How can we actively "believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ"? Anchor Verse “And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He commanded us.” – 1 John 3:23 What “believe in His name” means • “To believe” is more than mental agreement; it is trusting, relying, staking one’s life on Jesus as the only Savior and Lord (John 3:16, 18). • “His name” stands for His person, authority, and accomplished work (John 1:12). • Active believing therefore involves receiving who He is, submitting to His authority, and resting in His finished redemption (Romans 10:9–13). Receiving salvation by faith • Hear the gospel: Christ died for sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). • Acknowledge personal sin and helplessness (Romans 3:23). • Trust Christ alone: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). • Confess Him openly; faith is never hidden (Romans 10:9-10). • Enjoy the present reality of eternal life (John 5:24). Walking in continuous trust and obedience • Colossians 2:6—“Just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him.” • Daily rely on His indwelling life (Galatians 2:20). • Keep His commandments, especially the command to love (John 15:10; 1 John 3:24). • Allow faith to express itself through works; genuine belief produces tangible obedience (James 2:17; Ephesians 2:10). Practical habits that express active believing • Scripture intake—feeding on the Word builds faith (Romans 10:17). • Prayerful dependence—casting cares on Him and seeking His will (Philippians 4:6-7). • Regular confession—agreeing with God about sin and receiving cleansing (1 John 1:9). • Worship and thanksgiving—acknowledging His worth and goodness (Hebrews 13:15). • Fellowship—loving and serving the family of God displays authentic belief (1 John 4:12). • Witness—bearing testimony to His name so others may believe (John 20:31). Fruit and assurance of active belief • Love for fellow believers (1 John 3:14). • Confidence before God in prayer (1 John 3:22). • Inner witness of the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:13; Romans 8:16). • Growing righteousness and decreasing attraction to sin (1 John 3:6). • Steadfast hope—even trials refine, not destroy, faith (1 Peter 1:6-9). Encouragement for the journey • He who began the good work will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). • Christ is the “author and perfecter” of faith (Hebrews 12:2). • When faith feels weak, fix eyes again on His unchanging promises; “faithful is He who calls you” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). To believe in the name of Jesus is to begin with saving trust and to continue in daily reliance, obedience, and love, displaying with our lives the reality of the One we confess with our lips. |
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