Go! And Believe Jesus, Not Just Believe In Jesus Series

Go! And Believe Jesus, Not Just Believe in Jesus

Introduction:

Many people claim to believe in Jesus. They believe in His existence, His teachings, and His sacrifice. But the real question is: Do we not only believe in Jesus but also believe Jesus? There is a significant difference between acknowledging who He is and trusting in what He says.

1. Believing in Jesus vs. Believing Jesus

John 14:1 (NLT) - "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me."

Jesus calls us not just to believe in Him but to believe Him. The Greek word for "trust" here is pisteuo, meaning to rely upon, place confidence in, and be persuaded by. Many acknowledge Christ, but true faith means trusting His words, promises, and commands.

James 2:19 (NLT) - "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 challenges us by pointing out that even demons believe in Jesus. But belief alone is not enough—it must be accompanied by faith in His words and obedience to His will.

Imagine a person who believes an airplane can fly but refuses to board it. Similarly, many believe Jesus is the Son of God but fail to trust His words and apply them in their lives.

2. Trusting Jesus in Difficult Times

Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT) - "So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Jesus speaks directly against anxiety and worry. The Greek word for "worry" here is merimnao, meaning to be divided or distracted. It implies a lack of trust in God’s provision.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) - "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Do we believe Jesus when He tells us not to worry? Are we putting our trust in His promises or are we letting fear rule us?

A child does not question whether their parent will provide for them. They simply trust. God calls us to have childlike faith in Him.

3. Obeying Jesus' Words

Luke 6:46 (NLT) - "So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?"

Believing Jesus means acting on His words. It is not enough to merely acknowledge His teachings; we must apply them.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT) - "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock... But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand."

Jesus uses the analogy of a firm foundation to illustrate the difference between hearing and obeying. The Greek word for "foolish" is moros, meaning dull or lacking understanding. Disobedience to Christ’s words results in instability in life.

Imagine a person who reads the manual for a parachute but refuses to wear it when jumping. Knowledge without application is useless.

4. Living by Faith, Not by Sight

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) - "For we live by believing and not by seeing."

Many struggle with trusting Jesus because they rely on their circumstances instead of His promises.

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) - "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see."

Do we take God at His word, even when we cannot see the outcome?

A blind person crossing the street with the help of a guide dog has full trust in the guidance they receive. Likewise, we must trust Jesus to lead us.

5. Surrendering to Jesus Completely

Romans 12:1 (NLT) - "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him."

Believing Jesus means surrendering our entire lives to Him. True faith requires letting go of our own desires and trusting Him completely.

Galatians 2:20 (NLT) - "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

The Greek word for "trusting" here is pistis, meaning conviction, assurance, and full reliance on Christ. Our faith is not passive; it demands full commitment.