A friend’s daughter recently shared that she no longer believes in Jesus but she does believe in God.

This well-educated, well-traveled professional grew up with Christian parents and is the granddaughter of a Christian pastor. Her declaration of disbelief in Jesus Christ sounded revelatory, like she’d been freed from a long-held superstition.

That she professes continued “belief” in God is no comfort. Demons “believe” (James 2:19), meaning they understand God is God. But they are not changed by that knowledge. They have no relationship with Him and no part in His atonement.

To follow Christ can seem narrow and exclusive in a pluralist world where churches are being sold and converted to mosques and temples are being raised to Hindu gods.

The culture asks: Can it really be that Jesus alone can restore us to right relationship with the God who made us?

• The Bible presents this stark reality: there is no life in “believing in God” apart from trusting in Jesus Christ.

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)

• There is no connecting with the true God except through Christ. Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NIV)

The God of the Bible cannot be separated from His Son. They are one. “For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. (Colossians 2:9 Amplified Bible)

• This is how God revealed Himself to man: Jesus put on flesh. The Creator made Himself knowable, tangible, relatable to His creation by putting on our likeness.  

 “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s trespasses against them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT)

Sin separates people from holy God. All have sinned. No good energy, good intentions or good works can make us right with God. In Christ, God provided an advocate, a savior. “For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

The Lord is One (Deuteronomy 6:4); and He has revealed Himself in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17) Of Jesus, the Son, we are told:

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)

We are free to believe or not.

But the belief that saves embraces Jesus.

“Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be destressed. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)