Once again, let’s make sure that we are familiar with the passage of Scripture that demands our attention:   

“For God so loved the world that He have His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Last week, we noticed that some red-letter translations of John show Jesus speaking these words, while other red-letter translations do not use red, but use black letters, indicating that this is likely John’s commentary on Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus. In either case, this verse is still “inspired” by God, whether spoken by Jesus or commented upon by John.

John (or Jesus) made it abundantly clear that “whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” I want us to dig into just what it means to “believe” in Him. It’s a favorite word of John, and he uses it ninety-eight times in his Gospel.

The word “believe” means to “trust” and to have “confidence in” and “assurance of.” And, of course, the focal point of that “belief” or “faith” is not just a theological concept, but Jesus Himself. But there is something interesting about these two words, “believe” and “faith.” Let’s see what they are.

The Greek word for “faith” is “pistis,” and it is a noun, generally referring to “something” in which we place our trust and confidence. It has to do with the content of our faith, which is the truth about Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection, and that the shedding of His blood on the cross that pays the penalty for our sins. Let’s look at a few verses from Paul’s writings that will help us understand this point. The first verse is from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia where Paul used “pistis” three times in this one verse:

“Knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith (pistis) in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith (pistis) in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith (pistis) in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

And this is just one example. Paul used the same word pistis in other letters as well,

“For by grace are you saved through faith (pistis), and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith (pistis), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom we have gained access by faith (pistis) into this grace in which we now stand…” (Romans 5:1-2).

And Peter admonished his readers to “…stand firm in the faith (pistis)  (1 Peter 5:9).

Throughout the New Testament, “faith” (pistis) is used as a noun, and it refers to something that we are to believe and place our trust in.

But here is an amazing truth – in John’s Gospel he never once used the word “pistis” for “faith,” but the word “pisteuo,” for “believe.” Yes, “pistis” is the root of “pisteuo,” however, John used the word “pisteuo” throughout his Gospel, and it is always a verb, not a noun. A verb indicates action, and it points to a Person whom we are to engage with follow. Furthermore, it usually occurs in the present tense, which indicates “continuous action.”

But that’s not all. In John’s Gospel, the word “pisteuo”  is usually followed by the word “eis,” which can mean “in,” as our Bible’s most often translate it, or “into” which is actually the primary meaning of this little word. This means that in the majority of cases in John’s Gospel, we are not just to “believe in” Him, but to “believe into” Him. And John continues using the word “pisteuo” followed by “eis” throughout the third chapter of John. Let’s check out verses 18 and 36,  

“Whoever believes (pisteuo) in (eis) Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe (pisteuo) stands condemned already because they have not believed (pisteuo) in (eis) the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).

“Whoever believes (pisteuo) in (eis) the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life…” (John 3:36).

Whenever John (or Jesus) tells us to “believe in” Him, he is telling us to lean into Him, to hold His hand and walk with Him. Again, in the present tense, it points to continuous action, a continuous activity that calls us to keep walking with Him as we develop our personal relationship with Him.

This truth is akin to “abiding” in Him, as we see in John 15 with Jesus’ illustration of the Vine and the branches, who are to “remain” in Him. It’s not “I believed and got saved,” but it’s “I am believing into and walking with Him each moment of each day” which is the evidence of one’s salvation. Throughout the Gospel of John, “believing” is not seen as a doctrine to be believed (pistis), but a Person to “believe into” and walk with each day.   

Finally, I should point out that John does use the noun “pistis” (“faith”). However, it is not found in his Gospel, but in his first letter,

“…for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith (pistis)” (1 John 5:4).

So, friends, let’s make certain that we believe in the “doctrine of salvation,” as well as in the Person upon whom our doctrine rests. And let’s also make sure that we “walk with” and “abide in” Him each and every day.

I hope this has been helpful. Blessings to all of you.