What does it mean to believe on His name?

contratodo said:

What does it mean to believe in a name?

Wouldn't that also include everything the person stands for, therefore His words also?


I think that given the following context:




















Given that context I think John 3:18 is better understood in this manner:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the word of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.



What are your thoughts?

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That means to believe Jesus is who He says He is. The promised Messiah from the prophecies in The Tanakh. Another way this is stated is, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, the resurrection and the life.

contratodo said:

What does it mean to believe in a name?

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It means to believe in and trust on who the person is. . .in this case he is the flesh sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin and right standing with God ("not guilty," justified--declared righteous) for those who believe in and trust on his saving work (blood, Ro 3:25) and person for that forgiveness and acceptance by God.

contratodo said:

Wouldn't that also include everything the person stands for, therefore His words also?
I think John 3:18 is better understood in this manner:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the word of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

What are your thoughts?

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First rule of Scripture: no one has authority to add to nor subtract from the word of God written.
We don't govern Scripture, it governs us.

Salvation is by belief in and trust on the person himself (his name, who he is), not just his teaching/word.
No one is saved by believing Jesus' teaching only, without believing in and trusting on Jesus himself for forgiveness of their sin and right standing with God.

contratodo said:

What does it mean to believe in a name?

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His name given by himself is what/who he is.

contratodo said:

Wouldn't that also include everything the person stands for, therefore His words also?

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With God, yes, of course.

contratodo said:

I think that given the following context:




















Given that context I think John 3:18 is better understood in this manner:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the word of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.



What are your thoughts?

Click to expand...

The math is not reciprocal. To say that his name is who he is, and who he is is his word, does not justify substituting "word" for "name" in the Scripture, where the originals have not done so. Each has its own aspect. This is not A=B, but A is similar to B.

But yes, it is worth thinking about in terms of the substitution to see where the 'math' goes.

contratodo said:

What does it mean to believe in a name?

Wouldn't that also include everything the person stands for, therefore His words also?


I think that given the following context:




















Given that context I think John 3:18 is better understood in this manner:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the word of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.



What are your thoughts?

Click to expand...

When we are testifying about God's character through our actions, we are also expressing our what we believe to be true about His character, which is the way to believe in Him. In other words, the way to believe in God is by believing that we ought to be doers of His character traits. For example, by being doers of good works in obedience to God, we are testifying that God is good, which is why our good works bring glory to Him (Matthew 5:16), and by testifying that God is good, we are also expressing the belief that God is good.

It is contradictory for someone to think that God has a character trait while they are not a doer of that character trait, for example, we are instructed to be holy for God is holy (1 Peter 1:16), so it is contradictory for someone to think that God is holy while they are not doers of God's instructions for how to be holy as He is holy, and they are thus living in a way that testifies that that the God that they believe in is not holy. This is why the Bible repeatedly connects our belief in God with our obedience to Him, such as in Revelation 14:12, where those who kept faith in Jesus are the same as those who kept God's commandments, or there words, God's commandments are His instructions for how to believe in Him.

All of the names of God that are used in the Bible reveal aspects of God's character, so the way to believe in God's name is also be being doers of His character. In Jeremiah 9:24, those who know God know that He delights in practicing steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in all of the earth, so delighting in being doers of God's character traits in obedience to His law is also the way to know Him, and the way to know and believe in the Son, who is the exact image of God's character (Hebrews 1:3), which is eternal life (John 17:3).

contratodo said:

That sentiment ignores the context:
"He that does not keep my teachings, does not love me."
John 14:21-24
"If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let that person be Anathema! Oh Lord come!"
1 Corinthians 16:22 [ 1 Corinthians 1:13]
No one has the right to change scripture, I believe it was changed, from 'word' to 'name' to fester confusion and false doctrine.
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me....
Therefore if one is not heeding His voice, and following Him, that one is not He sheep.

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Correct understanding of any Scripture means understood in the context of and in agreement with all Scripture.

contratodo said:

What does it mean to believe in a name?

Wouldn't that also include everything the person stands for, therefore His words also?

What are your thoughts?

Click to expand...

John 20:30-31 is the short answer to your question.

To believe that Jesus is the Christ, in the Greek, means to believe Jesus is the Messiah

To elaborate:

Jesus was sent to save Israel in his first coming (Romans 15:8, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 15:24, Luke 1:68-75)

Like how Moses was recognized by Israel thru signs (Exodus 4:29-31), Israel will likewise recognize Jesus by the signs that he will perform. (Deuteronomy 18:15, Luke 7:20-22, Acts 3:22-23, John 11:45-48).

Israel's correct response to those signs is to believe that he is THAT promised Messiah (Deuteronomy 34:10-12, Exodus 34:10, John 6:28-29, John 20:30-31, John 10:37-38).

Believing in his name, in the gospel of the kingdom, is to believe that he is Israel's promised Messiah John 20:30-31

Name in scripture can refer to surname, that makes no sense. There are many people named Jesus. The defination of name in reference to Christ is 'Authority, charactor. Those who believe in His charactor and authority are faithful to who He is, and what He is, the king of kings, the word of God and creator of all that is. We do not serve a simple title. We serve Love, light, truth and power.

From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority character): - called (+ sur-) name (-d).

contratodo said:

There is another one.

"these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name"

Life in His name? What is that supposed to mean?

"...The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life"
John 6:63

"these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, (the Messenger of the covenant)
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His word"

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Yes, you are quoting John 20:31 there.

Believe that Christ is their promised Messiah.

That was what Israel needed to believe in under the gospel of the kingdom (Acts 2:36, Acts 8:37).

contratodo said:

I do not agree that there are two gospels.
The word gospel means good news.

It was Jesus who preached the good news:
We can see from Matthew chapter 4-5 and Luke 4
that they give the same general timeline.
Jesus is tempted, and then His ministry begins and His fame grows.
Then He goes into a synagogue and reads from Isaiah were it says
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to preach the good news" Luke 4:18
And then Jesus says "This day has this saying been fulfilled in your hearing" Luke 4:21

He was referring to the message that He preached: Matthew 5 through 7 Luke 6:27-49.


"My sheep hear my voice"
John 10:27

"I say unto you that hear........."
Luke 6:27

Clearly Jesus is speaking to His sheep, them who hear,
and we are supposed to hear Him if we are one of His sheep.

Also it is not a coincidence that both verses are 27, the book has a divine Author.


"Lord, how is that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"
John 14:22

"And Jesus answered and said;
If any man loves me he will keep my words
and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our home with him."
John 14:23-24

"You disciples go out into all the world and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost
teaching them to observe my words"
Matthew 28:19-20

And that is what they did:

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they answered: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household
And they told him all the words of the Lord and to his household
And they baptized them all straightaway."
Acts 16:31-33

What they meant by believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is, believe His words, His teachings.
Believe Jesus Himself, not just about Him. They did exactly as Jesus had told them to in Matthew 28:19-20.


And Paul confirms that we must follow the teachings of Jesus.

"He that does not love me, does not keep my teachings"
John 14:24

"If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let them be Anathema! Oh Lord Come!"
1 Corinthians 16:22

"If any man preaches otherwise, and consents not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud knowing nothing."
1 Tim 6:3-4 [ Matthew 7:28 2 John 1:9-11 ]

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Whether there is more than one good news being preached is beside the point.

My point is that the gospel of the kingdom was preached to Israel by Christ and the 12 (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:14).

In that gospel, Israel needed to believe in the identity of Christ, he is that Messiah/Son of David/Son of God, that Moses and all their prophets predicted who will come to them.

You agree with my statement there correct?

contratodo said:

Israel needed to believe Christ Himself, just the same as we do now.

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So out of curiosity, when you preach to anyone now, do you tell them this good news

1. God has promised your ancestors the good news that Jesus will be coming as your Messiah.
2. I am telling you the good news that he has already come.
3. Therefore, if you believe that good news, that Jesus is your promised Messiah, you will be saved.

If you are the non-believer, can you understand how most people will respond if that gospel was preached?

contratodo said:

What Jesus preached is the gospel.
One is saved by believing Jesus Himself.

Anyone believing the Torah and prophets can easily be led to the word of Jesus
and understand the good news correctly. The good news is what Jesus preached,
not just a message about Jesus but the message from Jesus.


"I will raise Israel up a prophet, like unto thee Moses, and it shall come to pass
that whosoever will not hearken to that Prophet will be destroyed from among the people"
Deuteronomy 18:18-19 Acts 3:22-23

From the above passages we see that the promised prophet is to be listened to.

"Behold I will send my messenger (John the Baptist)
and he shall prepare the way before ME (Jesus, God in the flesh)
and the Lord (Jesus is the Lord)
whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple
even the Messenger of the covenant (Jesus)
whom ye delight in:
behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts."
Malachi 3:1

Jesus, the Messiah, is the Messenger of the covenant.

What is the covenant?

"This shall be the covenant...
I will put my law in their inward parts
and write it in their hearts;
and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Jeremiah 31:33

The new covenant is the law inside of hearts and minds.
How did Jesus do that, what of His message is the law,
and how did He get it into minds and hearts?

"...In conclusion, treat people the way you would want to be treated,
because this is the law and the prophets" Matthew 7:12

If that is true, then the whole law has an easy summary,
allowing it, the whole law, to be placed in the mind easily,
do you see that dear one?

Jesus preached the good news,
God is concerned most with the heart and spirit of the law rather than the letter.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
because He has appointed me to preach the gospel...
And Jesus began to say to them
This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
Luke 4:18-21
[ that was after He had been tempted and started to preach; Luke 4:13-15
Luke gives a broad overview of what we get more details of in Matthew chapter 4 and 5 ]

And how did He get the law into hearts?

"If any man loves me, he will keep my teachings,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our abode with him."
John 14:23

"And I, if I be crucified from the earth,
will draw all mankind unto me."
John 12:32

And after He rose from the dead He sent His disciples
into all the world, to every creature, every nation.
Instructing them to teach people His teachings.

"Go ye into all the world and teach all nations
baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost
teaching them to observer whatsoever I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:19-20

He did not tell them to go and tell people He rose from the dead,
or to go and tell people that He is their Savior,
Jesus told them to go tell people His teachings.

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So to sum up, you do preach that gospel I have described?

How did your listeners respond when you do?

contratodo said:

That sentiment ignores the context:

"He that does not keep my teachings, does not love me."

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Those who believe in Christ love him and keep his commandments.
If you do not keep his commandments, then you do not love him, and
if you do not love him, then you are not saved.

contratodo said:

John 14:21-24

"If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let that person be Anathema! Oh Lord come!"
1 Corinthians 16:22 [ 1 Corinthians 1:13]

No one has the right to change scripture, I believe it was changed, from 'word' to 'name' to fester confusion and false doctrine.

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Nevertheless, the original language of the NT, Greek, states onoma (name) in Jn 3:18.
On what basis do you assert that the Greek text is incorrect?

Salvation is by believing in and on the person (name) and work of Jesus Christ, it is not based on believing his teaching (word).
Many believe his teaching but do not believe in him.

Do you understand what "name" means in Scripture?

It means who the person is, in Jesus' case he is the only begotten Son of God, infinitely true and infinitely good.
He is Redeemer, whom God sent to save us. His name (rank) is above all names (Php 2:9).
They refused to believe in and trust on who he said he was.

He is the flesh sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin and right standing with God ("not guilty," justified--declared righteous) for those who believe in and trust on his saving work (blood, Ro 3:25) and person for that forgiveness and acceptance by God.

contratodo said:

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me....

Therefore if one is not heeding His voice, and following Him, that one is not He sheep.

Click to expand...