What Does It Mean To Believe?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved… —Acts 16:31

There are two kinds of “believing.” One is an intellectual assent to certain facts. The devil has this kind of belief (James 2:19). The other kind of believing is a trust and reliance. This is the kind of believing referred to in our text verse for today.

John G. Patton was a Bible translator in the South Sea Islands. While translating, he came to the word “believe” and searched for a word that the native people could truly understand. He wanted something that meant commitment and trust, but he couldn’t think of a word.

One day, a messenger rushed into Mr. Patton’s room out of breath. Needing to rest, he flung himself into a big chair and leaned back in complete relaxation. Patton asked the native for a word to describe what he did when he sat down and completely relied on the chair to hold him up so he could relax. That’s the word Patton used to translate “believe.”

When a person quits trying and begins to trust the Lord Jesus, that’s “belief.” Have you truly believed ON CHRIST for salvation?