In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
Why do you believe in Jesus? Is it because He did a miracle in your life? Is it because you saw someone getting healed miraculously? Is it because your prayers were answered when you were desperate for something? Is it because of the many signs you saw which led you to believe that this Jesus is probably real? Here's a good one - is it because you have seen that most professing Christians are somewhat good, kindhearted, polite, don't usually swear and are mostly helpful, and so you think Christianity is a good thing? What is the most forceful motivator that causes you to believe in Jesus? Why do you believe in Jesus?

Scripture gives examples of some who believed.

"Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe'" (John 1:50)?

"Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men..." (John 2:23-24).

"Jesus answered them and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled'" (John 6:26)

Yes, signs do cause unbelievers to draw near and examine the reality of the Gospel message we preach, but our faith in Him should not be as shallow as that. Our faith in Jesus should neither be based on personal experiences of miracles, healings, or answered prayers, nor on the observation of good behavior in other Christians.

The Bible tells us that everyone has fallen short of God's glory and that no one is righteous. We may try to change and promise ourselves and God that we will do better, but we often find ourselves unable to overcome our sinful nature, making it impossible for us to stand before a holy God.

It is important to understand that we need a savior. Jesus is that savior. Without this realization, our belief in Jesus may be superficial and based on emotions or personal desires and expectations. We may think that we deserve answers to our prayers or blessings from God because of our own righteousness. This mindset is prevalent in the "name it and claim it" Gospel message, in which people expect God to fulfill their desires without addressing the root problem of sin.

The truth is that none of us deserve anything from God. He is sovereign and doesn't owe us anything. However, out of His abundant grace and mercy, He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ.

Despite our unworthiness, God, in His mercy and love, made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus tore the veil that separated us from God's presence and made it possible for us to approach His throne of grace with boldness and confidence. Our faith in Jesus and what He has done for us allows us to have this access to God.

Signs, wonders, miracles, or the character of other Christians can be misinterpreted or misleading. Instead, our faith in God should be rooted in our understanding of our own sinfulness and our need for a savior. When we realize how much we have been forgiven, our love for Jesus grows, and our faith is based on gratitude. Every miracle and sign thereafter become an opportunity to express our gratitude and deepens our intimacy with God. It also serves as a powerful witness to those seeking God.

Let us not diminish the significance of what Jesus has done for us by focusing solely on signs and wonders. Approaching Him in prayer should humble us, recognizing His greatness and our unworthiness. Our faith should not be based on what we can gain from Jesus but on the fact that He is the savior who rescued us from our sin and reconciled us to God the Father.

So, why do you believe in Jesus? Let your belief be grounded in the understanding of your own sinfulness, the need for a savior, and the immense love and mercy of God. Let it be based on gratitude for the forgiveness and reconciliation provided through Jesus Christ.

By Santosh Chandran, Bible League International staff, New ZealandOld Testament Reading
Isaiah 19, 20, 21

Isaiah 19 -- The Burden of Egypt

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB

---

Isaiah 20 -- Prophecy of Captivity for Egypt and Cush

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB

---

Isaiah 21 -- Vision of the Fall of Babylon; Prophecies against Edom and Arabia

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB

---

New Testament Reading
Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2 -- You Were Made Alive and One in Christ

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB

---

Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.