The Meaning of “Believe”
by David Gibson
I have seen on the rear side window of an SUV: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” This is a quotation from Acts 16:31.
If we read the verses preceding and following (Acts 16:16-34), we see this verse is in answer to the frightened jailer’s question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Paul told him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Is believing in Jesus all that was required of this man to be saved? Or of anyone, for that matter?
It’s been well-said, “The Bible is its own best interpreter.” To understand how to be saved, we must consider all that the Bible says on the subject. Doing so, we find plenty of supplementary material that helps us better understand what Acts 16:31 is saying (see Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12-13; Titus 3:5; I Peter 3:20-21).
Note this parallel: “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ...’” (Acts 2:37-38 NASB).
Comparing these two passages, we see similar questions but different answers. In Acts 2, it was obvious to Peter that his convicted listeners believed what he had preached. He then told them what else they needed to do.
In Acts 16, the jailer had not yet heard the gospel when he asked what to do to be saved. Paul told him to believe in Jesus. Then in the very next verse, he taught him the gospel, and in the verse after that, he and his household were baptized.
In the New Testament, the word “believe” can have these three meanings:
- mere mental acceptance of a truth (John 12:42-43);
- a step toward salvation (Acts 8:12; 18:8); and
- the whole conversion process in a comprehensive sense (Acts 4:4; 10:43).
Understanding this, we will not quote just one verse as the be-all and end-all of salvation. We must get the Big Picture!
