Believe in Jesus Christ

January 28, 2026/Daniel Rowlands/
Photo Credit: zmeel / iStock.com

Photo Credit: zmeel / iStock.com

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In the Gospel of John, we read the English verb “to believe” fifty-four times in the English Standard Version. By contrast, the original Greek verb πιστεύω (pisteuō), which underlies and is commonly translated as forms of “believe,” occurs ninety-eight times in John’s Gospel. This is no small feature. Central to Jesus’ message as recorded by John is belief in him—belief that he is the Son of God, sent by God, so that many would believe in him and have eternal life.

Doubt is nothing new in redemptive history.

Yet, in our age belief can be difficult. Doubts arise in our mind. Afflictions of this life especially challenge us at times and lead us to wonder: Is it all real? Did Jesus really live, die on a cross, rise from the dead on the third day, and ascend into heaven where he rules over all today? Nevertheless, even in Jesus’ day many did not believe, though they saw him and witnessed the signs he performed to prove that he was the Messiah sent by God to save his people.

It is at times like this when unbelief assaults us with questions, uncertainty, and hesitancy, that we should turn to the Gospel of John to hear Jesus call us to belief in him—to believe, with good reason, that he is our Lord and Savior, who gives eternal life to all who believe in him.

For example, John 3:16, which is one of the most commonly memorized verses in the Bible, reminds us of God’s love for whoever believes in Jesus and that, by believing, they should not perish but have eternal life. Hear the comfort of these words. Are you suffering and even facing the possibility of death sooner than later from disease or illness? Be comforted by the hope of eternal life—hope that is grounded in the Savior, Christ Jesus, who calls us to believe him when he promises the abundance of eternal life.

Jesus calls us to believe in him for good reason and real hope.

Later in John’s Gospel Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). He knows the troubles we bear in this life—suffering, afflictions, anxiety, doubts. Yet, like an imperative that makes things happen, he encouragingly tells us to believe in God and to believe in him. In fact, do you believe in Christ Jesus even a small amount? Take courage and know, as Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29) In other words, even our belief, though weak at times, is God’s gift to us.

Though the words of Jesus recorded in John’s Gospel call us to believe in him, Paul gives us further encouragement to believe in his letter to the Romans. The word of God in Romans 10:9 very clearly says,

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Believing in Jesus Christ is the way of salvation, and for good reason. He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). To believe in Jesus is to come into the light—the Light of the world, who dispels darkness and grants eternal life to all who trust in him. So when doubts arise and you question, “Is it all really true?” remember the reason John wrote his gospel:

…so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

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