Bible Study Theories on John 3:16-18

[TwoWitnesses]

Hello.

I was wondering if anyone can elaborate on the meaning of the parts of
John 3:16-18

Is this about the resurrection? I know someone who thinks that Jesus didn't really die, and so he wasn't really raised from the dead.

 

[felix]

Hello.

I was wondering if anyone can elaborate on the meaning of the parts of
John 3:16-18

Is this about the resurrection? I know someone who thinks that Jesus didn't really die, and so he wasn't really raised from the dead.

Everyone knows Christ died on the cross. But the real truth is not about this, but how long..

Muslims often believe and say that Jesus didn't die. But Christ Himself said He was dead in Rev 1:18. However, in Acts 2:24 death was not possible to hold Him. So, Christ really died but He wasn't really dead for a single moment. There is a big difference between didn't die and died for zero moments. I was struggling to understand how it could be, when I was able to visualize the following: A big elephant is pushed into a small cage. When the elephant entered, the cage broke. So, Did the elephant enter? yes. How long was the elephant inside the cage? zero moment. If Jesus didn't die, it's like the elephant didn't enter the cage. But our Lord died to be victorious over death like breaking the cage. There is a huge truth behind this.

Regarding John 3:16-18, When any Christian believes in Jesus Christ, God seals him with Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30) for the day of redemption, gives the Spirit of Christ (Gal 4:6) to adopt him as God's son. So, when we have the Spirit of Christ within us, death cannot hold us too. This is why Christ said, we will never face death (John 8:52) of we keep His Word.

So, all we require is His Spirit within us. To receive His Spirit, all we need to do is believe in Him (Acts 19:2).

John 3:16 is an amazing verse which contains the entire gospel within it.

 

[stovebolts]

John 3:16 - 18 has many layers.
This echo's Exodus in the sense that God claimed a nation as his Son (4:23). However, in this case Son is narrowed to the Messiah.

Also, John writes using a Jewish method of first mention. Thus, when you look at the first place in the Bible where the word love is used, it's found in this passage.

Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

This passage was understood in Jewish thought as a form of resurrection.


Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall your descendants be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from which also he received him in a figure.

If we look at verse 17:
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If we look at the incident at Mt. Sinai, we see that the Law was to save the people from their destructive lives. It was to show them how to live Godly lives and in a sense, it was their salvation. However, when the law was brought down off the mountain, instead of saving the people, it judged them as they broke their covenant with God (golden calf) and thus, what was to save them, actually condemned them. After this incident, the Law carried blessing and curses (Deut 28).

Vs 18 is pretty self explanatory.

As far as dying, I agree with Felix and would add that if one has been born of God and has been clothed with Christ in baptism, then one has already died and now lives the resureccted life. This is not to say that our bodies won't die, or that we won't receive a new body in the world to come. It is to say that we are now alive in Christ.

 

[TwoWitnesses]

Thanks so much for your reply and your help!

I'm wondering if belief in the resurrection and belief that Christ is an immortal spirit that can give salvation are kind of one and the same thing.


.

 

[stovebolts]

Well... Jesus was a man, and he died a physical death. But he also was raised from the grave in a physical body.

Please don't misunderstand me here, but it is possible to believe in Christ, and not have eternal life with Him. Scripture even states that the demons believe, yet they will not inherit eternal life. To believe in Christ, is also to believe in his Ideas.

Grace and Peace :yes

 

[TwoWitnesses]

Gotcha!

Yes, I know what you mean. There's a part that says "the demons believe, and they tremble," but of course we know that they don't follow his ways!

Thanks bro!

 

[TwoWitnesses]

Well... Jesus was a man, and he died a physical death. But he also was raised from the grave in a physical body.

Please don't misunderstand me here, but it is possible to believe in Christ, and not have eternal life with Him. Scripture even states that the demons believe, yet they will not inherit eternal life. To believe in Christ, is also to believe in his Ideas.

Grace and Peace :yes

Actually...I have another question about that now. Since demons and angels are preternatural beings, and have firsthand knowledge of the spiritual realm...isn't that a little like apples and oranges?

So if we exclude demons and angels...and consider only MEN (and WOMEN)...whome Christ actually came here to save....I pose the same question, is it possible that belief in Christ's resurrection and belief that Christ is an immortal spirit that can give salvation are kind of one and the same thing...for us men and women that is?

 

[TwoWitnesses]

Actually...I have another question about that now. Since demons and angels are preternatural beings, and have firsthand knowledge of the spiritual realm...isn't that a little like apples and oranges?

So if we exclude demons and angels...and consider only MEN (and WOMEN)...whome Christ actually came here to save....I pose the same question, is it possible that belief in Christ's resurrection and belief that Christ is an immortal spirit that can give salvation are kind of one and the same thing...for us men and women that is?

I wanted to add...that I've also never known anyone who believed he was raised from the dead, who didn't also believe in his salvation...is what I'm saying. And I'm wondering have you ever known anyone like that.

 

[Levi]

I wanted to add...that I've also never known anyone who believed he was raised from the dead, who didn't also believe in his salvation...is what I'm saying. And I'm wondering have you ever known anyone like that.

Salvation is in the belief:

Matthew 19
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.



If a person says that Jesus is the Messiah it is only by divine revelation and if a person can make that claim they will believe in the death and resurrection.


But he must also be born over water and the Spirit before he can even 'see' the kingdom of God.


The parable of the sower is an interesting example of people believing but not being saved as a result.


There are also plenty of apostasy's that lead people astray by changing the divine nature of Jesus, they say that He is not actually the Son of God but they still espouse the death and resurrection but the also put conditions on salvation that are not Biblical



There are teachings out there that will skew the truth in all sorts of directions.


So in short yes I believe there are people out there who believe that Jesus was crucified and resurrected but that their salvation is in some way earned asides from that fact.


In order to truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah a person must believe from Moses to Jesus.


Jesus said this: "if a man does not believe in Moses or the prophets he will not believe in me"



I know for a fact that I believed in the death and resurrection but I was not saved until some 27 years later when I was born again!

 

[Sinthesis]

Everyone knows Christ died on the cross. But the real truth is not about this, but how long..

Muslims often believe and say that Jesus didn't die. But Christ Himself said He was dead in Rev 1:18. However, in Acts 2:24 death was not possible to hold Him. So, Christ really died but He wasn't really dead for a single moment. There is a big difference between didn't die and died for zero moments. I was struggling to understand how it could be, when I was able to visualize the following: A big elephant is pushed into a small cage. When the elephant entered, the cage broke. So, Did the elephant enter? yes. How long was the elephant inside the cage? zero moment. If Jesus didn't die, it's like the elephant didn't enter the cage. But our Lord died to be victorious over death like breaking the cage. There is a huge truth behind this.

Excellent

 

[Enow]

I'm wondering if belief in the resurrection and belief that Christ is an immortal spirit that can give salvation are kind of one and the same thing..

It is by believing in Jesus Christ is how one is saved.

The fact that the sinner is believing is a work of God, Himself.

John 6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 3:18He 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. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 6:38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

 

[TwoWitnesses]

Salvation is in the belief:

Matthew 19
15 “But what about you?†he asked. “Who do you say I am?†16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.â€
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.



If a person says that Jesus is the Messiah it is only by divine revelation and if a person can make that claim they will believe in the death and resurrection.


But he must also be born over water and the Spirit before he can even 'see' the kingdom of God.


The parable of the sower is an interesting example of people believing but not being saved as a result.


There are also plenty of apostasy's that lead people astray by changing the divine nature of Jesus, they say that He is not actually the Son of God but they still espouse the death and resurrection but the also put conditions on salvation that are not Biblical



There are teachings out there that will skew the truth in all sorts of directions.


So in short yes I believe there are people out there who believe that Jesus was crucified and resurrected but that their salvation is in some way earned asides from that fact.


In order to truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah a person must believe from Moses to Jesus.


Jesus said this: "if a man does not believe in Moses or the prophets he will not believe in me"



I know for a fact that I believed in the death and resurrection but I was not saved until some 27 years later when I was born again!

Very excellent work! Thank you!!
(sorry to be gone so long by the way!)

 

[TwoWitnesses]

It is by believing in Jesus Christ is how one is saved.

The fact that the sinner is believing is a work of God, Himself.

John 6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 3:18He 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. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 6:38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

But the highlighted parts of this couldn't be quite true...as in the case of Paul the apostle, who didn't believe, but he came to believe later, after he saw a vision that proved it to him. So this is a weird verse...as if to say that if you don't believe initally, you can never come to believe...

 

[Theodore A. Jones]

Everyone knows Christ died on the cross. But the real truth is not about this, but how long..

Muslims often believe and say that Jesus didn't die. But Christ Himself said He was dead in Rev 1:18. However, in Acts 2:24 death was not possible to hold Him. So, Christ really died but He wasn't really dead for a single moment. There is a big difference between didn't die and died for zero moments. I was struggling to understand how it could be, when I was able to visualize the following: A big elephant is pushed into a small cage. When the elephant entered, the cage broke. So, Did the elephant enter? yes. How long was the elephant inside the cage? zero moment. If Jesus didn't die, it's like the elephant didn't enter the cage. But our Lord died to be victorious over death like breaking the cage. There is a huge truth behind this.

Regarding John 3:16-18, When any Christian believes in Jesus Christ, God seals him with Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30) for the day of redemption, gives the Spirit of Christ (Gal 4:6) to adopt him as God's son. So, when we have the Spirit of Christ within us, death cannot hold us too. This is why Christ said, we will never face death (John 8:52) of we keep His Word.

So, all we require is His Spirit within us. To receive His Spirit, all we need to do is believe in Him (Acts 19:2).

John 3:16 is an amazing verse which contains the entire gospel within it.

(John 8:52) cf. if we keep His Word.

 

[Theodore A. Jones]

Salvation is in the belief:

Matthew 19
15 “But what about you?†he asked. “Who do you say I am?†16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.â€
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.



If a person says that Jesus is the Messiah it is only by divine revelation and if a person can make that claim they will believe in the death and resurrection.


But he must also be born over water and the Spirit before he can even 'see' the kingdom of God.


The parable of the sower is an interesting example of people believing but not being saved as a result.


There are also plenty of apostasy's that lead people astray by changing the divine nature of Jesus, they say that He is not actually the Son of God but they still espouse the death and resurrection but the also put conditions on salvation that are not Biblical



There are teachings out there that will skew the truth in all sorts of directions.


So in short yes I believe there are people out there who believe that Jesus was crucified and resurrected but that their salvation is in some way earned asides from that fact.


In order to truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah a person must believe from Moses to Jesus.


Jesus said this: "if a man does not believe in Moses or the prophets he will not believe in me"



I know for a fact that I believed in the death and resurrection but I was not saved until some 27 years later when I was born again!

cf. "Your accuser is Moses on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are going to believe what I say."

 

[Theodore A. Jones]

But the highlighted parts of this couldn't be quite true...as in the case of Paul the apostle, who didn't believe, but he came to believe later, after he saw a vision that proved it to him. So this is a weird verse...as if to say that if you don't believe initally, you can never come to believe...

"It is by believing in Jesus Christ is how one is saved."
"But he that doeth truth" is in contrast to only believing.

 

[Theodore A. Jones]

Well... Jesus was a man, and he died a physical death. But he also was raised from the grave in a physical body.

Please don't misunderstand me here, but it is possible to believe in Christ, and not have eternal life with Him. Scripture even states that the demons believe, yet they will not inherit eternal life. To believe in Christ, is also to believe in his Ideas.

Grace and Peace :yes

Bolts? Isn't it his idea that when asked "Give to the one who asked you" is the directive? What about it? Are you in the classification of 'each man, too'?

 

[Adullam]

Everyone knows Christ died on the cross. But the real truth is not about this, but how long..

Muslims often believe and say that Jesus didn't die. But Christ Himself said He was dead in Rev 1:18. However, in Acts 2:24 death was not possible to hold Him. So, Christ really died but He wasn't really dead for a single moment. There is a big difference between didn't die and died for zero moments. I was struggling to understand how it could be, when I was able to visualize the following: A big elephant is pushed into a small cage. When the elephant entered, the cage broke. So, Did the elephant enter? yes. How long was the elephant inside the cage? zero moment. If Jesus didn't die, it's like the elephant didn't enter the cage. But our Lord died to be victorious over death like breaking the cage. There is a huge truth behind this.

Regarding John 3:16-18, When any Christian believes in Jesus Christ, God seals him with Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30) for the day of redemption, gives the Spirit of Christ (Gal 4:6) to adopt him as God's son. So, when we have the Spirit of Christ within us, death cannot hold us too. This is why Christ said, we will never face death (John 8:52) of we keep His Word.

So, all we require is His Spirit within us. To receive His Spirit, all we need to do is believe in Him (Acts 19:2).

John 3:16 is an amazing verse which contains the entire gospel within it.

There is something in what you are saying. Keep in mind that it was only the mortal body of Jesus that expired.

But I agree that Jesus' death strained the reality of this present visible dimension and made a breakthrough into the heavenly realm.

So the cross of Christ becomes the portal into eternity for those who pass through it. The cross becomes the new "tree of life".

 

[stovebolts]

Bolts? Isn't it his idea that when asked "Give to the one who asked you" is the directive? What about it? Are you in the classification of 'each man, too'?

I suppose so Theodore, and sorry for the late reply, I just saw this. Anyway, would you bring your point around for me?

Thanks! :waving