John 3:16-21 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John 3:16 needs to be read and understood in light of all of John 3, and all of Jesus’ teachings, and the teachings of his NT apostles, and in light of the meaning of the word “belief,” and with the proper verb tense of that word, too, etc. For I think this is one of the largest misinterpreted Scriptures in the Bible regarding the gospel of our salvation. And it is one of the most widely used when people present the gospel of our salvation to other people. But when used wrongly, it can lead many people to hell on the hope of heaven.
For this should read “that everyone who is believing in him may not perish…” So, this is an active and an ongoing faith. It is a faith which is being put into practice in our lives and it is not lip service only. And this word “faith” means to be persuaded, in this case to be persuaded by God, and if persuaded by God, it is going to align with the divine character and will of God. And it will be obedient to the will of God for our lives, according to God’s Word. For this faith is of God, it is gifted to us by God, and it is not of our own doing.
[Hebrews 12:1-2; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; Ephesians 2:8-10]
So, what does God persuade us to do with regard to this faith? He persuades us as to his holiness and righteousness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of (turn away from) our sins to now follow Jesus Christ in obedience to his commands in holy living (Romans 1:18-32; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).
And so we have to read more than just John 3:16 to get the full message of what constitutes genuine faith and genuine salvation from sin, and which results in eternal life with God. For Jesus said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one DOING the will of God the Father in heaven. And he said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26).
And then if you read the last verse in John 3 (vs. 36), you will learn that the one believing in the Son has eternal life, but the one not obeying the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. For all throughout the New Testament Jesus and his NT apostles taught faith as obedience and disobedience as unbelief. For if sin is what we practice (what we obey) and if righteousness and obedience to God are not what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God regardless of what our lips profess.
[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
And then read verses 19-21 here. They teach us that everyone who does (practices) wicked (evil) things hates the light (God/Jesus, truth, the gospel) and will not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But those who come to the light are those who are practicing the truth, that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. And Paul taught that the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (see Romans 8:1-14; cf. Romans 6:1-23).
So, you can’t just say, “I believe in Jesus,” and then assume that all your sins are forgiven, that you will not perish, and that you will have eternal life with God. For genuine faith in Jesus Christ is persuaded by God and it is not of our own doing, and it is proved genuine by the things that we do. And the Scriptures teach that it is those who follow the Lord in obedience, who live holy lives, and who do not walk in sin who have salvation from sin and eternal life with God. And those who walk in sin and do not obey the Lord, in practice, do not have eternal life, but the wrath of God is on them.
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg
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