What it means to believe in Christ

"Americans appear to be particularly willing to share their faith; a majority of Americans do not seem to think religion should be a "private matter," at least when it comes to encouraging others to believe in Jesus Christ. Fifty-two percent of Americans say they have "tried to encourage someone to believe in Jesus Christ, or to accept him as his or her savior." From 1976 to 1984, an average of 46% said they had tried to encourage others to believe." (Gallup)

"The percentage of Americans who say they have had a born-again experience, leading to a commitment to Jesus Christ, has increased significantly now compared to when this question was last asked in the late 1970s and early 1980s. From 1976 to 1984, an average of 37% of Americans claimed to have had such an experience. In 2005, 48% of adults -- nearly half the population -- say they have been born again." (Gallup)

"Belief that the Bible is the "actual word of God" has, for the most part, declined since the mid-1980s. From 1976 to 1984, an average of 38% of Americans held this belief; since 1991, support has averaged 32%." (Gallup)

F - A - I - T - H

Follow His example:
"'If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example.'" John 13:17 (GW)

“'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'" John 8:12 (NLT)

"'All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock.'" Matthew 7:24 (LB)

Accept His grace:
"Those who accept God's full grace and the great gift of being made right with him will surely have true life and rule through Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:17 (NCV)

"No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven."
John 3:27 (NLT)

"Now God says he will accept and acquit us -- declare us "not guilty" -- if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like." Romans 3:22 (LB)

"Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Mark 10:15 (Mes)

Invest my life for Him:
"Give yourselves completely to God -- every part of you -- for you've been saved from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes." Romans 6:13 (LB)

"'To those who use well and invest what they've been given by God even more will be given to them. But for those who are unfaithful with what they've been given, even what little they have will be taken from them.'"
Matthew 19:14-29 (NLT)

"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT)

Trust in God's wisdom and strength:
"Just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him for each day's problems too; live in vital union with him." Colossians 2:6 (LB)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

"I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me." Philippians 4:13 (TEV)

Hold on to His promises (over 7,000 promises in the Bible):
"When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable." Hebrews 6:18 (Mes)

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

"Jesus said, 'I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies shall live again. he is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish.'" John 11:25-26 (LB)

"... Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future." 1 Peter 1:3-4 (Mes)

A Believer's Prayer

Dear Jesus, I want to have a real faith in you, not a fake faith. Thank you for dying for my sins and showing me the way to live. Today I want to become a true believer in you. I want to follow your example. I want to accept your gift of grace. I need your forgiveness and mercy. You made me for a purpose and I want to invest my life in serving you. I want to trust your wisdom and strength. And I want to hold on to your promises when times are tough.

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"Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; teach us to spend them as we should." Psalm 90:12 (LB)

"'Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.'"
Matthew 7:21 (CEV)

"My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?"
James 2:14 (NCV)

"'For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.'"
John 3:16 (KJV)