What is a Christian(Part 2)-Belief

Review

Jesus’ Authority and Divinity

Jesus’ Death on the Cross

Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead

Salvation by Grace, Not Works

Repentance

What is a Christian? 

Mark 1:15 “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

Faith

1. Old Testament (Hebrew)

Genesis 15:6 “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

The Hebrew word often translated believe’ is aman.

Root meaning: to be firm, reliable, trustworthy.

To “believe” in God meant to stand firm in Him, to rely on God’s faithfulness.

Example: Abram’s belief was trust in God’s promise , not just mental agreement. “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness”

2. New Testament (Greek)

Mark 1:15 “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

The greek word used for believe is pisteuō — to trust in, rely upon, commit oneself to.

Belief is personal trust and relational commitment , not just mental agreement.

Trusting the gospel — accepting the reality of God’s kingdom breaking into the world through Jesus.

Responding with repentance — turning away from sin and aligning life with God’s reign.

Living under God’s rule now — belief is urgent and transformative, not just future hope.

3. Key Characteristics of Biblical Belief

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Trust: Confidence in God’s character and promises.

Commitment: A willingness to act on that trust (obedience).

Transformation: Belief changes how you live—James 2:19 reminds us that even demons “believe” God exists, but true belief produces faithful action.

Relational: It’s about relationship with God, not abstract ideas.

Summary

Belief, as Scripture shows us, is never meant to remain a mere conviction of the mind—it calls us into deeper reliance on God Himself. The fullness of biblical faith moves beyond acknowledging truth to resting in the Person of Jesus and His word. To believe is to trust: to lean the weight of your life on Christ, to surrender to Him not only as Savior who rescues but as Lord who reigns. This trust is marked by childlike confidence, unwavering commitment, and assurance in God’s promise to save those who believe. In other words, true faith blossoms into wholehearted trust in Jesus, shaping both our hearts and our daily obedience.

It’s heart-level trust + life-level response, not just intellectual agreement.

1. Trust in Jesus and His Word

Mark 5:21–24 When Jesus crossed back over the Sea of Galilee, a large crowd gathered at the shore, eager to see Him. In the middle of that crowd came Jairus, a synagogue leader. Falling at Jesus’ feet in desperation, he pleaded: “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” Jesus immediately agreed to go with him, and the crowd pressed in as they walked together.

Mark 5:35–43 On the way, messengers arrived with crushing news: Jairus’s daughter had died. Human hope seemed gone. But Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear, only believe.” At the house, mourners wept and scoffed when Jesus declared the child was only sleeping. He sent them out, entered with a few disciples and the girl’s parents, and took her by the hand. With tender authority, He spoke: “Talitha cumi” — “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately she stood up and walked, leaving everyone astonished.

The Lesson

Jairus’s story shows the power of trusting Jesus and His Word. He believed Jesus could heal his daughter, even when circumstances screamed otherwise. When fear and despair pressed in, Jesus gave him a simple command: “Do not fear, only believe.” Jairus chose to trust, and his faith was met with life.

This passage reminds us that trusting Jesus means holding fast to His promises even when hope feels lost. His Word carries authority over sickness, despair, and even death. Where human strength ends, His Word brings life.

Summary

Faith in Jesus is not about ignoring reality—it’s about believing His Word even when reality looks impossible. Jairus trusted Jesus in the face of death itself, and his trust was rewarded with life. The story calls us to anchor our hope in Christ’s promises, knowing His Word has authority over every circumstance.

Application Questions

When fear or despair presses in, do I choose to trust Jesus’ words or my circumstances?

What promises of Jesus am I holding onto right now, even when they seem unlikely?

In what areas of my life do I need to hear Jesus say, ?“Do not fear, only believe”

2. Trust Jesus as your Lord, not just your Savior

Mark 5:24–34 “And he(Jesus) went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.””

The woman with the discharge didn’t just believe Jesus could heal her—she trusted Him as Lord. She pressed through the crowd in faith, knowing His authority was greater than her sickness. And when Jesus called her out, she didn’t hide; she fell before Him, confessed everything, and submitted to His word. Her healing was immediate, but her surrender showed she recognized Him not only as Savior but as Lord. Jesus affirmed her faith, called her “Daughter,” and gave her peace—because true faith doesn’t stop at receiving help, it bows to His authority.

Mark 8:38 “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.””

Jesus makes it clear in Mark 8:38 that following Him is not just about receiving salvation—it’s about openly confessing Him as Lord in a world that often rejects Him. To be ashamed of Jesus or His words is to deny His authority, but to stand boldly with Him is to honor Him as Lord. He warns that the way we treat Him now will be the way He treats us when He returns in glory. True discipleship means trusting Him as Savior and submitting to Him as Lord, unashamed and unwavering, even in a sinful generation.

Mark 10:17–31 “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.””

The rich young ruler came to Jesus asking about eternal life, but his heart revealed he wanted salvation without surrender. He had kept commandments outwardly, yet when Jesus called him to give up his possessions and follow Him, he walked away sorrowful. His wealth was his lord, not Jesus. In contrast, Jesus affirmed that true discipleship means leaving behind anything that competes with His authority. Salvation is impossible by human effort, but possible only through God—and it requires trusting Jesus as Lord, not just Savior.

Summary: Eternal life is not gained by good deeds or partial obedience. It comes through surrendering all to Jesus, recognizing Him as Lord over every area of life. The rich man wanted eternal life but refused to yield control; true discipleship means following Jesus above all else.

Application Questions:

Am I holding on to something—wealth, comfort, reputation—that keeps me from fully following Jesus?

Do I want Jesus to save me without submitting to His authority as Lord?

Where in my life do I resist surrender, even though He calls me to trust Him completely?

3. Trust Jesus with Unwavering Childlike Trust and Personal Commitment

Mark 10:13–16 “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

Jesus rebukes His disciples for turning children away and instead welcomes them with love, declaring that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child. This passage shows that true faith is not about status, achievement, or self-reliance, but about humility, dependence, and trust. Just as children approach with openness and sincerity, believers are called to trust Jesus with unwavering, childlike faith and make a personal commitment to Him.

Application Questions:

In what areas of my life do I need to let go of self-reliance and trust Jesus more simply and fully?

How can I cultivate humility and openness in my daily walk with Christ?

What practical steps can I take to encourage others—especially those who feel overlooked—to come to Jesus without hindrance?

4. Trust in God’s Promise to Save Those Who Believe

(John 5:24–27 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

In this passage, Jesus assures His listeners that eternal life is guaranteed to those who hear His word and believe in the Father who sent Him. This promise is not conditional on human effort but rests entirely on faith in God’s provision through Christ. Believers are declared free from judgment and have already crossed from death into life—a present reality, not just a future hope. Jesus further emphasizes His divine authority: as the Son of God, He possesses life in Himself and has been entrusted with the authority to judge. This underscores both the certainty of salvation for those who believe and the seriousness of rejecting Him. Trusting God’s promise means resting in the assurance that salvation is secure through Christ’s word and work, not our own merit.

Application Questions

Do I live each day with the confidence that eternal life is already mine through faith in Christ?

How does trusting God’s promise of salvation free me from fear of judgment and motivate me to live differently?

In what ways can I share this assurance of life with others who may still struggle with doubt or fear?

Personal Decision

Repenting and believing is a personal decision.  No one can make it for you.

 “A Christian, then, is someone who recognizes that Jesus Christ has the right to control his or her life.  They recognize that they are rebels against Jesus Christ and deserve to be punished.  A Christian believes that Jesus Christ died for him or her on the Cross taking the punishment which their sins deserved.  A Christian is a person who has responded to God’s call to repent.  They have turned from rebelling against Jesus and submitted to Him.  This person knows that he or she has been forgiven.  They know that God has made them a new person and that Jesus lives in their life.  They know this because they see their changed desires, attitudes and behavior.  This person trusts God with his or her life.” (Me? A Christian, pg. 7)

I am reminded that Jesus said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Belief in Him is not just agreement with the gospel—it is surrender and trust. To believe is to entrust your whole life to Christ, and that trust shows itself in these ways:

Trust Jesus as Lord, not just Savior

True faith means surrendering control of your life to His authority.

Trusting Him as Lord means obedience, not just gratitude for salvation.

Trust His Word as Reliable and True

Just as Abram relied on God’s promise, we rely on Jesus’ word.

His promises are firm, and His commands are trustworthy.

Trust with Childlike Confidence

Jesus calls us to receive the kingdom like children (Mark 10:15).

Childlike trust is simple, wholehearted, and unshaken—it rests in His goodness.

Trust with Personal Commitment

Faith is not passive; it is lived out in daily discipleship.

Commitment means aligning your choices, desires, and actions with His will.

Trust God’s Promise to Save Those Who Believe

Just as Abram’s trust was counted as righteousness, so our trust in Christ secures salvation.

God’s promise is sure: those who lose their life for Jesus will find true life in Him.

Belief calls us to trust. Trust calls us to surrender. And surrender leads to life. To believe in Jesus is to trust Him fully—His word, His lordship, His promises—with unwavering, childlike confidence and personal commitment.

Question for Response: Will you lay down your life today and trust Jesus fully, finding true life in Him?