John 3:16

• John 3:16 – What does “believes” mean? Does that exclude other obligations, like repentance and baptism? Could this be a synecdoche?
• John 3:14-15 is a synecdoche.
• John 12:32-33

What’s the evidence of synecdoche?

Context

• Numbers 21:4-9 – The bronze serpent
• People had to respond to be saved by the serpent.
• John 3:14-21

Harmony

• Mark 16:15-16
• Acts 3:19
• Romans 10:9-10
• James 2:14, 26, 19

Pattern

• Acts 2:44, 41 – They had done much more than just believe.
• Acts 16:29-34 – Belief included baptism here.
• Acts 18:8
• I Corinthians 1:14

Conclusion

• My suggestion is that John 3:16 is another instance of this sort of language (synecdoche), where “believes” is simply a shortened way of referring to everything that comes from that belief and is involved in salvation.

Learning the truth about Jesus

• Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus sent the disciples everywhere to teach.
• Teaching in the book of Acts
  • Acts 2:14, 42
  • Acts 4:1, 17, 33
  • Acts 5:20, 25, 42
  • Acts 6:7-10
  • Acts 7:51-53
  • Acts 8:3
  • This was a spiritual revolution founded on information.
• Romans 1:16; 10:17 – The power of salvation was in the word of God.
• Acts 17:2, 11
• Don’t just go with your conscience.
  • Acts 23:1; 26:9-11