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2008-11-13 – Steve Fontenot – John 3:16

// November 13th, 2008 // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

John 3:16

By Steve Fontenot

Benchley, November 13, 2008

• John 3:16
• This verse has been called the “golden text” of the Bible.
• Matthew 4:5-7?- just quoting scripture is not enough to get down to the truth.
  • The law of harmony must be applied to harmonize all the scriptures on a particular topic.
• This verse expresses God’s immense love for mankind and shows that the blessing of eternal life is available to all who believe.
• Ephesians 2:8-9?- salvation is by the grace of God.? It’s not something we can earn.
• If you are?a true believer, you can go to sleep at night without worrying about your fate.
• But what does “believe” mean in John 3:16?
  • The common interpretation is that you can be saved through simple belief alone.
  • The other view iis that belief involves serving God and everything that goes with that service.
  • “Believe” here is a synecdoche.
  • Acts 11:18?- The same figure of speech is used here.
  • John 3:14-15?- To live when bitten by the poisonous serpents, the Israelites had to believe and look on the bronze serpent.? “Believe” here means looking and believing.
  • Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16?- Taken together, these verses show that baptism is required for salvation.
  • Acts 2:38?- These believers were told to repent and be baptized.
  • Acts 22:16?- Saul was told to arise and be baptized.
  • I Peter 3:21?- Baptism saves.
  • James 2:14,24?- Faith without obedience means nothing!
  • Matthew 6:30; Hebrews 3:12; I John 2:16-17?- the dangers of unbelief
  • Romans 5:1; 6:3-7,17-18; 1:5; 16:26?- further examples of this figure of speech
  • Acts 4:4; 2:41; 5:14; 2:47,38,41?- When men believed, repentance and baptism were included.
  • Acts 16:31-34?- Belief here clearly includes baptism.
  • Acts 18:8
  • Hebrews 11:6