If someone “believes in Jesus,” does that mean he is saved and a child of God? Could a “believer in Jesus” actually be a child of the devil? Let’s look at what Jesus said about this. Whatever He says will settle it!
In John 8, Jesus preached to a group of Jews, affirming His deity (8:14-19), warning of spiritual death (8:21-24), predicting His crucifixion (8:28) and requiring faith to escape eternal punishment (8:24). Verse 30 plainly states, “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.” There you have it—many believed in Jesus! Were they saved? Were they free from sin? Were they children of God? Keep reading, for Jesus continues speaking to them.
Verse 31 begins: “Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him…” These are the same people who heard His preaching and “believed in Him” in verse 30. What did Jesus say to them?
To believers, Jesus gave conditions to be His disciples. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (8:31). Were they not already His disciples by believing?
To believers, Jesus gave conditions to be free from sin. “If you abide in My word…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (8:32). Were they not already free from sin by believing in Him?
To believers, Jesus affirmed that they were not children of God. “Jesus said to them [same believers in the context], ‘If God were your Father…’” (8:42). Were they not already children of God by virtue of believing in Jesus?
To believers, Jesus affirmed that they were children of the devil. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do” (8:44). Had they not escaped the clutches of the devil by believing in Jesus?
How could believers NOT be disciples, NOT be free from sin, NOT be children of God and ACTUALLY be children of the devil? According to many denominations today, one is saved when he believes.
Why were these believers still lost? Jesus tells us (when He told them). He told them that they must abide in His word, but then announced, “My word has no place in you” (8:37), and then, “You are not able to listen to My word.” Believers must obey His word!
Perhaps if we go back to the beginning of the book of John, we can find God’s explanation for what a believer in Jesus actually is or has. What does Jesus “give” to “those who believe in His name”? Read John 1:12 carefully. “To them He gave the right to become children of God.” Believing did not make them children of God or free from sin! It simply gave them the Jesus-given right to BECOME such! Believers must obey; otherwise, they remain “of the devil” (cf. John 3:36)!