"That Ye Might Believe"
Darkness to Light: Part 20
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20: 30-31
My main goal in writing these articles is that dear reader, “ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
Going back through the Gospel of John, we see a call to action, a call or, better yet, a command to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, not just in a historical way but in a personal way, having personal faith in the finished work of the Son of God.
The word “believe” is mentioned 98 times in the Book of John, more than any other book of the Bible1. John portrays Jesus’ divine nature and brings it to the forefront to bring about belief and faith in his readers. That is why this book, I believe, is one of the best books of the Bible to show forth the willingness of Christ to save and that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked2.
The following are some of the verses in John where the term "believe" is used. I hope that as you read through this list, you will begin to see a loving God and that you are commanded to believe in His Son!
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. -John 1:7
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: -John 1:12
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. -John 2:22-23
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? -John 3:12
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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. -John 3:15-16
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. -John 3:18
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” -John 3:36
From that city, many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” -John 4:39
And many more believed because of his own word;
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
-John 4:41-42
Then said Jesus unto him, except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
-John 4:48
Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. -John 4:50
So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. -John 4:53
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. -John 5:24
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
-John 5:36-40,44
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
-John 5:46-47
Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” -John 6:28-29
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
-John 6:35-36
And 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 6:40
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
-John 6:47
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
-John 6:69
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
-John 7:38-39
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. -John 8:24
As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; -John 8:30-31
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
-John 9:35-38
If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
I and my Father are one.
-John 10:24b-30
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. -John 10:37-38
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God
-John 11:25-27a
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
-John 12:36,44-50
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. -John 14:1
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
-John 14:10-12
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. -John 16:27
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
-John 17:20-21
And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. -John 19:35
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
-John 20:27
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. -John 20:29
The command is clear… BELIEVE. Believe in Jesus, that He is the Christ, the risen Son of God. Only by placing your faith in Him can you have peace with God.
Dear unconverted reader, these verses do apply to you. They are put in the Bible so that you may know God’s will for your life. You may argue these are often taken out of context, or they are only addressing certain people, or they only apply to God’s people. No, dear reader, they are for you and to you, wicked wretched sinner though you are. They are words from a loving God to believe in His Son, who He sent into this world to die for your sins. Believe that! Believe and live!
https://www.monergism.com/key-words-gospel-john
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekial 33:11