Believing Is Not Enough...

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” [John 11.25-26]

In Jesus' conversation with Martha regarding Lazarus, Jesus revealed a Truth we all should have firmly rooted in our hearts and minds: Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 

And furthermore we should take Jesus' conversation with Martha and personalize it for ourselves: Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, [Greg]?”

Do YOU believe it?

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

There is more to believing in Jesus than just acknowledging (and even believing) He is the Son of God. Only just a little recall will remind us that the demons Jesus encountered, more times than not, recognized and addressed Him as the Son of God. James touched on this idea:

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. [James 2.19]

Demons recognized and acknowledged Jesus as "the Son of God.  This same term infuriated the religious leaders because when Jesus claimed God as His Father, they understood that made Him equal to God. Demons could not help but know this.

So, believing in God and "believing" in Jesus are two separate things.

Believing in Jesus is life-changing. It really matters not what we "say" we believe about Him. What matters is a changed life.

Actually Jesus gave us a clue in what He said to Martha, if we will see it: Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. "Living in Jesus" is conjoined with believing in Jesus. That is why demons "believing" is not enough. Here is where we must understand all that Jesus said about our "mission" mirroring His mission:

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]

It is pure foolishness for a person to claim they live in and believe in Jesus while that person's life looks and acts nothing like the Bible describes as the life and actions of Jesus!

Father, forgive me for my false claims of Christianity when my life looks nothing like Christ! May my life be truly changed so that my identity is lost and Jesus' identity is revealed.