John 3:16
I BELIEVE OR I TRUST THAT I BELIEVE
Paper by: Ralph Thoren
Dated: January 27, 2022
In a recent bible study session, one of our brothers (whom I admire so much for his faith and works toward and for our Lord) stated. “ I have an acquaintance who often spends time at the bar, doesn’t go to Church, isn’t active in evangelism, but states that he is a believer.” My acquaintance says “I believe in Jesus”
My bible study classmate went on to quote John 3:16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” My classmate then stated “that’s it, simple as that.” Was he saying, this believer has earned his place in eternity? I was thinking, maybe he has and maybe he hasn’t. My main question was . Do many professing Christians feel this way? “Simple as that.” Everyone knows this verse well as it has been highlighted by many of the protestant religions over the years. My wife who has memory problems with most things, remembers this verse perfectly as the rural Lutheran church where she attended taught all the children this verse to memory. If you go into any Christian book store, you will find knick knacks with the verse written on it. I looked it up on Google and here is what they had to say:
John 3:16 KJV – For God so loved the world, that he – Bible …https://www.biblegateway.com › passage › search=John…
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. Read full chapter.
Please note: Read the last three words. Read full chapter. As much as I wonder about Google, it’s possible that they got it right. This verse (John 3:16) was included in a discussion between a pharisee (Nicodemus) and Yeshua (Jesus). To take this verse out of context would be an injustice to the total meaning and value of the verse. This is one of the most beautiful and meaningful quotations of Jesus (Yeshua) in the bible. Let’s study and meditate in this a bit in an attempt to understand what he is saying.
Nicodemus visits Jesus
John chapter 3 starts by telling us about a pharisee (a man of religious prominence) who came to Jesus by night (appears he did not want other prominent religious folks to know about his visit). Apparently, he was a man who studied God as he stated to Jesus “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God” The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:2). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
This is interesting: even though the statement from Nicodemus does not end in a question mark, the next verse states: Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:2–3). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
This lays the groundwork for this chapter. Jesus has a curious possible believer with questions, now he has even more questions, see what Nicodemus says, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:4). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
It’s fairly obvious here, Nicodemus is stunned, curious beyond his normal belief standard. There is something new here and Nicodemus wants answers. So:
Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:5–8). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Wow!! Nicodemus is stunned. Listen carefully as you hear this next statement of what Nicodemus says and how it applies to the rest of the Chapter.
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:9). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Ok, now we have a religious leader of prominence who wants answers. Nicodemus like all of us is interested in this mystery of being reborn and the mystery of spirit. Nicodemus is a religious teacher of the highest caliber, yet he is being educated. Let’s go on and see how Yeshua answers him:
Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:10–15). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
And Jesus went on to say in answer to Nicodemus’s questions of re-birth and spirit:
Let’s say that again so were sure we understand.
And Jesus went on to say, in answer to Nicodemus’s questions of re-birth and spirit:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Nicodemus has answers if he heard them. It is clear that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are reborn in spirit. It is also clear that belief in Jesus (Yeshua) is the path to re-birth and the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s jump ahead to a meeting between Jesus and his disciples after the resurrection:
John 14:15-31
New International Version
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.”
Yeshua willingly went to the cross so that we could receive this gift on the path to salvation.
At this point in chapter 3, Jesus has answered Nicodemus’s question of “How can these things be?” but let’s continue with what our Lord also said in the rest of the talk with Nicodemus.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 3:17–21). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
I believe or I superficially believe:
At this point it’s clear that if we believe in Jesus Christ, that is: his life, death and resurrection. Meaning, he is alive today! And we believe that, we have been reborn and received the gift of the Holy Spirit and we are on the path to eternal salvation and have already started a new life. This is the most important decision of our very short biological life. Let’s get it right.
Jesus and superficial belief:
Let’s look at what John said about believers that had seen him produce miracle’s:
When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Jn 2:23–25). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Would not entrust himself to them?? What does that mean. When you Google it up, there are many possibilities yet most of them have to do with confidence of the person to whom you would entrust. The example I choose was: put (something) into someone’s care or protection.
“You persuade people to entrust their savings to you”
Perhaps a shallow (superficial) believer cannot be trusted by Yeshua to do his part in the mission. Or another way to look at it. If you have been entrusted by Jesus, wow what a blessing.
There is also the parable of the Sower:
“Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Mt 13:3–10). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Everyone who hears the gospel doesn’t take it to heart, they may believe, but only shallowly.
Let’s see what Yeshua say’s to his disciples about parables:
“Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
‘You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Mt 13:10–14). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
It is this: Yeshua wants us to believe with our whole heart. The original word heart in the Hebrew meant everything, (brain, heart, mind and body) our all. When we bring ourselves to do this and become reborn, the gift of the Holy Spirit will help us with knowledge, wisdom and more toward working into Gods will for us. These accomplishments will lead to JOY!
SUMMARY
“I believe” Yes it can be just as simple as that or it can be more. Let’s look at the story of the two thieves crucified with Jesus:
Luke 23:32-55
New Living Translation
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, [a] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[b] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[c]
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Today you will be with me in paradise. That’s pretty simple isn’t it. Let’s examine, he said remember me when you come into your kingdom. Wow, he didn’t say “if”, he said “when”. That sounds like whole hearted faith and belief to me. I suspect, if a miracle occurred and the believing thief and Jesus were taken from the cross, healed and sent on their way. This thief would be a follower, disciple and whole hearted believer in Jesus Christ. The thief would be a changed man with a new spirit. You would probably have seen him showing up around the synagogue’s and spreading the word on the street. He would at least in some ways resemble a Holy person. I doubt he would still be hanging with all his old criminal friends and if he was, he would be an imager of Jesus Christ not a co-conspirator of evil thinking. Why? because at that moment his faith was not shallow, it was whole hearted. Talk about making it in the nick of time.
I also suspect that this was the first time that an opportunity for salvation had been so close. He openly admitted his guilt and his wish to change his ways (repentance) and he whole heartily believed.
We all have this same opportunity as the thief. We also will start sharing paradise immediately. The difference is this sinful body that we must deal with. No difference than the thief if he had been taken off the cross with his body alive.
So how important is it to know the Lord “whole heartedly” rather than just superficially:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Mt 7:21–24). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Our various churches and religions like to use John 3:16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” It is a beautiful verse and certainly helps put people in the pews because it asks so little. There could be something to that, after all you have to start somewhere, but let us remember not to end there. For to help people understand, they need to know the whole chapter. The church of Jesus Christ is a church of believers. A shallow believer is still important as they are trying to find the trail. Perhaps as believers we can be trail markers for them. Pointing in the direction, being open to questions and doing our best as image reflectors. Being a believer while in the body takes effort. Read about Simon Peter if you have doubts.
The journey (while in the body) can be very short as for the thief or very long as for the apostle’s but know this: When you reach the end of the journey, you will be going to meet your Lord and dearest friend and confidant. A friend that you Love and trust so completely that you obey without argument when he gives you direction. A friend that Loves you so much that he trusts you with his body. Anything is possible. This won’t be a search, as you already know him. It will be a homecoming.