Why do we believe in Jesus?

Believers, see what Christ says about how and why we believe and also live right in John 6:44: "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day."

See the MSG version: John 6:43-46: “Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over Me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent Me is in charge. He draws people to Me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End...."

Our believing is a gift without which we would never know the truth that makes us free. Our ability to live right is a result of Christ's work of "putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End." We would be no different from the souls out there that don't believe in Jesus or those that we see as "living in sin and having no heart for Christ" if He hadn't given us the desire to come to Him. This is grace- undeserved, unmerited, unearned favour.

Realising this truth brings us down from any pedestals of morality that we might have erected for ourselves and makes it difficult for us to condemn or get tired of those who do not believe in Jesus…or are still living in sin. We find it hard to tell these beloved of God things like "you’d better believe in Jesus Christ and stop sinning, or else you will burn in hell!" This would be akin to telling a blind person: “See…or else.” The desire to come to Christ is a gift from God. Remember “For God so loved the world…” in John 3:16. Even idol worshippers and the vilest offenders constitute the world and He does not want anyone to perish.

When our eyes are opened to see how we are saved, like Christ in Matt. 9:36-37, we get to have compassion on those who are yet to be drawn to Christ our Shepherd:

“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”

Like Christ, instead of seeing people who just refuse to believe or are wallowing in sin, we see confused and helpless people, like sheep without a shepherd; we too would not believe if our Abba Father had not drawn/given us the desire to come to Christ our Shepherd. He sends workers into His fields.

With this understanding, threatening people with fire and brimstone and stories of people who died in accidents immediately after ignoring altar calls in order to get them to believe will be repulsive to us. Our natural inclination would be to do what Christ says in verse Matt. 9:38 above:

“So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”

God hears the prayers of His children. If we really want our loved ones and others to see the Light and live right, we pray to our Abba Father in Christ to touch their hearts and by His grace, they are receptive when we tell them about Christ’s love and His power to save from all that we need saving from, including our sins.