John 3:16 is perhaps one of the most memorized and beautiful texts in the New Testament. This verse simply reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have everlasting life.” This is wonderful news, but who is this Jesus and why should I believe in him?
Believe in Who?
As the pages of the Gospel of John unfold, we find a marvelous story truly worthy of being called “Good News.” This Gospel begins by describing Someone called the Word. This Word is equated as being both with God and being God. John 1:1 This Word then became flesh and lived among humanity. John 1:14 We call this Word, who came from God, Jesus.
Throughout the Gospel story, Jesus is aware of where he has come from, why he is here and where he is going. John 8:14; 12:27; 13:1; 18:37 He tells those around him that he has come down from heaven to fulfill a mission, a mission which God has given him. John 3:13, 31-34; 4:34; 5:36; 6:33, 46, 51; 7:28-29; 8:23, 38; 12:27
Why should I consider listening to Jesus? Because he claims to know what is ultimately true since he is the one who came from God. He also claimed that his mission on earth has given our lives new possibilities: the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
But Is Jesus’ Message Credible?
Jesus’ miracles not only served as signs or billboards to confirm his message but they also revealed the truth about him. John 2:11, 23; 14:10-11; 21:30 Even those who opposed him were forced to confirm that he really did perform great wonders. Unable to deny Jesus’ miracles, the Rabbinic literature simply accredits his signs to the forces of evil. “Jesus the Nazarene practiced magic and led Israel astray.” b. sanhedrin 107b This should not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the New Testament. Even during Jesus' earthly ministry he was accused of doing his miracles by the forces of evil. Matthew 12:24.
Some listened to the message of the signs and followed Jesus; while for various motives, others chose to ignore or discredit the message of his miracles. John 3:2; 7:31; 9:16 11:47; 12:37 But no one could credibly claim that he did not perform them. Is the message credible? Yes.
What was Jesus’ Mission?
Jesus described his mission as speaking the words which God had given him and doing the Father’s will. John 3:34; 5:19-23, 30, 36; 6:38; 7:16; 8:29; 14:10, 24; 18:37 For Jesus, the climax of doing God’s will involved being lifted up on a cross to die as a sacrificial Lamb to take away the sins of the world that others might have everlasting life. John 1:29; 3:14-15; 10:10-18; 12:27, 32-33
In fact, the whole Gospel story continually builds up to the climatic moment when Jesus, as God’s Son, would die for humanity and thus fully reveal just how deep God’s love for humanity really is. John 2:4; 3:16; 7:30, 39; 8:20; 12:16, 23, 27-28; 13:1; 17:1
Jesus’ Message Reveals His Mission
Using a number of metaphors, Jesus described himself as being humanity’s sole means for obtaining eternal life. For example, he said that he was: the life, the resurrection, the light of the world, the truth, the only way to the Father, the bread from heaven that gives life to the world, the door, the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, and the true vine of the Father. John 6:33, 50-51; 8:12; 9:5;10:17-18;11:25-26;14:6;15:1-8
On other occasions, Jesus spoke of himself as being able to give life. For example, to a woman at a well Jesus offered her living water that would spring up into eternal life. John 4:10-14; 5:21 Similarly, he spoke of being able to free one from sin. John 8:31-32
All of these teachings point to the same basic message and mission. Jesus came to die that others might live. John 10:10
When Does This Life Start?
Those who believe in Jesus and keep his word never face the death associated in being guilty of sin, but have already crossed over into life. Of course, their bodies may die, but they do not face true death. John 5:24-26; 8:51; 11:25-26
Who Receives Life From Jesus?
Although Jesus’ gift of everlasting life is offered to all of humanity, not all of humanity will receive it. Those who reject the Son do not receive the blessings of Christ’s sacrifice. As a result, God’s wrath remains upon them because of their evil deeds. Such people will not see life. John 4:36; 8:24; 12:47-48 It is those who receive Jesus who gain what Jesus has offered.
What Will You Do With Jesus?
The critical question that faces each individual who hears the Gospel is, “what am I going to do with Jesus?” Will I reject Jesus and reject life? Or will I believe in Jesus and thus become a child of God?
During the first century A. D. there was no need to explain “how do I trust in Jesus.” That was common knowledge. Rather the question was “why should I trust in Jesus?” Accordingly, the Gospel of John does not set out to emphasize or explain in detail how one is supposed to believe Jesus. Instead this Gospel makes a powerful case for our need to believe in Jesus, that is, we desperately need to receive Jesus that we might live. John stated that this was his purpose for writing this Gospel. John 20:30-31.
From this Gospel it becomes clear that to believe in Jesus means more than simply accepting certain truths to be true about Jesus. For example, although some Jews believed Jesus’ message, he told them that they would really become his disciples if they held to/obeyed his teachings. John 8:31-32
If We Examine the Gospel of John, How Does Someone Believe in Jesus?
If you ask various people today, "how do I receive Jesus" you can obtain many different answers. What is interesting though is that everybody tells you to do something, even if that something is just saying a prayer. Rather than listen to the uninspired voices of today's chorus, why not listen to the original message?
Within the opening paragraphs of this Gospel, it becomes clear that those who are born of God are those who have “received” Jesus and who have “believed in the name of Jesus.” John 1:12-13 Therefore, when we understand how someone is born of God, one will have discovered what it takes to receive Jesus and to believe in his name.
In John 3:3-8, Jesus answers our question for us. This second birth which is necessary for entering into the kingdom of heaven requires a birth in water and a birth of spirit. The early church understood this as referring to a water immersion and a rebirth of spirit. In fact, this text was the favorite baptismal text of the early church. The Gospel of John then continued this theme of trusting in Jesus for salvation when it asserted that whoever believes in Jesus would not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Jesus would later tell his disciples just before ascending back to the Father, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
The Gospels portray believing in Jesus as accepting the message about Jesus as being true and then receiving Jesus by responding to his command to be baptized and thus being born from above, that is, born of God. Baptism is a confession of one’s faith, a trusting in Jesus which the Lord commanded that one might become a disciple.
Some other articles which may be interesting to you:
Using A Napkin to Tell the Gospel (Simple diagram illustrating the gospel message)A Relationship for Eternity God wants to be in a relationship with us
"John 3:16 Amen." An evaluation of two interpretations of John 3:16
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998