Belief is a central theme in the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about belief:
Belief in God and Jesus
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of believing in God’s existence. Our faith pleases God.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for our sins is key to receiving eternal life.
John 14:1 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
Jesus equates belief in Himself with belief in God. He is divine and equal with God the Father.
The power and importance of belief
Mark 9:23 – “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.’”
With belief in God, all things are possible. Strong faith can lead to miracles.
Matthew 21:21 – “And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Belief in God can lead to incredible things if we do not doubt.
Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Belief in Jesus’ resurrection and His lordship is key to salvation.
Belief leads to obedience
James 2:17 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
True living belief will be accompanied by actions of obedience to God.
1 John 3:23 – “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”
Belief in Jesus should lead us to obey His commands, like loving one another.
John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Disobeying Jesus is evidence of lack of true belief in Him. Belief leads to obedience.
Do not doubt, but believe
Mark 11:23 – “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”
We must fully believe without doubting for God’s power to be manifest.
Matthew 14:31 – “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?””
Jesus rebuked those followers who doubted, teaching the importance of strong belief.
James 1:6 – “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
Doubt leads to instability. We must ask God in full faith without wavering.
Belief in God’s word and promises
John 4:50 – “Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.”
This man’s son was healed because he believed Jesus’ words.
Hebrews 11:11 – “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
Sarah believed God’s promise that she would conceive though she was barren. Her belief was credited to her as righteousness.
Romans 4:20-21 – “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
Abraham did not waver in unbelief but was fully convinced God would fulfill His promises.
Belief begins with hearing God’s word
Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Hearing the word of God produces faith and belief in our hearts.
John 20:31 – “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
The Gospel accounts were written to help produce belief in who Jesus is.
Acts 4:4 – “But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”
Hearing the apostles’ preaching of God’s word led many people to believe.
Pray for belief
Mark 9:24 – “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!””
We can pray to God to help overcome our unbelief and doubting.
Luke 17:5 – “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!’”
Like the apostles, we can ask God to increase our faith and help us to believe.
Belief gives assurance of salvation
1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Believers can have confidence that they possess eternal life.
Acts 16:31 – “And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””
Households would be saved if they had faith to believe in Jesus.
Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Belief in the heart results in justification and salvation.
Promises for those who believe
Mark 16:17-18 – “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Believers will be able to do miraculous works and be protected from harm.
John 14:12 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
Those who believe in Jesus will do miraculous works, even greater than Jesus did.
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Through Christ, believers are empowered to accomplish anything aligned with God’s will.
Salvation comes by grace through faith
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “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.”
We cannot earn salvation. It is a free gift received by God’s grace and our faith.
Romans 3:28 – “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
We are justified and righteous before God by faith alone, not by obeying the law.
Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Salvation comes by God’s mercy through spiritual rebirth, not by righteous acts.
Righteous people live by faith
Romans 1:17 – “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”
The righteousness of God is obtained through faith alone. The righteous live by faith.
Galatians 3:11 – “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”
The law cannot justify. The righteous are justified by faith alone.
Hebrews 10:38 – “But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
God is pleased when His righteous people live out their faith in obedience to Him.
Test and examine your faith
2 Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
We should assess whether our actions show genuine faith and Christ living in us.
James 2:18-20 – “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
True faith is proven by godly works, not empty profession. Even demons believe.
2 Peter 1:10 – “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”
We should diligently confirm our faith by practicing Christian virtues.
The righteous will live by faith
Hebrews 10:39 – “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”
True believers will not turn back but stay faithful, preserving their souls.
Romans 1:12 – “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
Fellow Christians can encourage one another’s faith and spur each other on.
2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Like Paul, let us fight the good fight and keep the faith to the end.