John 3:16

[DD2007]

I agree. You and I may know that, but there are a lot of people who don’t. For those that don’t, it’s important to have the other verse also.

I think it’s important to have all the verses of all the books.

However, this one, John 3:16 does stand out as a solid statement from God. It is very deep and encompasses the entire gospel.

 

[MDK]

I don’t see why this verse needs explaination. It’s quite well written. It’s a great verse to just meditate on.

I’ll try to be fairly quiet while you’re meditating… however, from your meditation, does this verse tell us that even Satan and the evil spirits will find salvation in Heaven, since they too know and believe that Jesus is the Messiah?

 

[MDK]

Obeying comes naturally from believing. If you actually believe (trust) the word of someone you will natually act upon it. To not obey would mean for that moment you didn’t obey you found reason to judge your own desires a better option to follow than the will of the one you claim to trust.

I’m still trying to be quiet while you meditate… similarly, since you tell us that obeying comes naturally from believing, then when do Satan and the evil spirits start to obey, since they believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and as we know some are recorded in Scriptures as already having confessed that Jesus is the Messiah? So, all we have to do is say that we believe in Jesus, and since believing is defined as trust, and obedience naturally follows from belief (which is trust), then for as long as one says that they believe, which means they trust, they will naturally then obey? I hope that’s not too much to disturb your meditation.

 

[DD2007]

I’m still trying to be quiet while you meditate… similarly, since you tell us that obeying comes naturally from believing, then when do Satan and the evil spirits start to obey, since they believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and as we know some are recorded in Scriptures as already having confessed that Jesus is the Messiah? So, all we have to do is say that we believe in Jesus, and since believing is defined as trust, and obedience naturally follows from belief (which is trust), then for as long as one says that they believe, which means they trust, they will naturally then obey? I hope that’s not too much to disturb your meditation.

Satan and the evil spirits don’t trust the Lord. Therefore they don’t believe in Him. They believe He exists but have no faith in Him.

Trusting the Lord is believing in the Lord.

 

[MDK]

Satan and the evil spirits don’t trust the Lord. Therefore they don’t believe in Him. They believe He exists but have no faith in Him.

Trusting the Lord is believing in the Lord.

Sorry, don’t mean to disturb your meditation… didn’t you tell us that believing and trusting are the same thing earlier? So, now, we have it shown where one can believe without trusting, so they’re not the same. But, if one trusts then that means they believe as well. I thought you said “I don’t see why this verse needs explanation.” Hmmm. Is there any other perspective needed, or is that it… that we say we trust Christ meaning that we believe Him, then we’re saved?

 

[DD2007]

Sorry, don’t mean to disturb your meditation… didn’t you tell us that believing and trusting are the same thing earlier? When meditating, do we now separate belief and trust into different things, perhaps?

Not at all. I obviously believe you exist. If I tell you I believe in you I am telling you I trust you, I have faith in you.

You sound like you don’t like the idea of meditating on John 3:16?

 

[MDK]

Not at all. I obviously believe you exist. If I tell you I believe in you I am telling you I trust you, I have faith in you.

You sound like you don’t like the idea of meditating on John 3:16?

Well, no offense, but you may not understand what I meant. For instance, why shouldn’t people think about the Lord’s Word?

So, can you tell your child that you believe in them, that they exist and can for instance play baseball, but not trust them with your credit card?

 

[DD2007]

Well, no offense, but you may not understand what I meant. For instance, why shouldn’t people think about the Lord’s Word?

So, can you tell your child that you believe in them, that they exist and can for instance play baseball, but not trust them with your credit card?

The Lord is a lot different than a child. When we trust the Lord we believe in and put our faith in him. We trust him to save our souls from hell. We believe he is who he said he is and he will do what he said he will do. We trust in his word.

 

[MDK]

The Lord is a lot different than a child. When we trust the Lord we believe in and put our faith in him. We trust him to save our souls from hell. We believe he is who he said he is and he will do what he said he will do. We trust in his word.

Yes, of course He is not a child (even though He humbly entered humanity as One), but that wasn’t the point…, the meaning of words being discussed was. You had graciously proceeded to tell us your definitions of the words believe and trust… and then I asked about these words in usage, to look at these words relative to each other. You told us that one can believe without trusting, but not trust without believing. Didn’t you also tell us that this was very easy to understand, essentially obvious from looking at the well written words? Yet, I still don’t understand how you look at John 3:16, or what you believe that we as Christians allow in our minds while meditating to get the full richness of God’s Word. Since we’re all supposed to be one, as Christ asked, what does John 3:16 mean when meditating on it? Am I wrong about us needing to be one in Christ?

You’ve told us that one can believe without trusting, but not trust without believing. So, when we say that we trust in Jesus, this implies believing in Him… so that when we say that we trust Christ, that we believe Him, then we’re saved? Is that it… are we finished or is there more to understand about the phrase “believes in Him”? I thought you said “I don’t see why this verse needs explanation.” Hmmm. Since we’ve come this far, and learned that trust is also required in addition to belief, is there anything else to be understood by “believes in Him” as written in John 3:16 considering the entire context of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

 

[DD2007]

Yes, of course He is not a child (even though He humbly entered humanity as One), but that wasn’t the point…, the meaning of words being discussed was. You had graciously proceeded to tell us your definitions of the words believe and trust… and then I asked about these words in usage, to look at these words relative to each other. You told us that one can believe without trusting, but not trust without believing. Didn’t you also tell us that this was very easy to understand, essentially obvious from looking at the well written words? Yet, I still don’t understand how you look at John 3:16, or what you believe that we as Christians allow in our minds while meditating to get the full richness of God’s Word. Since we’re all supposed to be one, as Christ asked, what does John 3:16 mean when meditating on it? Am I wrong there?

You’ve told us that one can believe without trusting, but not trust without believing. So, when we say that we trust in Jesus, this implies implies believing in Him… so that when we say that we trust Christ, that we believe Him, then we’re saved? Is that it… are we finished or is there more to understand about the phrase “believes in Him”? I thought you said “I don’t see why this verse needs explanation.” Hmmm. Since we’ve come this far, and learned that trust is also required in addition to belief, is there anything else to be understood by “believes in Him” as written in John 3:16 considering the entire context of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

In no way shape or form am I arguing with you on any point. I just posted John 3:16 and said that I think believe and trust are one and the same…etc after I was asked what believe meant. I made no comments on it at all I simply responded to the questions that people asked me. I just think its a good one to think about. I’m not trying to teach you what it means.

It’s a wonderful verse to think about:

John 3:16

[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is a very amazing thought that God did that for us when he didn’t have to.

 

[MDK]

In no way shape or form am I arguing with you on any point. I just posted John 3:16 and said that I think believe and trust are one and the same…etc after I was asked what believe meant. I made no comments on it at all I simply responded to the questions that people asked me. I just think its a good one to think about. I’m not trying to teach you what it means.

It’s a wonderful verse to think about:

John 3:16

[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is a very amazing thought that God did that for us when he didn’t have to.

So, do you just like the words such that the words in themselves are beautiful or the arrangement of the words is beautiful? Or, do you believe what the passage means to you is beautiful? If it is the meaning, then that’s what we’re all asking about, why you would be driven to post this on a forum because you believe it’s beautiful, and then not be willing to share that beauty you feel…, why it’s beautiful to you. We Christians really like meaning, and to know Christ in the fullest way possible.

I believe that the entire Gospel of Christ is really beautiful… knowing as much as we can about Christ is beautiful…

What we had asked is what “believes in Him” is supposed to mean to all of us, in the full sense. What does it mean to you, such that you felt compelled to post it here? How do we regard “believes in” when thinking about this passage? If we Christians are intended to be one, as Christ and the Father are one, shouldn’t we understand things the same? After all, there is no difference in understanding between the Father and the Son.

 

[Nicholas_II]

I trust my mom. doesnt mean I believe her to be the messiah. Can you expand on what you mean by trust. Can you expand on when trust isn’t believing and when believing isnt trusting?

Just so I can get a handle on when it is believing and trusting all at once!

thanks:thumbsup:

 

[MDK]

…It’s a wonderful verse to think about:

John 3:16

[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is a very amazing thought that God did that for us when he didn’t have to.

God didn’t have to create us, but He did that too. God’s revealed Word to us is a love letter to His family. What does that love letter mean to you, as one whom God created, specifically in regard to John 3:16? How do you respond to God in relation to this passage of Scripture?

 

[DD2007]

So, do you just like the words such that the words in themselves are beautiful or the arrangement of the words is beautiful? Or, do you believe what the passage means to you is beautiful? If it is the meaning, then that’s what we’re all asking about, why you would be driven to post this on a forum because you believe it’s beautiful, and then not be willing to share that beauty you feel…, why it’s beautiful to you. We Christians really like meaning, and to know Christ in the fullest way possible.

 

[Shin]

Believe in Him means to believe all of what He said, and abide by it because you believe it.

If you do not do as He tells you, you do not believe His Word. Because if you believed, you would know there is no other way for you to live in Heaven.

‘If we knew at what time we were to depart from this world, we would be able to select a season for pleasure and another for repentance. But God, who has promised pardon to every repentant sinner, has not promised us tomorrow.’

Pope St. Gregory the Great

 

[DD2007]

I trust my mom. doesnt mean I believe her to be the messiah. Can you expand on what you mean by trust. Can you expand on when trust isn’t believing and when believing isnt trusting?

Just so I can get a handle on when it is believing and trusting all at once!

thanks:thumbsup:

I just meant trusting Christ to be what he said he is and to do what he said he would.

There was a Christian in New York once named Fulton Sheen. He said one must either believe that Christ is who he said he is or believe that he was possibly the most vile liar ever.

If we believe he is who he says he is and we trust him at his word there is every reason to believe that we will not perish but have everlasting life as the verse says. This leads to a fundamentaly change of heart through which we desire to follow him and do his will.

 

[DD2007]

Believe in Him means to believe all of what He said, and abide by it because you believe it.

If you do not do as He tells you, you do not believe His Word. Because if you believed, you would know there is no other way for you to live in Heaven.

‘If we knew at what time we were to depart from this world, we would be able to select a season for pleasure and another for repentance. But God, who has promised pardon to every repentant sinner, has not promised us tomorrow.’

Pope St. Gregory the Great

Very good explaination.

 

[MDK]

Is all of the above an option?

Of course it is. Please also understand that the meaning is what we’ve expressed interest in here.

This scripture has been my favorite one my entire life. It’s the first one I remember memorizing as a child. I thik that it is the central summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That’s very nice, and it brings back good memories of comfort.

I agree. The limitations on the forum won’t let me post the entire thing at once though.

Of course. And besides, no one was asking you to, so no pressure from anyone to even consider doing this.

To me it means the world. What compelled me to post it here is the thought that it might make someone happy to remember what is said here.

I believe that understanding the things of the spirit only come from God. That is why there are athiest college professors all over the world that teach the bible as an interesting text from a mythical religion. No one can come to Christ unless it is granted him by the father.

So, you’re simply posting a copy of what you consider essentially your comfortable security blanket, believing that others would feel good being reminded of and feel similar that it’s their security blanket as well? If you would be so kind, would you please expound on why it is a “security blanket” to you… what it means to you. If you have loved it from Childhood, then you may have come to realize a very rich meaning to share with others, that they may find interesting. In other words, how do you respond to God, given that He has told you this? What does it mean that you need to do, as a result of John 3:16… simply believe in Him (as in have faith), trust and believe, trust and believe and do something else? What is your response to God’s Word here?

If you understand these things from the Spirit, then please share that with us. Can we as Christians, not discuss these? Are we supposed to go around the forum just posting Scripture, without discussing what it means? I thought everyone here can read Scriptures, and post a quote directly from Scriptures. What is valuable is discussing the meaning(s).

 

[MDK]

Very good explaination.

Yes, and the post you agreed with includes doing something, in addition to trusting and believing… So, you believe we must do something as well? So, I guess it’s not really a case where this verse needed no further explanation. The passage could easily be the topic of an entire book, or several.

 

[DD2007]

So, you’re simply posting a copy of what you consider essentially your comfortable security blanket, believing that others would feel good being reminded of and feel similar that it’s their security blanket as well? If you would be so kind, would you please expound on why it is a “security blanket” to you… what it means to you. If you have loved it from Childhood, then you may have come to realize a very rich meaning to share with others, that they may find interesting. In other words, how do you respond to God, given that He has told you this? What does it mean that you need to do, as a result of John 3:16… simply believe in Him (as in have faith), trust and believe, trust and believe and do something else? What is your response to God’s Word here?

If you understand these things from the Spirit, then please share that with us. Can we as Christians, not discuss these? Are we supposed to go around the forum just posting Scripture, without discussing what it means? I thought everyone here can read Scriptures, and post a quote directly from Scriptures. What is valuable is discussing the meaning(s).

I think that if you’re concerned at all about your soul it is evidence that you have been touched by grace. The scripture has meaning for you. Discuss whatever you would like. Hopefully about John 3:16.

I think it is a great comfort to know that we have a loving God.

On a side note Scott Hahn pointed out in one of his books that when Abraham was on Moriah where he was going to sacrifice Issac and the Lord stopped him. Issac had asked where the ram was to be sacrificed. Abraham responded, “The Lord will provide”

Hahn said this was a forshadowing of God sacrificing His own son not far from that very spot thousands of years in the future.

To me it’s almost like the entire bible branches out from this verse.