1 John 3:23 KJV
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
John very simply says that keeping God's commandments consists of just two things; believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another. John Gill says that the, "... two are reduced to one because they are inseparable; where the one is, the other is; faith works by love."[1]
Believing on the name of Jesus Christ is a fruit-producing consequence. I question whether a man has really believed on His name unless there is some change in His life. Unless that faith causes him to love others, especially the children of God, it is doubtful that he has believed in the same sense that John means.
This leads me to consider the depth of the concept of believing on the name of Christ. We know that the Bible says "...the devils also believe and tremble."[2] Believing, therefore, must mean more than simply knowing that Jesus Christ is.
The word believe means
To have faith in
To credit
To entrust (especially one's spiritual well being)
To commit
To put in trust with
More than merely acknowledging the truth that Jesus exists
More than even having perfect knowledge (as the devils do)
That Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
That He died on the cross and
That He rose from the grave
Believing on the name of the Son of God must be to place our trust in Him in a life changing and mind altering way. And verse 24 says that when that happens the Spirit of God assures us that He abides in us.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
John very simply says that keeping God's commandments consists of just two things; believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another. John Gill says that the, "... two are reduced to one because they are inseparable; where the one is, the other is; faith works by love."[1]
Believing on the name of Jesus Christ is a fruit-producing consequence. I question whether a man has really believed on His name unless there is some change in His life. Unless that faith causes him to love others, especially the children of God, it is doubtful that he has believed in the same sense that John means.
This leads me to consider the depth of the concept of believing on the name of Christ. We know that the Bible says "...the devils also believe and tremble."[2] Believing, therefore, must mean more than simply knowing that Jesus Christ is.
The word believe means
To have faith in
To credit
To entrust (especially one's spiritual well being)
To commit
To put in trust with
More than merely acknowledging the truth that Jesus exists
More than even having perfect knowledge (as the devils do)
That Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
That He died on the cross and
That He rose from the grave
Believing on the name of the Son of God must be to place our trust in Him in a life changing and mind altering way. And verse 24 says that when that happens the Spirit of God assures us that He abides in us.
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