Not everyone can believe in Jesus according to Jesus and his apostles. Only the chosen people of God can believe in Jesus. If you believe in Jesus, this shows God has chosen you to be his child before the foundation of the world. Acts 13:48, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” Only those who were appointed by God believed. Let’s further see what Jesus and his apostles teach in the following passages to know, understand, trust, and obey them:
- Only people who are one of Jesus’ sheep can and will believe in him because the Father has given them to him. Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one,” John 10:25-30. Why did they not believe? Jesus said because there were not among his sheep. Do you believe in Jesus? If yes, then you are among his sheep. To believe in Jesus is to hear his voice and to follow him to receive eternal life, which means the type of life of God. Read and practice John 3:36; John 5:24; John 8:24, 31-32; John 6:47; John 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9.
- Only the people God draws to Jesus can and will believe in him. Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me,” John 6:43-45. He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up, Matthew
- The ability to believe in Jesus is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
- True faith comes from Jesus. Jesus is the source and perfecter of true faith. Hebrews 12:1-2, “ Therefore, since so great a cloud of witnesses surrounds us, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Our faith comes from Jesus himself. Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Jesus reveals himself to whom he pleases to believe in him. And anyone who comes to Jesus is because he calls him first. Matthew 11:27-28, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.”
