Study Version - You Can Believe in God and Still Die in Your Sins
Jesus Did Not Say Believe Something About Me - He Said Believe That I AM Who I Say I AM
Introduction
In the Dominion Short narrative that preceded this deeper teaching, we confronted something uncomfortable that modern Christianity cannot afford to soften, you can believe in God and still die in your sins.
That statement may disturb some people, and it should if one is not heeding its warning
There is a kind of “belief” that acknowledges that God exists while never surrendering to Jesus Christ. There is a kind of religion that talks about God while rejecting the Son whom God sent. There is a kind of Christianity that likes the teachings of Jesus, admires His compassion, celebrates His miracles, quotes His promises, wears His cross, sings His songs, and still refuses to bow to His Lordship.
And Jesus did not leave the eternal consequences of that rejection unclear.
He did not say, “As long as you sincerely believe something spiritual, everything will eventually work itself out.”
He did not say, “As long as you acknowledge that there is a higher power, you are safe.”
He did not say, “As long as you are a good person, treat people well, and believe there is a God, you will enter eternal life.”
Jesus said something far more confronting and certain, “If you do not believe that I AM WHO I SAY I AM, you will die in your sins.”
That is the issue before us.
Not merely, do you believe in God?
The real question is, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH JESUS?
Now Let’s Eat Some Meat!
John 8:24 (AMPC) “That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be—if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.”
Read those words again - John 8:24 (AMPC) “That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be—if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.”
Don’t gloss over them because they make you uncomfortable.
Don’t immediately reach for a softer scripture.
Don’t attempt to explain away the severity of what Jesus said.
For the record, please note that Jesus said it twice, “You will die in your sins.”
And between those two warnings He tells us exactly what separates the two eternal outcomes, “If you do not believe that I am He…”
This isn’t merely belief that Jesus historically existed.
This isn’t merely agreeing that Jesus was a good teacher.
This isn’t merely acknowledging Jesus as a prophet.
This isn’t merely celebrating Christmas and Easter.
This isn’t merely saying the name “Jesus.”
The Amplified Classic version brings the meaning directly into focus, “…if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me…”
That is considerably deeper than intellectual acknowledgment.
“Adhere to Him - Trust in Him - Rely on Him.”
Jesus is demanding faith that places the weight of your eternal existence upon WHO HE IS.
You can’t separate salvation from the identity of Jesus Christ.
You can’t reject who Christ says He is and still claim the salvation Christ provides.
You can’t receive Jesus as merely a teacher while rejecting Him as Lord.
You can’t receive His morality while rejecting His deity.
You can’t desire His heaven while rejecting His authority.
You can’t demand His forgiveness while refusing His Lordship.
And you certainly can’t create a version of Jesus that agrees with you and then call that person the Jesus of scripture.
Jesus is not whoever culture decides He should be.
Jesus is WHO HE SAYS HE IS!
And eternity hinges upon what you do with that truth.
The Context of This Teaching
John 8 is not a casual theological conversation, it is a confrontation.
Jesus is speaking to people who were “religious.” That is an extremely important fact.
He was not merely addressing atheists who denied that God existed. He was speaking in a deeply religious environment to people who believed in the God of Israel, knew the Scriptures, understood religious traditions, and considered themselves connected to God.
And yet Jesus tells them, “You can die in your sins
That destroys one of the most dangerous assumptions in religion, believing in God is automatically the same thing as belonging to Christ. It is not.
The conflict in John 8 increasingly centers upon who Jesus is.
The people wanted to evaluate Jesus according to their categories.
Jesus kept revealing that their eternal condition depended upon recognizing Him according to His identity.
Look at the exchange immediately following John 8:24 in John 8:25 (AMPC) “Then they said to Him, Who are You anyway? Jesus replied, Why do I even speak to you! [Why do I talk to you at all?] I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first.”
Yes sir, there it is! “Who are You?” That was their question.
And Jesus' answer is essentially, I have already told you!
They wanted another explanation.
Another argument.
Another sign.
Another way of categorizing Him.
Jesus had already revealed Himself.
Their problem was not merely insufficient information.
Their problem was unbelief.
And this is still happening today.
People say, “I believe Jesus was a great moral teacher.”
“I believe Jesus was enlightened.”
“I believe Jesus was a prophet.”
“I believe Jesus showed us how to love.”
“I believe Jesus was a revolutionary.”
“I believe Jesus was a wonderful example.”
Jesus did not ask you to invent an identity for Him that you find comfortable.
He demands that you believe Him concerning who He says He is.
That is why John 8:24 carries such enormous eternal weight.
Relevance to Today’s Believers
We live in an age that loves spirituality while increasingly resisting biblical authority.
People will talk about “God.”
They will talk about “the universe.”
They will talk about blessings.
They will talk about prayer.
They will talk about angels.
They will talk about positive energy.
They will talk about spirituality.
They may even talk about Jesus.
The confrontation begins when Jesus is proclaimed as Lord.
The confrontation becomes sharper when scripture declares that salvation is found through Him.
And here is where believers must decide whether we are going to preach the Jesus of scripture or manufacture a culturally acceptable substitute.
Jesus is loving.
Jesus is merciful.
Jesus is compassionate.
Jesus forgives.
Jesus restores.
Jesus heals.
Jesus receives sinners.
Jesus gave His life for sinners.
And the same Jesus warns sinners that rejecting Him leaves them in their sins.
Those truths are not enemies. The warning is an expression of His love!
If a building were burning, love would not whisper, “I do not want to make anyone uncomfortable by mentioning the fire.”
Love would shout, GET OUT!
If a bridge were gone ahead, love would not remove the warning sign because someone might find it offensive.
Love would scream, STOP!
And if Jesus says humanity is dying in sin and that salvation is found in Him, love does not make us hide that message.
Love compels us to proclaim it.
The church can’t become so desperate to be accepted that we become ashamed of the One who saved us.
There is no compassion in allowing people to walk toward eternity believing that vague spirituality is salvation.
There is no love in telling people that sincerity is enough when Jesus said faith in Him is necessary.
There is no kindness in presenting Jesus as optional when Jesus presented Himself as essential.
Supporting Scriptures
John 14:6 (AMPC) “Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.”
Notice the definite language.
Jesus did not say:
“I know a way.”
“I can show you one possible way.”
“I represent one truth among many truths.”
He said, “I AM THE WAY.” “I AM THE TRUTH.” “I AM THE LIFE.”
And then He removed every possibility of misunderstanding, “No one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.”
Christianity does not teach that Jesus merely possesses information about salvation.
Jesus Himself is central to and is Himself, salvation.
This is why reducing Christianity to “believing in God” is dangerously incomplete.
The question is not simply whether you believe there is a God.
The question is whether you have come to the Father through Jesus Christ.
James 2:19 (AMPC) “You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!”
This scripture destroys shallow definitions of faith.
James says, in effect, You believe there is one God? Good. Demons know that too.
Demons are not atheists.
They know God exists.
They recognize spiritual reality.
They know who Jesus is.
Yet knowledge of God's existence does not equal saving faith.
This is exactly why saying, “I believe in God,” cannot be the end of the conversation.
The question becomes, what does your belief produce?
Has your belief brought you to Jesus?
Has your belief produced surrender?
Has your belief produced repentance?
Has your belief changed who rules your life?
Because even demons possess theological information.
Saving faith does more than acknowledge facts—it places trust in Christ.
Acts 4:12 (AMPC) “And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.”
Peter does not leave salvation open-ended.
“No one else.” “No other name.”
Those words confront modern religious pluralism directly.
The gospel is not, Jesus plus whatever else you prefer.
The gospel is, JESUS CHRIST!
The apostles did not risk persecution and death proclaiming that humanity simply needed greater spirituality.
They proclaimed a crucified and resurrected Christ. Why?
Because humanity's problem is not insufficient spirituality.
Humanity's problem is SIN. And sinners need a Savior.
John 3:16-18 (AMPC) “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]”
People love John 3:16, And we should!
It is one of the clearest declarations of God's extraordinary love for humanity.
Yet we cannot stop reading before verse 18.
The love that gave the Son also requires humanity to respond to the Son.
Notice again how the AMPC describes belief:
“Trusts in” “Clings to” “Relies on”
Biblical faith is not merely, “Yes, I think Jesus existed.”
It is, My eternity rests upon Jesus Christ.
God's love provided salvation.
Christ accomplished salvation.
Grace offers salvation.
And unbelief rejects salvation.
1 John 5:11-12 (AMPC) “And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.”
Could scripture make the dividing line any clearer?
Has the Son, has life.
Does not have the Son, does not have life.
Notice scripture does not say, “He who believes in spirituality has life.”
“He who believes there is a Creator has life.”
“He who tries to be a good person has life.”
It says, “THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.”
Eternal life is inseparable from Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9-10 (AMPC) “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.”
Again we encounter the language, “Adhere” “Trust” “Rely”
And notice the confession, “JESUS IS LORD.”
Not merely, Jesus is helpful.
Jesus inspires me.
Jesus makes me feel better.
Jesus is part of my spirituality.
“JESUS IS LORD.”
Lordship means authority.
Lordship means supremacy.
Lordship means He does not simply become another addition to your life.
Your life becomes His.
Reflection and Spiritual Insight
Now let’s get this personal as we always do at this point
It is very easy to read John 8:24 and immediately think about atheists, unbelievers, other religions, secular culture, or someone we know who rejects Christianity, However let’s look inward first.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I actually trust Jesus Christ? Or have I merely become familiar with Christianity?
Do I know Christ? Or do I simply know Christian language?
Do I obey Christ? Or do I simply quote Him?
Have I surrendered my life to Christ? Or have I attempted to add Christ to the life I already decided to live?
There is an enormous difference between having Jesus in your vocabulary and having Jesus on the throne of your heart.
Some people know how to say wonderful things like;
“Praise God.”
“God is good.”
“I'm blessed.”
“I'm highly favored.”
“God knows my heart.”
“Jesus loves me.”
And all of those words can come from a mouth attached to a heart that has never truly surrendered.
Religion can teach you vocabulary. Church attendance can teach you behavior. Christian culture can teach you presentation. And social media can teach you how to look saved.
Yet only Christ can save you.
And this is where the warning can become deeply uncomfortable, You can spend years around Christian things and still never surrender to Christ. So look in the mirror and take honest assessment, your location in eternity depends on it.
Application to Modern Faith
Stop Reducing Faith to Intellectual Agreement
Knowing facts about Jesus is not the same as trusting Jesus.
Satan knows Jesus exists, and demons also recognize Christ’s authority.
Historical or intellectual knowledge cannot save you, only Christ saves.
Stop Treating Jesus Like an Accessory
Jesus does not exist to decorate the life you already chose, He is Lord.
Since He is Lord, He has authority over your relationships, sexuality, finances, ambitions, speech, habits, forgiveness, body, decisions, private behavior, public behavior, ministry, career, family, and future.
You cannot continually tell Jesus, “You can have everything except that.”
Lord means Lord.
Stop Confusing Religious Activity With Salvation
Preaching does not save you.
Serving does not save you.
Giving does not save you.
Singing does not save you.
Holding church office does not save you.
Writing Christian narratives does not save you.
Having a ministry title does not save you.
Being ordained does not save you.
Knowing scripture does not save you.
Only Jesus saves you.
And every one of us who ministers in His name must remember that.
The pulpit is not a substitute for relationship with Christ.
A title is not evidence of surrender.
A gift is not proof of spiritual maturity.
And ministry activity is never permission to stop examining our own hearts.
The Repentance Call
This is where we stop studying everybody else.
What about YOU? If your Christianity has become cultural instead of surrendered—
REPENT!
If you know church while refusing Christ's authority - REPENT!
If you have learned how to sound saved while secretly living in rebellion - REPENT!
If you want Jesus as Savior while continually rejecting Him as Lord - REPENT!
If you have been trusting your baptism, denomination, ministry position, family history, good works, charitable giving, or religious knowledge - REPENT AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN CHRIST!
Do not allow pride to send you into eternity separated from the Savior whose name you knew.
Do not allow familiarity with Christianity to convince you that you belong to Christ.
Do not let years in church become your evidence when Jesus is asking for your heart.
Run to Christ!
Not away from Him.
TO HIM!
Confess your sin.
Trust His finished work.
Believe who He says He is.
Surrender.
Follow.
Obey.
Rely upon Him.
Cling to Him.
And stop gambling with eternity!
Five Checkpoints for Every Believer
Do I Believe Who Jesus Says He Is?
Am I trusting the biblical Jesus, or have I created a version of Jesus who conveniently agrees with everything I already want?
John 8:24 (AMPC) “That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be—if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.”
My faith must rest in who Christ actually is, not who I would prefer Him to be.
Am I Merely Believing That God Exists?
Has my belief produced surrender to Jesus Christ?
James 2:19 (AMPC) “You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!”
Mere acknowledgment of God's existence is not the same as saving faith.
Is Jesus Actually Lord of My Life?
Do my decisions demonstrate His authority, or does Jesus only get consulted when I need help?
Luke 6:46 (AMPC) “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?”
Calling Jesus “Lord” while continually refusing His authority creates a contradiction Jesus Himself confronted.
Am I Trusting Christ or My Religious Resume?
If everything religious were stripped away, title, denomination, church attendance, ministry, service, reputation, would my confidence still be Christ alone?
Ephesians 2:8-9 (AMPC) “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]”
Checkpoint: My works are not my Savior, my religious accomplishments are not my Savior, Jesus Christ is my Savior.
Am I Living With Eternity in View?
Have I become so comfortable with temporary life that I rarely examine whether I am truly walking with Christ?
2 Corinthians 13:5 (AMPC) “Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?”
Checkpoint: Scripture tells me to examine myself, not my neighbor, not another denomination, not the person sitting across the aisle.
ME!
Summary
John 8:24 refuses to allow us to hide behind vague spirituality.
Jesus places the issue directly before humanity, “…if you do not believe that I am He…you will die in your sins.”
That is not hatred.
That is not religious arrogance.
That is not intolerance.
THAT IS JESUS WARNING PEOPLE HE LOVES!
The short narrative declared, “You Can Believe in God and Still Die in Your Sins.”
The deeper teaching makes clear why.
Because salvation is not found merely in acknowledging God's existence.
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.
James tells us demons believe God exists.
John tells us eternal life is in the Son.
Peter declares there is no other name through which we must be saved.
Paul tells us to confess Jesus as Lord and trust Him from the heart.
And Jesus Himself declares, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.”
So stop asking only, “Do I believe in God?”
Ask the harder question, DO I BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST?
Have I trusted Him?
Have I surrendered to Him?
Have I placed my eternal confidence in Him?
Is He Savior only in my vocabulary, or is He Lord in my life?
Because the most terrifying words in John 8:24 are not spoken to people who had never heard about God.
They were spoken to religious people who refused to believe who Jesus was.
And that warning still stands.
You can know the terminology.
You can know the scriptures.
You can know church culture.
You can know the songs.
You can know the prayers.
You can know how to shout.
You can know how to preach.
You can know how to look Christian.
You can even believe that God exists.
AND STILL MISS CHRIST!
Do not stake eternity on familiarity.
Do not stake eternity on religion.
Do not stake eternity on good intentions.
Do not stake eternity on being a “good person.”
Do not stake eternity on somebody else's faith.
STAKE YOUR ETERNITY ON JESUS CHRIST!
Because ultimately the question is not merely whether you believed something about Jesus.
The question is whether you believed Jesus concerning Himself.
And if He is truly Lord - STOP TREATING HIM LIKE AN OPTION!
Question For Today
If Jesus Himself warned that you can die in your sins while refusing to believe who He truly is, are you trusting Jesus Christ with your eternity, or are you trusting a religious version of yourself that has learned how to talk about God without completely surrendering to His Son?
If You Have Ears To Hear, Then Hear It!
I pray for you each and every day.
All God's Best!
Karl McKinnie
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