What difference does believing in Jesus make? Saying “I believe” amounts to nothing more than wind passing through one’s windpipe and the mouth forming words if it isn’t somehow related to disposition and action. Disposition because the kind of truth claim made by the church is ultimate on one’s life and so “disposes” one to believe certain things to be true about all of life. Action because the things we really believe are never separated from the actions that follow those beliefs. There are always "fruits" of what we believe.
Saying that one believes in Jesus could then mean one or more of the following: (1) Jesus existed. (2) I believe that the way of life Jesus talked about leads to the vision of life he described. (3) I believe that Jesus was who he said he was. (Jn 14:6-7) (4) I believe Jesus did the things he is described as having done in the New Testament. (5) I believe that the story of Jesus’s life possesses a modicum of power for people’s lives (1 Pe 3:13-22).
Jesus outlines though what it means to believe in him. If you love me, you will keep my commandments (Jn 14:15). In other words, if you love Jesus, you will do the things you see him doing, take on the attitudes you see Jesus showing in his life, and love others like Jesus loved. The knowledge component of Christianity really isn’t about a “metaphysical content” or “teachings” like you might find with ancient Greek philosophy. Rather, Christianity is about learning to love God's creation like God loves the creation and allowing that spirit of love to invade your thoughts and actions and whole being. As we do this, we become "walking peace" bringing the shalom of God to all that we do. That's what Jesus did and that's what he taught his disciples to do throughout their ministry together. Jesus's life itself WAS the teaching!
Believing in Jesus means believing that the resurrection after the crucifixion is something in which we as his disciples share. Jesus's story in a manner of speaking is OUR story. Belief in the power and providence of God is belief in God’s ability and desire to rob the sting of death from tragedy and hardship and pour in instead joy, meaning, and life (1 Cor 15:50ff). It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to bring to Jesus's followers what God did in and through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus (Jn 14:26).
What would it mean for OUR lives to become the teaching that show others in a powerful way the love and grace of God? Is there something we can change today that better "instructs" the deep love of Christ for the people in our lives and for our community?
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