what about
John 3: 16?
John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Whosoever becomes a believer in Jesus Christ is promised eternal life. In spite of who you are, where you live, or what you’ve done, you can still be saved.
John 3: 16 is the summation of God’s great love for mankind, and His redemptive plan for mankind. So what does it mean to become a believer?
One thing we know from reading the scriptures is that is goes beyond simply acknowledging a belief in Christ. We know this for 5 main reasons:
1.Most every scholar agrees that Repentance is necessary for Salvation.
John 3: 16 omits it.
2.The devil also believes – and he is not saved. (See
James 2: 19;
Revelation 20: 10)
3.There are many people involved in various sins and lifestyles that would acknowledge their belief in Christ, yet we know from the scriptures that they will not be saved. (See
Gal. 5:19 – 21)
4.Many believers in Christ will be shocked when they hear the words, “depart from me, I never knew you”. (
Matthew 7: 21 – 23)
5.In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes those who believed but were never rooted:
Luke 8: 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, WHO BELIEVE FOR A WHILE and in time of temptation fall away.
Believing always precedes action. Action always confirms belief. If you really believe in a product, you buy it. If you really believe in a program, you buy into it. Ex., if you believe in Dave Ramsey’s financial plan to get out of debt and into wealth, you buy his book. But you don’t stop there – you read his book. And you don’t stop there - you then demonstrate your belief by following his step by step program.
That being said, if you really believe in Jesus, and His ability to get you out of sin and into Heaven, you buy His book, and you read it from cover to cover. Your belief is then expressed through your obedience to His “step by step” Salvation plan. (Belief, Repentance, Being Born Again, and making Him Lord of your life)
Mark 1: 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
According to Jesus, we must come to repentance and believe in the gospel message.
John 3: 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3: 5 is recorded just 11 verses prior to
John 3: 16. They are spoken to the same man (Nicodemus), in the same setting. Does Jesus contradict His own words, or can we conclude that a believer will be one who is born again, - of water and of the Spirit? Now, where do see references to water and Spirit?
Mark 16: 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. According to Jesus, a believer will be baptized. There is hardly a way to dispute this. However, many people use the fact that it does not say “he who is baptized not will be condemned” as a means of diminishing the need for baptism. This is simply not justification to avoid the baptism issue. It only stands to reason that “he who does not believe” would not be baptized. If you did not believe in Jesus Christ, would you take part in a Christian baptism?
John 7: 38 – 39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
According to Jesus, a believer should also receive the Holy Ghost. Verse 39 is in parenthesis because John wrote this gospel several years after Jesus made the recorded statement in verse 38. The birth of the church had already occurred, the Holy Ghost had already been poured out at Pentecost. So John felt the need to clarify what Jesus meant by his words, “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.
In summary, a “believer in Jesus”, will believe the gospel message that He is both Lord and Christ, come to repentance, and be born of water and of the Spirit. We find this very message come into fruition in
Acts 2, culminating with the answer to the question, “What shall we do (to be saved)?”
Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter recalls the experience when Salvation first came to the Gentiles in
Acts 10. We know for a fact that they were baptized in Jesus’ name and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Notice how Peter links this experience with believing on The Lord:
Acts 11: 15 – 17 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, WHO BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST; what was I, that I could withstand God?
If Peter couldn’t withstand God, who are we to question God? Believers on the Lord will be born of water and of the Spirit.
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