Ref: New Interpretation of John 3:16

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In a message dated 97-07-10 12:58:00 EDT, you write:

<< About on or in,
  "in" is different from "on,>>

Me:
In many cases this is true; but not when talkng about "believing in" or
believing on"
Check out the original Greek New Testament; they are written *exactly* the
same.

You:
<< John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
 believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
 name of the only begotten Son of God.
 I *believed on* Him and then I *believed in* the *name* enough to obey His
 word. (Acts 2:38)>>

Me:
True, the scripture teaches to *believe in* his name, but the scripture also
teaches that we "believe on" his name.
I Jn 5:13
13	These things have I written unto you that *believe on* the *name* of the
Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
*believe on* the *name* of the Son of God.
(KJV)

 If there is a difference in "believing in" and "believing on" the Lord, why
would Jesus teach that we have *eternal life* if we "believe in" (John 3:16)
or "believe on" him?


John 3:36
36	He that *believeth on* the Son *hath everlasting life*: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him.
(KJV)

John 6:47
47	Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that *believeth on* me hath
*everlasting life*.
(KJV)

John 3:16
16	For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever *believeth in* him should not perish, but have *everlasting life*.
(KJV)

There is *no difference* in *believing in* and *believing on* him. The final
result in both cases is *eternal life*. The scriptures said it, I didn't.


People who *believed on* him, received the Holy Ghost:
Acts 11:15-17
15	And as I began to speak, the *Holy Ghost fell on them*, as on us at the
beginning.
16	Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed
baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17	Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto *us*, who
*believed on* the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
(KJV)


The apostles taught people to "believe on" him to be saved.
Acts 16:31
31	And they said, *Believe on* the Lord Jesus Christ, and *thou shalt be
saved*, and thy house.
(KJV)


Acts 16:30-33
30	And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be *saved*?
31	And they said, *Believe on* the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou *shalt be
saved*, and thy house.
32	And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house.
33	And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and
was *baptized*, he and all his, straightway.
(KJV)


People who *believed on* him, as they were told by Paul the apostle, were
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and received the Holy Ghost, speaking
with other tongues.

Acts 19:4-6
4	Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying
unto the people, that they should *believe on* him which should come after
him, that is, *on Christ Jesus*.
5	When they heard this, they were *baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus*.
6	And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the *Holy Ghost came on them*;
and they *spake with tongues*, and prophesied.
(KJV)

Once again, I must repeat that our emphasis should not be on "in" or "on"
alone, but on "believing". Somehow it appears that some of us have decided
that "believing on" the Lord is not the same as "believing in" him, even
though the scriptures teach that they are one and the same. 

A quick summary of what *the scriptures* teach regarding this discussion:

The scriptures teach that we are to *believe in*  Jesus Christ; they also
teach that we are to *believe on* him. 

The scriptures teach that we are to *believe in* the name of Jesus (John
3:18); they also teach we are to *believe on* his name (1 John 5:13). 

The scriptures teach that the result of *believing in* him is eternal life
(John 3:16); they also teach that *believing on* him results in eternal life
(John 3:36, 6:47). 

Those who believe in him were baptized in his name , and filled with the Holy
Ghost; so were those who *believed on* him (Acts 19:4-6).

Paul the apostle preached to *believe on * the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be *saved* (Acts 16-31).

Paul the apostle referred to the church ("us") as those who had *believed on*
him, and had received the Holy Ghost (Acts 11:17)

The list of scriptures here is quite incomplete, since a complete listing of
the scriptures from the King James Version of The Holy Bible that
substantiate that *believing in* and *believing on* are one and the same, is
too exhaustive to be included here in its entirety.

Remember, *believing* (in or on) Jesus is a *biblical* belief, not to be
confused with what a *natural* man might think "belief" means.


BELIEF, BELIEVE, BELIEVERS 

	1. pisteuo ^4100^, "to believe," also "to be persuaded of," and hence, *"to
place confidence in*, to trust," signifies, IN THIS SENSE OF THE WORD,
*RELIANCE UPON*, **NOT MERE CREDENCE**.

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

If a person *merely* believes that Jesus existed, or even believes that he
died on the cross, he does not "believe on" the Lord Jesus in the sense that
the Bible teaches, until he has *full confidence* in him, as *personal* Lord
and Saviour. 

Believing (in or on) the Lord will result in repentance, baptism in Jesus'
name, and receiving the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues. The Bible,
Jesus Christ, Paul and the other Apostles said it, I didn't. 


Pastor Jarvis