Believe and Live

Jun 24 2025 - Eric Buresh

‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’ 
—Acts 16:31 

No sentence ever spoken has carried such thunderous power in so few words: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” This is the gospel boiled down to its blazing essence. Not “strive and be saved,” not “impress and be saved,” not “clean yourself and be saved,” but believe. 

Here lies the glory of the gospel: God requires not a ladder to climb, but a Savior to trust. 

But what does it mean to believe? 

It is not mere nodding of the head or mouthing of words. Many say “Lord, Lord,” yet know Him not. True faith is not cold agreement—it is warm allegiance. It is the soul throwing itself upon Christ with all its weight, all its sin, all its hope, crying, “If You do not save me, I am undone.” 

You must believe in Jesus—not merely as a helpful addition to your efforts, or a moral teacher, or a divine example—but as Lord. The jailer in Acts 16 was not offered Jesus as an accessory to his life, but as the Ruler of it. Saving faith bows. It submits. It trusts. 

To believe in Jesus is to say, “You are my Shepherd, and I am Your sheep.” 
“You are the Bread of life, and I cannot live without You.” 
“You are the Way, and I will follow You where You lead.” 

It is not faith in a moment, but faith for a lifetime—faith that clings and follows and obeys, because it sees in Jesus all that the soul ever needs. 

This type of belief brings salvation, yes—but not only the removal of judgment. It brings eternal life now. As Jesus said: 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24) 

Did you hear it? Has everlasting life—not will have. Passed from death—not maybe someday, but already. To believe in Jesus is to step out of the grave and into light. It is to be raised with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places, even while your feet still walk this dusty earth. Christ is not merely your ticket out of hell—He is your portion now. Your Shepherd, your Sustainer, your Bread, your Life. 

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life...” (1 John 5:11–12) 

O friend, do you have the Son? 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ—and you will be saved.