He must increase. John 3:25-36 John called the nation to repentance, while Jesus invited people to the kingdom of heaven. John warned men to escape the coming wrath, but Jesus showed them how they could be forgiven. John identified Jesus as the chosen Lamb of God, and Jesus called those who believed in Him to follow Him. John understood his work was finished when he was imprisoned; Jesus’ work began when people realized the Messiah had come to save His people. Believing in Him means fully trusting Him as both Savior and Lord, with no reservations. Not believing is an insult to His word and His person, and it results in being shut out of heaven. To believe in Him means trusting yourself less, recognizing no one else can save you, and understanding that living and dying in your sins is choosing to go it alone. Not believing condemns you to eternal separation from God.
Believing involves understanding, knowing, living, and being personally committed to God and our relationship with Him. The change that comes from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is what it means to be born again. It’s like starting life all over again. Light comes to us through the word of God and the Spirit of God. It is up to the hearers to let go of and turn away from their former life and beliefs through repentance. Someone who believes in the Lord Jesus deliberately turns to and accepts Him, who is the Light and Life. God grants that person everlasting life. The result of believing is having eternal life now and forever. Not believing means that the wrath of God remains on that person.