Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

What Does it Mean to Believe? John 3:16-18

The Greek word for "believes" in John 3:16 is πιστεύω which is a present active verb participle. This implies that the believer exercises continuous action or keeps on believing. His trust in God's saving grace is a consistent and continuing experience right from his encounter with Christ. This is what transforms a sinner from sinful depravity to a child of God; from an alien to a member of God's household of faith; from death to life. 

The sinner who turns to Christ in faith therefore consistently places their trust in Him. It is upon this faith action that his assurance of eternal life in Christ is anchored. The sinner does not need to do more than trusting and submitting to God in obedience to Christ and walking with Him in covenant faithfulness. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast" (NKJV). 

This action separates the believer from the sinner who rejects God's saving grace in Christ and stands condemned unless and until they turn to Christ (John 3:17). 

This text of Scripture implies that God's atonement in Christ Jesus is open to all sinners without prior distinction or discrimination. No sinner is excluded from the invitation to God's saving grace! It affirms that the sinner's exercise of free will in choosing obedience is a legitimate action contemplated in Scripture. 

This biblical truth effectively discounts the deterministic theories of total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, and irresistible grace. These theories are founded on the philosophical assumption that God chose those to be saved outside Calvary and that Christ's atonement is limited to this set of chosen or selected sinners. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The invitation to faith in Christ is the rallying call that lies at the heart of an authentic gospel proclamation. The sinner must exercise their faith in Christ in order to receive the atonement. They must believe in order that God's saving grace in Christ Jesus is applied to them at that very moment.

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Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

To believe something or to believe in something is simply to recognize this as being truth. For instance:

- Is the existence of God a truth?

- Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?

- Was Christ the Son sent by God the Father to make atonement for the world's sins?

- Was He buried, but rose from the grave on day three for our justification?

To believe to the affirmative in the above questions is to recognize the Truth that is required of us by God for His eternal acceptance, and true foundation for our growth in faith (belief).

1 Cor 3:11
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

John 14:6
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

To believe in Jesus Christ is to acknowledge the Truth in His existence for us.

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

In the context of John 3:16-18, "to believe" means placing one's trust and faith in Jesus as God's unique (one-of-a-kind) Son, who was sent not to condemn the world but to save it through His sacrificial death. This belief is more than just acknowledging facts (like I used to do--just intellectually agreeing with the facts); it's a personal commitment that results in receiving eternal life instead of perishing under judgment for sin. As the passage states, those who believe are not condemned, while those who do not believe stand condemned already for rejecting God's provision for salvation. God used John 3:18 to get me saved.

Several hymns contribute to this understanding by poetically expanding on the theme, often paraphrasing the verse to highlight the act of believing as a response of faith that brings immediate forgiveness, redemption, and access to eternal life. For instance:

"God So Loved the World" directly echoes the Scripture: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoso believeth, believeth in Him should not perish... but have everlasting life." This reinforces belief as the key to salvation without adding new layers.

"The Love of God" describes God's love reconciling sinners through His Son, implying belief involves accepting this pardon from sin: "the guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin."

"To God Be the Glory" (which aligns with several titles like "For God So Loved The World" or "God Loved The World") explicitly ties belief to atonement and pardon: "so loved He the world that He gave us His Son, who yielded His life an atonement for sin... the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives." This adds that believing is "true" faith leading to instant forgiveness.

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