Unlimited LordSample

Nearly one hundred times (98 to be exact), John's Gospel uses the word, "believe." It's there in almost every chapter.

Believing is receiving, and receiving is believing. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them who believe on His name" (John 1:12 KJV). Chapter after chapter, John asks, "Do you believe?" 

The person who believes in Jesus is not condemned.

He who believes on Him is not condemned: but he who does not believe not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18, NKJV). 

We have eternal life now (John 5:24), in Christ. The moment I believe, I am not only not condemned. I am justified!

Justification is not forgiveness. In a practical sense, it includes forgiveness, of course. But the word means much more. It means to be treated as innocent. 

The essence of the Gospel – the Good News – is that God calls the repentant sinner perfect the moment he or she believes. Though we are not good, God declares us righteous, for Christ's sake. 

John's Gospel is asking, "Do you believe? Have you received? Do you have life eternal? Have you received the favorable verdict of the Last Judgment now?" What does believing in Jesus mean for you? Try to describe it in a few sentences. Share it with your Christian community.