Gospel Reflections #4: That we may believe in Jesus the Messiah

John 20:31 "These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may receive life in His name."

We are told that John wrote his Gospel so that we might believe that Jesus is who He said He is.

When we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior, we are guaranteed eternal life, even if we have a sinful nature!

But even if we are told that, deep down in our hearts, there is no way such a convenient story can be true! Don't you ever think, "How can it be so convenient? This is too good to be true.

We were taught that if we don't do this or that we will be punished. To believe and have eternal life is too much to have. Hearing from what we are usually taught and the message of the gospel that God is trying to give us through John, we may think that John's Gospel somehow becomes a false gospel! Too easy, cheap grace!

However, Jesus' love for us is very different from the love of the world. Jesus does not love us in order for us to believe in Him! He loves us the same whether we believe or not.

Jesus did not give us life when we understood it, nor did He force us to believe it, but offered it to us without saying a word, so that we could freely choose it.

We can know it, and even if we don't fully understand it, when we are touched by Jesus' love, we are able to believe and accept Him.

And through John, through the Bible, we are given the opportunity to slowly learn about God's love later in life.

The more we learn about God's love, the more we are freed from the things that have been holding us back, the more we are free to choose and follow God, and the more gratitude, joy, and hope will follow us without fail.

If there is any effort we need to make, it is to seek more, know more about who Jesus is and what He has done for us, and be filled with more joy and hope!

It is not that I believe because everyone else believes, but that I believe and accept that I can be included in a relationship with God. I hope you will let Jesus in today!

This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that fills her heart.