23 John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were going there to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put into prison.)
25 Some of John’s followers had an argument with a Jew about religious washing. 26 So they came to John and said, “Teacher, remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you spoke about so much? He is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 John answered, “A man can get only what God gives him. 28 You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Christ, but I am the one sent to prepare the way for him.’ 29 The bride belongs only to the bridegroom. But the friend who helps the bridegroom stands by and listens to him. He is thrilled that he gets to hear the bridegroom’s voice. In the same way, I am really happy. 30 He must become greater, and I must become less important.
31 “The One who comes from above is greater than all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and talks about things on the earth. But the One who comes from heaven is greater than all. 32 He tells what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts what he says. 33 Whoever accepts what he says has proven that God is true. 34 The One whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God gives him the Spirit fully. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given him power over everything. 36 Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who do not obey the Son will never have life. God’s anger stays on them.”
Read John 3:23-36 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
For some of my life, I wondered at the apparent contradiction between being “saved by faith”, but then having a list of rules that must be obeyed. I don’t think I am the only one who has wondered about this because when I look around in Christianity, there are groups of people claiming faith is the only thing necessary and there are groups holding up lists of rules that they say must be obeyed to be known as one of God’s people.
There are also people who say both faith and the rules (i.e. “works”) are necessary and some who say neither, but if we look at what the gospels writers say, is there a verse (or passage) that shows us how faith “works” with works?
You might imagine my surprise after all these journal entries that there is a phrase, in today’s passage, that clearly summarizes how faith and works are connected: “Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who do not obey the Son will never have life. God’s anger stays on them.” (v. 36)
In this unassuming verse that is about John the Baptizer pointing his followers to Jesus, John makes a profound statement that sums up faith and works: Believing in Jesus gives people eternal life (v. 36a), while not obeying Jesus takes that life away – bringing judgment (v. 36b).
Doesn’t this statement contradict itself? How can one thing bring a reward while something different takes it away?
Expanding on the bride and bridegroom metaphor that John shared a few verses earlier, if the bride accepts the groom’s proposal, it is because she believes the proposal to be genuine and because she trusts the groom with her life. However, if the groom asks her to do something that she is unwilling to do, then that decision (from both parties) breaks the connection of trust, and if no resolution is reached, then the engagement will almost certainly be called off.
It is the same way with Jesus’ invitation to believe. Accepting the invitation is what joins a person to God’s family, but not obeying what Jesus asks us to do breaks our relationship with Him, and it is as though we are telling God that we do not trust Him.
Believing gives people eternal life (vs. 36a) however not obeying brings judgment (vs. 36b). We need both. It is not a matter of a specific work or a list of things that each of us need to do, it is having faith and obeying what Jesus said. “Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who do not obey the Son will never have life. God’s anger stays on them.”
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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