What does it mean to "believe"in Jesus?

    There are many Christians who think that they have been guaranteed an eternal life in heaven with
our loving Father for the sole reason that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. These 
are Christians who believe that they are fulfilling scripture and anything required of them for salvation
simply because they "believe" in Jesus Christ as these two scriptures suggest and as some Christians
have been taught to believe.


  John 6:29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."


  John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands 
condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.


    But Jesus Christ shines an even brighter light (gives even more definition) on what it means for a
Christian to "believe on Jesus Christ" in this scripture.


  Mark 6:16-18 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will 
be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive 
out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will etc.


    As we can see it is one thing for a Christian to say that they believe in Jesus Christ, but as this 
scripture points out it is more than just a belief, in addition to believing there should be some 
evidence that Jesus Christ is apart of their life, that they are in a process of change and being 
transformed more into a Christ like image, that on some level the Holy Spirit lives in them and works 
through them. It is the same with what James talked about regarding faith and works in saying that 
one without the other is useless.


  James KJV 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give 
them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me
thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there 
is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain 
man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he
had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by 
works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God,
and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then 
how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot
justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


    My last point and as verse 19 points out in this scripture, Thou believest that there is one God; 
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Satan and his demons believe that there is one 
God and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God but they are not going to heaven.


  Luke 4:40-41  When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of
sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many 
people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!"
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