MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

I believe because Jesus believed. My beliefs are not just statements; they are the lens through which I see my past, present, and future. His faith shapes everything. In John 14:9, Jesus said, “’Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’”

Jesus believed He was the Son of God, and this profound conviction is at the center of my life. When He died on the cross, He provided forgiveness and opened the way to reconciliation with God. God raised Him from the dead, validating what He said and did. The Holy Spirit makes the promised relationship with God possible in our daily lives.

Some core beliefs: Jesus is the Son of God - not just a great teacher, but the unique Son who perfectly reveals the Father. He showed that God is not distant, and cares about details of our lives. He touched the leper, welcomed the outcast, and forgave the woman caught in adultery. His teachings include those of the father who ran to meet his prodigal son. Everything He said and did carries ultimate authority and love.

The cross stands at the heart of Jesus’ message. Isaiah prophesied about Him centuries before He was born (Isaiah chapter 53), and Jesus said, “’This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:28). Other promises: “’Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13); “’But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’” (Romans 5:8); and “’I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6). He carries the weight of the world, while lifting my personal burdens. God doesn’t keep score, and Jesus on the cross restored relationship. Forgiveness is not something I achieve; it is something I receive - a truth that brings incredible freedom.

In the incarnation - God becoming man in Jesus - something profound happened for all of us. The Word became flesh (John 1:14), bridged the gap we could never cross, and brought reconciliation. Jesus restored closeness with the Father; He prayed, “’That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you” (John 17:21). We can approach God as beloved children rather than as distant strangers.

Each day, the Holy Spirit makes this oneness real. He is the very presence of God living in us. Jesus promised, “’I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you’” (John 14:18). The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us, transforming thoughts, desires, actions. We don’t have to figure out the Christian life on our own.

Believing what Jesus believed brings beautiful simplicity. It changes how we see people - God has a plan and purpose for each one. This belief moves me to show kindness, patience, and respect. It calls me to forgive as I have been forgiven, and challenges me to love in practical, everyday ways. We don’t have to strive for worth or prove our value, as it is already established in Christ. Ordinary moments - conversations, work tasks, quiet mornings - can be part of the new life He offers. We can trust that what Jesus believed is true.

The more I walk with Christ, the more I discover that this new life is richer than I imagined - full of hope, even in difficulty. Peace doesn’t depend on circumstances; it is characterized by love that reaches beyond the natural.

I believe what Jesus believed.

I believe He is the Son of God.

I believe His death brought forgiveness and reconciliation.

I believe His incarnation restored our way to the Father.

And I believe His Spirit makes this oneness real every single day.

Jesus believed that He was sent by the Father with a clear purpose. He didn’t waver in His identity. He didn’t question His mission. Even facing rejection, misunderstanding, and ultimately the cross, He remained steady in what He believed about God, Himself, and about us.

This belief is the reality that lives in my heart, my home, my work, and my relationships. It is strength to lean on, and joy and hope to carry it forward. For anyone searching, wondering, or ready for something more, consider what Jesus believed. He believed you are worth dying for. He believed relationship with the Father is the greatest treasure. He believed you can daily experience a holy relationship with God.

If you believe what Jesus believed, place your faith in Him, and experience life with Him and the Father. Knowing Jesus, we find abundant, eternal life, starting the day we believe.