This article was co-authored by Olivia Woodford and by How.com.vn staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Olivia Woodford is the Founder of Bible Women Speak. Olivia has been teaching biblical stories of women through theater since 1992. She is a member of Biblical Storytellers International and has performed at and hosted learning retreats with churches, schools, and women's groups of all denominations throughout the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. Olivia has a BFA in Theater Arts from Boston University.
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The whole basis of Christianity is believing in Jesus, but sometimes it's not totally clear how to do that, and that's okay! Religion and spirituality can feel complicated at times, but it really all comes down to whether you trust what the Bible says about Jesus. From there, work on having a close relationship with Him—and this article is here to answer some of the questions you might have throughout the process!
Steps
How do I find faith in Jesus?
- Start by acknowledging that everyone has sinned. It can sometimes be hard to admit that you're a sinner—after all, you probably try to be a good person most of the time. However, we've all violated God’s will at some point, like telling a lie, being envious, or taking something that wasn't ours. The Bible says that sin keeps you separated from God, so admitting that you've sinned is the first step toward believing in Jesus.[1][2]
- Trust that Jesus is God's son and that He died for us. Since sin keeps us separated from God, we can't reach Him on our own. The Bible says that's why God sent Jesus to us—He was sinless, so He was able to act as a sacrifice, or a payment, for our wrongdoings. That way, we're able to enjoy a life with God, both here on Earth and after our spirits go to heaven.[3]
- That doesn't mean Jesus was never tempted to sin like we are—in fact, He was tempted, and still remained pure. The Bible describes this temptation in Luke 4:1-13, when Satan comes to Jesus and tempts Him with food while He's starving, offers Him power over all mankind, and encourages Him to test God's power by throwing Himself off of the top of the temple. He used the Bible to defend against this temptation, and this is how everyone can.
What if I've tried to believe in Jesus but I can't?
- Try praying that God will give you faith. Some Biblical scholars believe that faith isn't something we can create on our own—it's a gift from God. If you want to have faith in Jesus but you can't seem to manage it, try a prayer like, "Dear God, please help me have certainty that Jesus is Your Son so I can have the peace of knowing I'll spend eternity in heaven."[6]
- Don't worry if your faith doesn't look like someone else's—faith is really individual, and if you have too many expectations about what the experience will be like, it might be hard to recognize the faith that you do have. Sometimes, faith just means living according to God's word even if you don't have the same emotional experience as someone else.
- Explore your faith. Faith doesn't have to be blind, so feel free to dig deeper if your faith is held back by serious questions about God—like "Why does God let bad things happen to good people?" or "Can a loving God really send people to hell for following the wrong religion?" Believers have wrestled with these concepts for years, and you don't have to ignore these questions in order to have faith.[7] You might also spend time studying Scripture or talking to religious scholars about their thoughts on these issues.[8]
- Ask Jesus to release any sin that's holding you back. If you feel that God is calling you to give up a sin that you enjoy, it can be hard to turn your life over to Jesus. However, many Christians find that a life in God is more deeply fulfilling than anything as temporary as sin, so pray that God will help you overcome that temptation to have a relationship with Him.[9]
- You might still struggle with that particular sin—just keep praying that God will help you to overcome it.[10]
Video
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I find the right church for me?Zachary RaineyRev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
Ordained MinisterFind a church where you can serve well. Your own personal preferences and opinions may hinder you from finding a fellowship where you can minister in an effective way. Ask what you have to offer and find a church that needs you. You will be much more fulfilled by serving than you will by sitting in a chair with a bunch of others sitting in chairs listening to a worship band. - QuestionShould I pray every day?Zachary RaineyRev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
Ordained MinisterThe Bible does not instruct a Christian to pray every day. Prayer is talking to God. A Christian should “pray without ceasing.” You should begin your day with focussed prayer, continue to pray in your heart as you perform your activities of the day, take breaks throughout the day to speak directly to God in prayer, and retire to bed with another time of prayer. A conversation with God never ends. While you are conscious, it is always in your heart or on your tongue. - QuestionHow do I believe in Jesus if I don't believe in Jesus?Community AnswerRead the Bible, go to church services, and talk to church members about their faith. Faith is something that will grow if it feels right to you. You don't have to believe to go to church; you just have to be open to the experience.
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about spirituality, check out our in-depth interview with Olivia Woodford.
References
- ↑ Olivia Woodford. Founder of Bible Women Speak. Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.
- ↑ https://bible.org/article/do-you-really-believe-jesus
- ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/believe-in-Jesus.html
- ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/believe-in-Jesus.html
- ↑ https://bible.org/article/do-you-really-believe-jesus
- ↑ https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-do-i-do-if-ive-tried-to-believe-in-jesus-but-cant
- ↑ Olivia Woodford. Founder of Bible Women Speak. Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.
- ↑ https://thelife.com/10-spiritual-questions-and-their-answers
- ↑ https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-can-you-know-for-sure-that-you-believe-in-jesus/
- ↑ Olivia Woodford. Founder of Bible Women Speak. Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.
- ↑ https://bible.org/article/do-you-really-believe-jesus
- ↑ Olivia Woodford. Founder of Bible Women Speak. Expert Interview. 2 May 2023.
- ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/membership/archive/2018/01/what-it-means-to-be-spiritual-but-not-religious/550337/
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