John 17:1-3
Jesus on Eternal Life
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Romans 10:9-13
Confess With Your Mouth and Believe in Your Heart
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 3:16-17
A Loving God Sends His Son to Us
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
1 John 4:16
16 God is Love
Jesus teaches us about the eternities and eternal life...It is sometimes, if not many times hard to understand, the eternities and the eternal life He teaches...But He wants us to understand there is more to life than what we see, and what we do on earth...As we read the gospels, God was the center and foundation of His life...
St. John writes that God sent His Son to us, that whoever who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life...He sent His Son to us, out of Love...St. Paul writes something very similar to his letter to the Romans...He says that if we believe in Jesus, and that Jesus is LORD, and we believe that in our hearts, that God raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved...It is in our hearts where we have love...
Have you ever said or confessed to a family member or friend that you believe in them, that they can do something they have never done, or that they can do something difficult...This type of confession comes from your heart...St. Paul says "For it is with ours hearts, that we believe."...St. Paul does not say it is with our minds that we believe in God and His Son, but is with our hearts...Belief comes from the heart...When you tell a friend, or family member before a big event that I believe in you...When you say or said this, you are saying I believe in you and I believe in your abilities...It is not blind faith, but belief in a son, a daughter, a grandson, or granddaughter, or friend, that they can do something...You have faith in them...This faith comes as much from your heart, as it does from the mind...It is a faith that comes from your love...
This is where faith, love, and belief connect...You can see these things (maybe a little better) with your family, because you are especially close to them...It is similar with God...This belief and faith in Him, is as much or more based from the heart, than being based on the logic of your mind...If you are as close to God as you are to your family, this type of belief in Him, is very similar...If you believe that God is Love (and you are close to Him), then you better understand this connection and link between faith and the love we have for others...You can see this personal faith in God as you do with with your family, and how the heart enters your faith and belief...