The ability to remember is a wonderful gift for both man and beast. Some animals are very difficult to trap if they have experienced a close call in the past, and human memory is essential to any kind of success in life. You are reading and understanding these words because God gave you the ability to remember.
But memorization has a downside. Many North American Sunday afternoon “couch potatoes” can tell you that John 3:16 is the verse citation displayed in the stands behind the end zone whenever a field goal is attempted, behind home plate during the World Series, or behind the goal of a televised basketball game. That fellow with the sign seems to be everywhere—but most cannot tell you what the verse says!
Some, however, go beyond remembering the sign. They can actually quote this “golden verse” verbatim, because they have heard it repeated enough times that it has somehow lodged in their brains. But can they explain in detail the meaning of John 3:16? Do they understand it in the context of the rest of the Bible?
The problem with memorization is that, once we learn something, our brains stash it away and concentrate on something new. We can pull up that piece of information and recite it, but our “thinking cap” has generally moved on to the next challenge. Such is the case with John 3:16.
In case your memory fails you, here is what it says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If you hear it often enough it will stick, but what does it mean, especially the part that says, “whoever believes in Him”?
Sadly, many people sincerely believe that all one has to do is “believe on Jesus” to be saved. Many professing Christians have the mistaken idea that “believing on Jesus” requires no other action on their part—that He has “done it all” for us, and that all we must do is profess Him. But notice Jesus’ own words in His unmistakeably clear statement: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21–23).
Similarly, how can we account for these words of Jesus Christ: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)? After making that statement, Jesus gave the parable contrasting one person who “hears My sayings and does them” with another who “heard and did nothing.” The first is like a man who builds his house by digging down to bedrock to lay the foundation. The latter is like a man who builds his house on the earth without a foundation (Luke 6:47–49). You probably already know what happens to the two houses when the heavy rains come. Only one is left standing—and it is not the one lacking a foundation!
The Importance of Belief
Jesus Himself tells us that we must not only hear His sayings—we must do them (v. 47)! He expects a personal response on our part to His sacrifice. Is that response accomplished by simply believing in Him? The answer is “yes, or no”—depending on how you understand belief. For sure, belief is an absolutely essential foundation if we hope to be given eternal life. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26).
Belief in His name is required to become a child of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). And: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
The Apostle Paul always seemed to be in some kind of trouble—and it was no different at Philippi. There, Paul and his companion Silas found themselves in jail, but God miraculously freed them. The distraught jailer, fearing his fate for having them escape, was ready to take his life when Paul stopped him. We do not know all that occurred that night, or what had occurred previously in the jailer’s life, but the fearful man asked this most important question in Acts 16:30: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The reply was simple and direct: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
So, it is evident that belief is central to salvation. But what kind of belief is being described in these and other similar passages? Is it the simple confession, “I believe”? Is it a matter of saying a pre-written prayer, perhaps what is known as the “sinner’s prayer”?
Acts 13:38–39 tells us that, “through this Man [Jesus Christ] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” But is belief simply an act of the intellect or the will? Paul seems to say otherwise when he writes, “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Romans 2:13).
Are these verses in Acts and Romans at odds with each other? Jesus tells us that the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), and these two verses are no exception. Notice that Paul does not say that we are justified by being doers of the law, but that “the doers of the law will be justified.” The law does not justify us. It teaches us the reason we need justification. It teaches us what sin is (1 John 3:4). Once we have sinned by breaking that law, it is through faith in the sacrifice of Christ that justification—forgiveness of past sins—takes place. The law defines sin. Faith in Christ’s sacrifice brings about justification.
This is summarized in Galatians 2:15–18: “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.”
What Kind of Belief?
When Paul says in this passage, “even we have believed in Christ Jesus,” what kind of belief is he describing? Scripture tells us that many believed in Jesus, but they were far from saved. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:23–25).
The Apostle John informs us that some believed in Him one moment, but wanted to kill Him the next: “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him” (John 8:30). But as He began to explain to them that they were in bondage to sin, they became offended. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, “You will be made free?”’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin’” (vv. 31–34).
Notice! People who only moments earlier were described as believing in Jesus Christ began to accuse Him of being illegitimate (v. 41), of being possessed by a demon (v. 48) and, finally, “Then they took up stones to throw at Him” (v. 59). Obviously, though they believed, something was missing. Was this an exception, or does the Bible tell us of other believers who came up short? Yes it does!
“Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42–43). Then there is the famous passage where James says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19).
Many today seek to disconnect belief from obedience, and faith from works. Continuing with James’ statement above, we read: “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (v. 20). Then, using the example of Abraham offering up his son Isaac, he says: “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (v. 22).
The book of Hebrews makes an airtight case that belief is connected to obedience and how we respond to various trials. Where faith is lacking, obedience is also lacking—and the results are disastrous. Paul even describes unbelief as coming from an evil heart. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). He then explains that we are to, “exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (v. 13).
Yes, sin is deceitful. As we are told, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Paul warns us not to make the same mistake ancient Israel made: “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?” (Hebrews 3:14–18). Then Paul sums up this passage by saying: “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (v. 19).
Belief and Obedience Connected
The Bible is adamant that belief and obedience are both necessary, and in fact are two sides of the same coin. True belief manifests itself in obedience.
Paul makes another powerful statement on this subject later in the letter to the Hebrews. Belief and faith are synonyms—they essentially convey the same meaning. When we believe something, we do so because faith says it is true; and we have faith because we believe something to be true. Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith chapter” because it records example after example of men and women who exercised faith in the face of trials and stress. It reminds us of Noah, of Abraham and Sarah, of Moses and of Rahab—all of whom overcame personal trials because their faith was rooted in the belief that God would bring to pass what He promised. As it says of Sarah, “she judged Him [God] faithful who had promised” (v. 11). And we are told of Moses, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (v. 27).
Not everyone is spared in this life, and this can pose challenges to our believing faith. “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy” (vv. 36–38). These men and women stared fear in the face and stood firm. Is it any wonder that faith is essential? “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (v. 6).
Other examples of believing faith are found in the book of Daniel. Who is not inspired by the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego standing up to Nebuchadnezzar? They faced immediate death by burning, but their belief in the supremacy and faithfulness of God gave them courage to act and to answer the king with these words: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:16–18).
How often must we choose between obeying God or trusting in ourselves and the sight of our eyes (2 Corinthians 5:7)? When God tells us, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” do we immediately obey Him, or do we rationalize around His command? Do we look at the fiery furnace of losing a job, of offending family and friends? Or, do we believe God and trust, in faith, that whatever He tells us to do will work out best in the end?
Do we really believe Jesus’ words, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). And do we believe Him when He said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love to a lesser degree, by comparison] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26)? Belief must be followed by action!
John 3:16 is truly the “golden verse” of the Bible. It is rich in meaning. It is a verse worth memorizing. But it is so much more than a mere “memory verse.” Millions who repeat its words superficially, without properly comprehending its full meaning, can be lulled into a false sense of security. Yes, the correct response to Christ’s sacrifice is to believe in Him as the true Savior and Messiah. But what does that belief entail? Do we want to be like the demons who believe but are lost through disobedience? Or, will we act on our belief, demonstrating by our actions that Christ is living within us? As James affirms, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). Do we have the faith to move mountains (Matthew 17:20)? Such faith is remarkable, but moving a mere mountain is nothing compared to the real reward of active believing faith—eternal life in the Kingdom of God, as a born member of the Family of God. Let us all strive to deepen our faith, and act on our belief!