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