Many people think that being a Christian is as simple as saying the sinner’s prayer. When I was a child, I was told to write the date I said the prayer on the first page of my Bible so I could know beyond-the-shadow-of-a-doubt that I was saved.
Today, many people are rightly questioning whether “saying the magic words” is all that distinguishes Christians from others. But in making this good point, some suggest that it doesn’t matter what we believe as long as we love others. They say it is more important that we follow Jesus’ example than that we believe in Him. This is a false choice. God commands us both to “believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another” (1 John 3:23). Belief and love flourish together, for only those who believe in Jesus possess the power and motivation to truly love like He does.
Followers of Christ believe that we were born in sin, bent on having our own way rather than submitting to God. But God reached out to us, sending His Son to suffer our punishment and sending His Spirit through whom we have “a new birth and new life” (Titus 3:5). This is why Jesus told Nicodemus that he would be “born of the Spirit” when he believed that God “gave His one and only Son” (John 3:8,16).
The moment we truly believe in Jesus, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Only then can we produce the fruit of the Spirit—the first of which is love (Galatians 5:22). Believing the gospel also supplies love’s motivation, for those who realize they have been forgiven are naturally inclined to love and forgive others. Genuine Christians never stop loving—and they never stop loving because they never stop believing.
More:
• Matthew 22:36-40
• Acts 16:30-31
• Romans 10:13-15
Next:
Is it easier for you to believe in God or to obey Him? Can you really do one without the other?
Sean on March 6, 2009 at 10:35 am
thanks for this post. I definitely see the need for belief, for it drives our actions and good works. To love like Jesus requires that I know who Jesus is! Love without belief is incomplete.
sundew_mistral on March 23, 2009 at 9:29 am
accepting the LOrd Jesus Christ motivates us to know him even more, and walk in a life the way he did. life is not that perfect, knowing this, it draws us all the more to humble ourselves in his mighty presence.
Hannah C on March 5, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Is it easier for you to believe in God or to obey Him? Personally, it was easier for me to believe in God than to obey Him. When the gospel was presented to me, I immediately felt the need to have a Savior in my life. After all, who wants to go to hell? As a new Christian, at that time I thought that my life would magically change from bad to good, and I would suddenly be able to have zeal in obeying Him. As a human being, I still experienced struggle between obeying God and doing what the flesh wants. However, as my relationship with Him grew, I found out that making Him the Lord of my life is not about my effort, but the way the Holy Spirit helps me to obey Him. The desire to obey Him came after I believed in Him, and had a genuine relationship with Him. It’s not forced obedience, but an obedience that springs forth from the love that I feel for Him.
Can you really do one without the other? No. John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.” If you really believe in God, and declare Him as Lord and Savior of your life, you will have the desire to obey Him. Ephesians 2:8-9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. There is nothing wrong with doing good works. However, good works will not earn us a relationship with God. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how good you are in your entire life. It doesn’t matter if you donate in big amounts every year, if you have compassion for everyone, and all the good things you can think of. Good works without a relationship with Christ Jesus means nothing at all.