obeyers or church-goers or even Bible readers; we are, first and foremost, believers.

The most common Greek word that translates to the English word “believe” is pisteuo, which means “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in the thing believed.” This is the same word often translated as “faith” in the New Testament, which means that our belief in God is the same as our faith in God. This relationship is a key indicator of what true belief entails.

True belief – the kind Jesus calls us to – is more than mere acknowledgement of God’s existence as we go on living our life as usual, for even the demons ‘believe’ but they do not put their faith in Jesus (James 2:19). Rather, it’s a deep persuasion of and confidence in the singular God of the Bible and the particular words He has spoken. It is a firm standing upon specific Truth which, in turn, re-forms every aspect of our lives.

This is what James was referring to when he said that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26). He did not mean that our belief itself isn’t enough but that our belief, if truly alive, will assuredly show signs of life. In fact, one of the best ways to discover what you truly believe is to take note of how you live. Our actions reveal the depths of our hearts and the substance of our beliefs.

Belief is no small thing. It’s the most elementary aspect of the Christian life, but is also unmatched in the transformative power it brings. Even though it’s basic in nature, belief is often difficult in practice. Luckily for us, Jesus gave us plenty of reason to believe in Him, primarily in His works on earth:

“Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me.’” (John 10:25)

“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (John 10:37-38)

Jesus never expected us to believe in a God that could not – or would not – prove Himself. In fact, throughout history God has forbidden people from turning to that kind of god. The God of Israel is a god of action. He does things for His people that will both garner their allegiance and stir their obedience. And what a privilege it is that we have the Word of God, full of records of His faithfulness, to encourage and direct our beliefs. We look to the Word to remember God’s past faithfulness and meditate on His future promises. This is what anchors us.

Our belief is grounded in Truth and supported by the Holy Spirit. It heals wounds, transforms hearts, and serves others. It separates us from the world but creates deep bonds within the Church. It persists in relationship with the very One in whom we believe. It’s a constant call and an active response, and it is the way of rest for our souls.

The believer is someone who walks the narrow path, anchored not in the certainty of outcomes or in the trends of culture, but in the faithfulness of the One who calls us His own. Take note of the following example from Matthew 8:5-10 of a man who said to Jesus, “I believe”:

“When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

This story reminds us that we do not believe merely in principles or doctrinal statements or theological camps. Our belief is wholly built on and wrapped up in the person and work of Jesus Christ, through whom we have the forgiveness of sin and union with the Father. Belief in Jesus is not only our first step, it is the force that drives every other step thereafter as we press on into eternity.

Jesus You're for me holding me steady

Every word You speak is a promise that You keep

This firm foundation cannot be shaken

My God You never fail never once You never will

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