Whosoever BelievesWhosoever BelievesA Study of Faith Used

Comprehensively in the NT

Man’s Understanding of “Faith”

• “Faith” is often misunderstood in the religious world; many mean “faith only”

• Many read texts with “believe” (and no other actions) and conclude “faith only”

• What someone may believe alone is not acceptable (Jas. 2:19)

“Faith” in the NT

• Sometimes “faith” is used objectively: “the faith” (Acts 6:9; Eph. 4:5; Jude 3; etc)

• Sometimes “faith” is used subjectively:

– Specific belief (Jn. 8:24; 12:42; 1 Jn. 5:1, 5)

– Personal conscience (Rom. 14:1,2,22-23)

– Comprehensive obedience to all of Jesus’ words (Jn. 3:16)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• How or why can “faith” / “believe” be used broadly or comprehensively, to include specific actions?

• What makes this claim any different from the one who says that “faith” means “faith only”?

• Let us consider four facts about the use of faith/believe in the NT

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• First, faith/believe is sometimes found by itself in contexts where obedience to other things is taught

– Moses and the serpent (Jn. 3:14-18; Num. 21:9)

– Cornelius (Acts 10:43-48)

– The Jailor (Acts 16:30-34)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• First, “believe” is found by itself in contexts where obedience to other things is taught

– The Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:37-44)

– The Corinthians (Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:14)

– The Ephesians (Acts 19:2-5)

– The Romans (Rom. 10:4-21)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• Second, “believe” refers to believing the words of Jesus and keeping (obeying) them

– Man’s definition of believe: “Accept Jesus as your personal savior…”

– Jesus’ definition of believe: “how shall ye believe my words” (Jn. 5:47; see also 2:22; 3:12; 4:41, 50; 5:24, 38; 8:31; 11:48; 12:38; 14:10; 17:8)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• Second, “believe” refers to believing the words of Jesus and keeping them

– Jesus’ words include confession (Mt. 10:32), repentance (Lk. 13:5), and baptism (Jn. 3:5; Mk. 16:15-16)

– This is confirmed by cases of conversion found later (Jn. 17:20; Acts 4:4; 13:48; 15:7; 1 Cor. 15:2; Eph. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:13)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• Third, “believe”, by nature, is active and obedient to what/who is believed

– “By faith … offered … prepared an ark … obeyed … offered up Isaac … refused … compassed about … etc” (Heb. 11:4ff)

– Faith is active, working (Gal. 5:6; 1 Thess. 1:3; Jas. 1:3; 2:14-26; Rev. 2:19)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• Fourth, “believe”, like other actions, can be mentioned by itself with reference to salvation, but not “_____ alone”

– Gospel (Rom. 1:16)

– Blood (Rom. 5:9)

– Confess and believe (Rom. 10:9)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• Fourth, “believe”, like other actions, can be mentioned by itself with reference to salvation, but not “_____ alone”

– Call upon the name (Rom. 10:13)

– Grace through faith (Eph. 2:8)

– Grace (Tit. 2:11)

“Faith” Used Comprehensively

• Fourth, “believe”, like other actions, can be mentioned by itself with reference to salvation, but not “_____ alone”

– Mercy (Tit. 3:5)

– Implanted word (Jas. 1:21)

– Water baptism (1 Pet. 3:20-21)

What Have We Learned?

• “Believe”, like all Bible words, must be used and defined in accordance with scripture

• If you were taught wrong about “believe” (faith only), then you were not truly saved. Will you be among the “whosoever believes”, or will you be disobedient?

• After believing, what next (1 Jn. 3:23-24)?