....whoever believes in Him......

We are all familiar with the popular verse,  John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned...."

Believing in Jesus is the key to being saved, saved forever, for eternity.  But believing is not a casual thing.  It was not in Jesus' day.  Those who believed in Jesus then did so at the risk of great persecution and many lost their lives.  And it is not a casual thing today.  Jesus taught that we must take up our cross and follow Him.  And we know that Jesus taught that the only way to God was through Him:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Belief in God and in Jesus, His Son, requires that we be passionate about it, that we truly seek Him.  Note Hebrews 11:6,

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." 

To believe in God is to "seek Him," and to do so diligently, passionately, and to keep His commandments.  When Jesus was leaving some final thoughts with His followers in Matthew28, He said:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..."

Jesus expected us to believe, but to believe in such a way that we keep His commandments.  He said in John 15:14,

"You are my friends if you do whatever I command you."

This is what we must do; that is, do His commandments.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!