Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 8/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello. My name is James. Does the Scripture say that one must believe in Jesus as God in order to be saved? Or is it enough to believe that he is the Christ, the one who died for my sins? I am particularly interested if support for this idea is found in John 20:31. Thank you for your help.

ANSWER: Dear James,

Thanks for your question about believing in Jesus. Let’s look at the text:

John 20:31  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Whether or not you believe in Christ or that Jesus is God comes out the same either way. The text points out that Jesus is the Christ (Hebrew word is Messiah), and that Christ is the Son of God. In John 1:1-3, 14 we have the defining word on the nature of Jesus, the Christ/Messiah:

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2  He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. . . .
John 1:14  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word was God, and the Word (God) became flesh who showed John (and others) the glory of the “One and Only.” And in case we might feel that we misread what John said, he repeats the kernel of the doctrine in verse 18:

John 1:18  No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

The Word is God (vs. 1), became flesh (vs. 14—Jesus), and was revealed as God the One and Only (vs. 18). And again, in chapter 3:16, John quotes Jesus as saying to Nicodemus:

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

There’s no doubt that Jesus, the Christ, is the One and Only Son of God—God the One and Only (1:18). So worshiping Jesus as Christ, and worshiping Jesus as God are one and the same. There can be no difference in them because Jesus is both Christ and God.

Thanks again for writing.

Check out my web site www.PettyPress.com where I’ve posted 18 of my books; 42 Bible Study Guides, and much more.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
pettypress@gmail.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Could you clarify that? So, you're claiming that a person is saved if they do not believe that Jesus is God but simply believe that he is a man who saved them. Is this true? And are you using John 20:31 to support this? Thank you for your help.

Answer
Dear James,

It may be that you misunderstood my point, or it may be that I didn’t make it clear. Let’s lay the blame in my court.

This is the last sentence in my letter:

“There’s no doubt that Jesus, the Christ, is the One and Only Son of God—‘God the One and Only’ (John 1:18). So worshiping Jesus as Christ, and worshiping Jesus as God are one and the same. There can be no difference in them because Jesus is both Christ and God.”

John 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

You asked if it was necessary to believe in Jesus as being God in order to be saved. The answer is “Yes.” Is it necessary to believe in Jesus as Christ in order to be saved? “Yes.”

Because, Jesus is God and Jesus is also Christ. The important thing to remember is that Jesus, who is God, became a man—the God-Man. This God-Man was Christ. He’s the only person who ever lived or ever will live who was 100% God and 100% man all at the same time. Don’t ask me to explain it, because it is not a thing that we can understand: it’s a God thing.

If you have any more questions about this, why not write me at my e-mail: pettypress@gmail.com. That way we can just talk back and forth without having to go through Allexperts.com.

You may also find my book “Quest for the Super Leader” of help. I discuss this very topic in the book. You’ll find the entire book on my web site, www.PettyPress.com. I also have 17 other books on the site, as well as 42 Bible Study Guides, and much more.

Thanks again for your question.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
pettypress@gmail.com