A believer is someone who has faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. According to the Bible, a true believer is someone who has heard the gospel message, repented of their sins, and put their complete faith and trust in Christ for salvation. Here is an overview of key aspects of what it means to be a believer according to Scripture:
Hears and Responds to the Gospel
A believer is someone who has heard the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and has responded in faith. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” A believer hears the gospel message that Jesus Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). They understand that salvation is found in no one else but Christ (Acts 4:12). Upon hearing the gospel, a believer repents and puts their faith in Christ alone for salvation.
Repents of Sin
An integral part of becoming a believer is repenting of one’s sin. Repentance involves turning away from sin and turning toward God (Acts 3:19). A believer realizes they are a sinner in need of a Savior and desires to live a life that pleases God. There is an understanding that sin breaks fellowship with God, so they confess their sins in order to restore a right relationship with Him (1 John 1:9). Sincere repentance will result in a change of mind, attitude, priorities, and behavior.
Trusts in Christ Alone for Salvation
A defining mark of a believer is someone who has placed their complete trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. They have not relied on their own good works, religious rituals, or moral character (Titus 3:5). Rather, they have depended wholly on the atoning work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty for their sins. Believers understand they can not save themselves—that Jesus paid the price for sin by His sacrifice and offers salvation as a free gift to those who believe (Rom. 6:23). Like the apostle Paul, a believer confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior (Rom. 10:9).
Receives Eternal Life
When a person places genuine faith in Christ, they receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus promised that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Believers have accepted His invitation and have put their hope and trust in Him for salvation. Although their physical bodies will die one day, their souls will live forever in heaven. Believers can have assurance of salvation and the hope of eternity with God (1 John 5:13).
Indwelt with the Holy Spirit
At the moment of salvation, believers are indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit takes residence within each new believer (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19). The Spirit guides, convicts, teaches, empowers, and produces His fruit in the life of believers. Through the indwelling Spirit, believers have intimate fellowship with God and new power to overcome sin.
Desire to Obey and Please God
While believers still struggle with sin, they now have a desire to obey and please God. Before salvation a person is enslaved to sin, but now their orientation has changed towards righteous living (Rom. 6). Believers seek to obey Christ’s commands and align their lives with what pleases Him. The Holy Spirit gives them power to say no to the flesh and progressively conform to the image of Christ. Growing in holiness and pursuing sanctification become aims for believers.
Love for Other Believers
Those who have been born again into God’s family will sacrificially love other believers. Jesus taught that His disciples would be known for their love for one another (John 13:35). This love stems from the new life and shared Spirit believers have in Christ. It’s a selfless, unconditional love that reflects God’s own love shown through Christ (1 John 4:7-12). Believers are called to use their gifts to serve the body of Christ and build others up in the faith (1 Cor. 12; 1 Pet. 4:10).
Assurance of Salvation
Believers can know with certainty they have eternal life in Christ. Scripture teaches that Christians can have full assurance of their salvation based on the promises and objective truth of the gospel (1 John 5:13; Rom. 8:31-39). While feelings fluctuate, the facts of the gospel and the witness of the Spirit give believers confidence they have passed from death to life. Believers rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross for their salvation.
New Identity in Christ
At conversion, a believer is given a new spiritual identity in Christ. Though once dead in sins and separated from God, they are now made alive with Christ and adopted as God’s child (Eph. 2:4-5; Rom. 8:15-17). Believers are granted every spiritual blessing in Christ, including righteousness, holiness, and redemption (Eph. 1:3-8). Old worldly identities are replaced with being a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). This new position and identity motivate believers to live consistent with who they are in Christ.
Desire to Share the Gospel
Those transformed by the gospel long to share it with others. Believers heed Jesus’ call to be witnesses and make disciples (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19-20). The Holy Spirit gives believers a burden for the lost and the courage to preach the gospel. Believers plead with others to be reconciled to God and to taste the joy of salvation in Christ. Sharing their faith and furthering the gospel become priorities for believers out of love for God and others.
Joined to a Local Church
Believers identify with and commit themselves to a local church. Converted believers were added to the first church in Acts 2:41. The New Testament norm for believers is to be members of a local church, where they can exercise their spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:4-8), partake of the ordinances (Luke 22:19), and submit to the church’s leadership (Heb. 13:17). Believers gather regularly with the local church to worship, fellowship, serve, and be taught God’s Word (Acts 2:42).
Bear Spiritual Fruit
Genuine, saving faith will manifest itself in spiritual fruit. While works do not earn salvation, good works definitely follow after salvation. Believers who have been changed by the Spirit will exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). This fruit will be seen in their character, attitudes, and treatment of others. Other evidence of fruit may include evangelism, practicing spiritual disciplines, and maturing in Christlikeness.
Persevere in Faith
While believers stumble into sin, true believers will persevere in faith rather than completely abandon Christ. Genuine believers are preserved by God and will not utterly deny Christ or fall away (John 10:28-29; Jude 1:24). Believers may backslide for a season but will eventually return to God in repentance through the Spirit’s convicting work. Those who profess faith in Christ then return to a lifestyle of unrepentant sin reveal they likely never had saving faith to begin with (1 John 2:19).
Eagerly Await Christ’s Return
Believers live with the hopeful expectation that Jesus will return at any moment. They believe Christ’s promise that He is coming again to judge the world and make all things new (Matt. 24:42-44; Rev. 21:5). This eager anticipation of Christ’s return affects how believers view this present world and how zealous they are in doing kingdom work. Believers live holy lives in anticipation of Christ’s return and the eternal heaven that awaits all who have faith in Him.
In summary, a believer is someone who has heard the gospel, turned from sin, trusted in Jesus alone for eternal life, and been transformed into a new creation in Christ. This saving faith will be evidenced by the Spirit’s work of sanctification in a believer’s life. True biblical belief always leads to obedience, good works, spiritual growth, and perseverance. The believer’s life is characterized by depending on Christ, pursuing holiness, and serving in His kingdom.