Often people are quick to lead a person to a profession of Jesus as Savior. If they are not careful, they may over-simplify the route to salvation. They then have only a professor of salvation instead of a possessor of salvation. We should never make salvation easier or harder to be had than the Lord intended for it to be.
The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. When the Bible says “believe”, does it mean to acknowledge the existence of Jesus as a historical person, and by this acknowledgement be saved? If so, few people have ever been lost. Those who nailed Him to the cross knew He existed, but they were not “believers” in the sense scriptures speak of.
To believe, according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, means to have faith–upon, in, or with respect to. Belief in Jesus for salvation means to acknowledge His existence, to have confidence in His integrity as the Christ, and to honor His counsel. This is God’s route to salvation. Few, if any, would deny what is an established fact–the existence of Jesus; and many express sincere confidence in Jesus’ being the Christ; but not many honor His counsel. Therefore, their “belief” is not complete and they are not saved.
Jesus said, “He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” The man who truly believes the testimony of Scriptures concerning Jesus will manifest spiritual life – living water – to those around him. Only those who acknowledge Jesus in His existence and integrity as the Christ and honor His counsel have life in them to manifest.
When you were saved it was according to the scriptures; if you are still saved it is because you are living according to the scriptures; and if you are saved at Jesus’ coming it will be because you continued living according to the Holy Scriptures. We must honor His counsel, for the Bible says, “With the heart one believes unto righteousness”.
Believe in Jesus – in His existence, in His integrity as the Christ, and practice His counsel, and rivers or living waters will flow from you.