Why Do We Have To Believe In Jesus?

A response to this video:

Tough Questions for Christians #2

There are some decent challenges to Christian theology out there. We shouldn't just put our fingers in our ears and hope they go away. Instead, we should consider these challenges, ask if they make logical sense and then answer them, if we can. And if we can't we need to admit that.

Here, the challenge is pretty simple: "If Jesus died for the whole world to pay for our sins, then why should I have to do anything-- believe in Jesus or anything else? If a debt is paid, then it is simply paid, right?"

There are a lot of answers one could give to this. Some would say that Jesus didn't technically die for the whole world, only for believers. However, Scripture seems to refute this: "Jesus died for sins, the just for the unjust." I Pet. 3:18; "Jesus died for sins, once for all" Romans 6:10.

The passages seem to be indicating the sufficiency of Jesus' death, not necessarily their universality. In other words, Jesus' death is sufficient for all, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is a covering for all humanity.

However, Christians often miscommunicate how Jesus' death takes care of sin. We are in a sinful lineage, of a sinful race, of a sinful nation, of a sinful society. God will punish us all for simply participating in the society that forces us to sin-- to act in opposition to God's love. Scripture says that Jesus' death is for this purpose: "For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Romans 14:9. Jesus' death established a new kingdom, one in which everyone has a new beginning, with Jesus at the head.

Thus, Jesus' death isn't a simple payment, it is rather an opportunity. It is a chance for everyone--without exception-- to immigrate to Jesus' kingdom. Everyone has the opportunity to change nationalities, change lineages, change societies to be a part of Jesus' kingdom. But to enter that kingdom, one must accept Jesus as one's Lord and King. That seems pretty simple, huh? We have to have faith in Jesus in order to enter His kingdom.

Thus, if Jesus' death is to have any effectiveness, we need to accept Him.