1 John 5:13

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The beloved disciple and apostle John wrote, under the inspiration of God, these reassuring words. The verse implies that gaining absolute total assurance depends upon a clear understanding of what "BELIEVING" is all about.

In his gospel (the fourth New Testament book), John gives another important verse for understanding believing:

John 20:30-31

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,

which are not written in this book:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;

and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Since John gave this as the purpose for the writing of the gospel of John, and since he often uses the term "believing," I can sit down and read this book verse by verse and come to truly understand what it means to become saved from sin by "believing on the name of the Son of God."

Therefore, I will do this: I will read one chapter per sitting, and I will observe each time a word with "believe" as its root word occurs. (Over 100 times in 86 verses this happens in John!)

I will seek to gain an understanding of believing by asking myself questions like the following examples:

• Who is believing?
• Exactly what are they believing?
• Exactly when can one believe?
• What happens after one believes?
• Who's authority is behind the "believing" promise?
• Is believing a physical principle, a spiritual, or both?
• What kind of life is promised to those who believe?
• When exactly does that life begin after believing?
• How does the dictionary actually define "believe?"
• Which definition makes to most sense in this particular verse?
• Who knows those who will believe?
• May everyone believe?
  
  

If I am truly willing to understand this spiritual truth and make a personal application (act from what I learn), I can know what is true and what is real in life:

John 7:17

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,

whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true,

and no unrighteousness is in him.

This amazing verse indicates that the willingness of an individual to do God's will is the condition required to gain assurance of the realities of biblical truth and eternal life.

Your servant, the author of this tract, has "believed on the name of the Son of God" in the summer of 1972. It is my prayer that you also will come to enjoy the "blessed assurance," the joy, peace, and hope that I have come to know.

This is a personal matter between the individual and God. It requires prayerful study to accept these truths. I pray that you will do the study required to understand, and that then you also will choose to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.

The Father Will Draw You

John 6:44

(Compare John 12:44)

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.

Whosoever Will May Believe

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all all men unto me.

All Who Believe Are Eternally Secure

John 6.47

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

[See also John 10:28-30]

--C. Pat Lanyon

--East Hartford, Connecticut, 1996

The following is a list of each verse in John containing one or more words with "believe" as the root:

John 1:7; 1:12; 1:50; 2:11; 2:22-23; 3:12; 3:15-16; 3:18; 3:36; 4:21; 4:39; 4:41-42; 4:48; 4:50; 4:53; 5:24; 5:38; 5:44; 5:46-47; 6:29-30; 6:35-36; 6:40; 6:47; 6:64; 6:69; 7:5; 7:31; 7:38-39; 7:48; 8:24; 8:30-31; 8:45-46; 9:18; 9:35-36; 9:38; 10:25-26; 10:37-38; 10:42; 11:15; 11:25-27; 11:40; 11:42; 11:45; 11:48; 12:11; 12:36-39; 12:42; 12:44; 12:46-47; 13:19; 14:1; 14:10-12; 14:29; 16:9; 16:27; 16:30-31; 17:8; 17:20-21; 19:35; 20:8; 20:25; 20:27; 20:29; 20:31.

For your records:

Date you began this Study:

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Date you received Jesus Christ as Savior:

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Your Name: (See Revelation 21:27)

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(It will be recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life!)

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

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