How to Know Jesus Personally – Start Your Faith Journey TodaySample

So, what do we need to do to receive this gift? In John 3:16, Jesus says that all who believe in Him will not perish but receive everlasting life. But what does “believe” mean here? It certainly means acknowledging that it is true and that Jesus was who He said He was. However, it goes deeper than that. By this definition alone, even the devil would be saved, since he also believes in Jesus.

The word "believe" in the context of salvation comes from the Greek word "pisteuō," which means more than simple intellectual acknowledgment. Here's a deeper look:

• Trust or Reliance: It means placing your full trust in someone. For salvation, it's not just about believing Jesus exists but depending on His death and resurrection as the only way to be saved.
• Commitment: True belief involves a commitment to follow Jesus. It’s not just an opinion but a surrender to His will and teachings.
• Faith with Action: The Bible connects belief with actions such as repentance, baptism, and obedience. As James 2:19 says, "faith without works is dead," meaning true faith leads to a transformed life.

So, real faith is trusting God with your life and surrendering it fully to Him. That’s why Jesus said the path to everlasting life is narrow, and few are on it (Matthew 7:13). Faith is a walk—a way of life.

When the crowd that had previously demanded Jesus’ crucifixion in Acts 2 started to believe in Him after Peter preached, they asked, "What do we do now?" Peter gives the first fruit of real faith: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

To repent literally means “to change one’s mind.” If you truly trust in Jesus, He will change the way you think and live. A good example is the tax collector Zacchaeus, who, after meeting Jesus, wanted to repay all he had stolen—fourfold!

The first step of faith is baptism. It’s not a magical ritual but an expression of faith that symbolizes your willingness to identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It’s a sign of repentance, a declaration that you want to leave your old life behind and embrace a new life in Christ. Repentance means turning from the broad way and entering the narrow way—following Jesus not only as Savior but also as Lord.