The Protestants’ View of: John 3:16 is WRONG
JOHN 3:16 STATES:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (New International Version).
Many people professing to be “Christians” consider this verse to be among the most important passages in the Bible, such that they have even memorized it and may readily recite it completely if asked to do so. After all, for “many Christians,” the verse “serves as a thesis statement of their faith,” according to dictionary.com.
But in which believer will that promise of Christ be fulfilled? What does believing in Christ entail?
A PROTESTANT PRINCIPLE
Citing John 3:16, many have concluded that a person may attain salvation by merely believing or having faith in Christ. This concept ― the Sola Fide or ‘Faith-Alone’ ― is upheld by Protestant denominations:
“Protestant Principles
“1. Justification by faith in Christ. Man can be saved only by faith in Christ, not by good works. Good works are the outgrowth of faith in Christ.”
(Reference: 20 Centuries of Christianity, p. 32, Emphasis Mine)
According to the Protestants, people can be justified and be saved, not through their good works, but:
“…by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.”
(Reference: A Time to Unite, p. 64)
For them, good works are merely the outgrowth or just a product of having faith in Christ. Moreover, they believe that:
“Not by church membership nor by a righteous life can you be saved, but only by trusting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”
(Reference: Witnessing to the Cults, p. 123, Emphasis Mine)
And so, many have embraced the notion that they will be saved as long as they have faith in Christ and accept Him as their Lord and “Personal Savior.” They think that being affiliated to any religious organization is unnecessary. They even reference John 3:16 as the supposed basis that believing or having faith is the sole requirement to be saved. However, is it true that by merely having faith in Christ, one will already receive salvation and life everlasting come Judgment Day? The Holy Scriptures will enlighten us on who among those who believe in Christ are His true believers; thus will undoubtedly not perish but have eternal life.
TRUE BELIEVERS PROVE THEIR FAITH
The apostles did not in any way teach that faith alone is enough to save man. Apostle James asked this rhetorical question, thus:
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?“
(Reference: James 2:14 New King James Version, Emphasis Mine)
Certainly, Apostle James was making a point that a person would not profit or benefit from having faith without works and that faith alone could not save anyone. According to him, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17 NKJV). Something that is dead cannot do anything, let alone save a person on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, as Apostle James explicitly taught, “faith without deeds is useless” (James 2:20 NIV).
A true believer in Christ possesses not that kind of faith but the one that is made perfect through works:
“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?“
(Reference: James 2:22 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Indeed, it is easy for anyone to say that he has faith in Christ. However, simply believing in Christ does not make a person a true believer. While believing in Christ is essential, one must show or prove through works that he truly does (James 2:18), since a person “is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24 NKJV). However, this should not be misconstrued that faith in Christ can be coupled with just any deed or work.
TRUE BELIEVERS OBEY CHRIST'S TEACHING
The Savior Himself categorically teaches about what people should do for them to be counted among His true believers:
“So Jesus said to those who believed in him, ‘If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples.”
(Reference: John 8:31 Good News Bible, Emphasis Mine)
In this passage, the Lord Jesus Christ was talking to the Jews who already believed in Him. But notice that even so, they were not counted among Christ’s true disciples. In fact, He even taught them how they would become His true disciples―that is, by obeying His teaching. Hence, those who truly believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior do the things that He commands (Luke 6:46). On the other hand, those who merely claim to be of Christ or merely profess to be Christians but do not obey His teachings are―as the apostles described them bluntly―liars:
“Someone may say, ‘I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.’ But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar.”
(Reference: I John 2:4 Living Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Definitely, liars will not be saved nor inherit the everlasting life, but perish in the lake of fire on the Day of Judgment (Rev. 21:8). Such will be the fate of those who profess to have faith in Christ but refuse to obey His commands.
The true believers are in the flock For people who believe in Christ to be counted among His true believers and be saved, they must obey His teachings, one of which is to come into the fold:
“In very truth I tell you, I am the door I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe.”
(Reference: John 10:7, 9 Revised English Bible, Emphasis Mine)
The fold or flock into which the Savior invites people to come is the Church Of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, those who truly believe in Christ must accept and obey His command to enter the flock or the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ). It is the Father’s will for people to be gathered in Christ, His Son, by becoming members of Christ’s body or the Church (Eph. 1:9-10; Rom. 12:4-5; Col. 1:18). That is one of the works that people who truly believe in Christ must do to prove their faith in Him and be saved. Even if a person says he believes in Christ and claims to have accepted Him as Lord and Savior yet he is not inside the sheepfold or the Church Of Christ, his faith and his expression of it will only be in vain. And, ultimately, such faith he professes to have will not save him.
So, if you say that you have inscribed in your heart the words written in John 3:16, then ask yourself: do you truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, we encourage you to join the Church Of Christ for your faith in Him not to be rendered worthless and, above all, be included among His believers who will never perish but be given the eternal life on His return.
For the members of His Church, the ones whom He recognizes as His sheep, who will remain faithful and obedient to His and the Father’s commandments until the end (Matt. 24:13; Rev. 14:12-13), this is what the Savior promises:
“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
(Reference: John 10:26-28 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
IN CONCLUSION
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WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ. These teachings presented here is the path that leads to eternal life for all on that appointed day of Judgment:
The Truth About Salvation
CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION with over 2.4 billion followers worldwide. It is composed of diverse faiths with thousands of denominations, such as Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Adventist—the list goes on. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that there are over 45,000 denominations globally, with more than 200 in the United States alone. Each denomination has its own unique set of beliefs and doctrines, especially when it comes to how one can achieve salvation. Do any of these religions truly teach the proper way of salvation?
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)