This is probably one of the most known and quoted verse of the Bible: ” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. That is the reason why we unfortunately have more believers in the body of Christ today that we have true Christians! My brother, my sister, believing in Christ is not enough for a transformed life. Let’s try to understand this in the light of the Word.
To “believe” is more than an intellectual agreement that Jesus is God and that He can offer you eternal life. Believing in Him means you put your trust and confidence in Him that He alone can save you, and not only that but also you give to Christ the charge of your life and your present and future projects. However, many people say they believe in Christ, but are still there trying to protect their fears by putting their faith in other things, including what they do or have: good deeds, their skills or intelligence, their money or their possessions… while Jesus pointed out that, all that is not enough. If you want to go further in your faith in Him, you also have to follow Him. And He said this terrible truth that many try to ignore as if they could get by without it. “But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand “(John 10:26-28).
It’s simple, why are many believers still snatched out of the hands of the Lord? Because they are not His sheep. And why are they not His sheep? Because they do not believe in Him or in His own terms. Also, they do not hear His voice and that’s why they give Jesus the direction they want. Indeed, many believers believe in Christ in their own terms, with the rules they themselves have set, and when that’s not enough, they add verses to the Bible to justify their own beliefs, as those who ignore the importance of going to church because they are the temple of God… yes, yes, they are right because their body is indeed the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19)… so let’s therefore hope for them that they do not indulge in sexual immorality or any other desire of the flesh (1 Corinthians 6:18), because that is the verse that comes before the one that says that our bodies are the temple of God… My friend, if you want to ignore that Christ instituted the church and He is its head, then know that you are going to believe in yourself more than Him trying, to His minimize institution. You should rather return to the Word!
Also, know that as long as you do not decide to follow Jesus Christ according to His principles, your faith will never lead you to a transformed life and you are at risk of being snatched away from His presence at anytime when a trial arises… because trials will always be there! That is the reason why we must learn to follow the Lord respecting His teachings to deepen our spiritual roots and avoid being withered away by every wind that blows (Psalm 1:2-4). A transformed life has its roots rooted in Christ and His principles! Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.