If a person is interested in going to Heaven, it most definitely does matter what one believes about Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whomsoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Some people claim to believe in Jesus as a historical person who walked on this earth but believe He was just another great religious leader. Still others believe Jesus was a prophet like Jeremiah, Daniel or Moses. Jesus Himself left no doubt that He was more than any of these. “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets’” (Matthew 16:13-14). None of these, of course, were true, although they believed in Jesus Christ to an extent. Yet, Jesus wanted to firmly establish that His followers knew exactly who He was. Note Matthew 16:15-16, which reads, “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
There is the what is to be believed about Jesus as shown by our Lord’s next words, “…‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’” (Matthew 16:17-18).
Jesus was stating upon the very truth that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God, His church would be built. That church is composed of people who have acknowledged that same truth that Peter acknowledged. In Romans 10:10, we find, “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” What is to be confessed? “‘Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). The eunuch made the same confession. “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). The next verse shows that the eunuch was subsequently baptized.
In summary, a person might believe “in Jesus” but not believe that He is the Son of God. However, if a person wants to live in eternity, he must accept the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, and inherent in that belief is all that Jesus taught and did. Yes, it most definitely matters what one believes about Jesus.
