36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
(John 3:36).
This verse is often used as proof of the doctrine that a person can obtain salvation only by faith in Christ, a faith that is not accompanied by any works of obedience. This doctrine is also called the doctrine of salvation by faith alone.
Faith in the name of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is obedience to God:
23 And this is His commandment, that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He commanded us.
(1 John 3:23).
It is obvious that faith in the name of Christ and faith in Christ are one and the same. It is also obvious that faith in Christ includes everything that Christ requires of us.
A careful study of John 3:36 shows that faith in the Son includes obedience to the Son.
« Not a believer"in this verse this is a translation of the participle in the form of the nominative case, singular, masculine apeithon(initial form - apeitheo), which means “unpersuaded; difficile"; "disobedient"; "to give up faith and obedience."
For this reason, in other translations of the New Testament we find such options as “not subject to the Son”; “whoever does not submit to the Son”; “Whoever disobeys the Son”; “whoever does not obey the Son.”
It remains only to note that the word “ believer"at the very beginning of the verse it is pisteuo"believe; believe"; "to place trust"
All this means is that refusal to obey the Son is tantamount to unbelief. This proves that faith in Jesus Christ includes fulfilling the requirements (that is, the commandments) that He puts forward.
In order for a person to believe in Christ, he must trust God, repent of his sins, confess faith in Christ as the Son of God and be baptized into Him:
3 Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
(Rom 6:3-4).
He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him
“Believe in the Son to have eternal life.” Not simply and not without searching, the wise Baptist testifies, life is offered to those who believe in Christ as a reward, but from the very, so to speak, quality of the deed, he presents us with proof, since the Only Begotten is life by nature, “In Him we live and move and are”(Acts 17:28) He dwells in us, of course, through faith and dwells through the Holy Spirit. Blessed John the Evangelist will testify to this in his Epistles: “We understand this, as it is in us, as He has given us of His Spirit.”(1 John 4:13) . So, Christ gives life to those who believe in Him, both Himself being life by nature, and then already indwelling them. And that the Son dwells in us through faith, Paul certifies this, saying this: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father, from Him the whole family in heaven and on earth is named, that He may give you glory according to the riches.” you just “Be strengthened by His Spirit, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”(Eph. 3:14–17) . When, therefore, life by nature penetrates into us through faith, then how is it not true that he says: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”? Obviously, the Son Himself, and not any other life, must be understood besides Him.
“He who does not believe the Son will not see life.” But is it really possible, perhaps someone will say, that the Baptist preaches to us about another glory and destroys the doctrine of the resurrection, claiming that the believer will be quickened, and the unbeliever "will not see life" at all? Apparently, not everyone will be resurrected, which is the difference this saying indicates. And in this case, what will happen to the words spoken unconditionally and to everyone: "the dead will rise"(1 Cor. 15:52) ? Why would Paul say: “For it is fitting for us all to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that everyone may receive what they have done with their body, either good or evil.”(2 Cor. 5:10) ?
Although I consider it due to praise such an inquisitive person, he still needs to do a more accurate study of the Holy Scriptures. Notice the clear difference in expressions that I will point out to you. He says about the believer that he will have eternal life, but in the saying about the unbeliever he uses a different expression. He did not say that he would not have life, for he would be resurrected according to the general law of resurrection, but he said that “he won’t see life”, that is, he will not even reach the simple contemplation of the life of the saints, will not touch their bliss, will not taste their joy. After all, this is the only real life. Breathing in the midst of punishment is more painful than any death, and the soul is kept in the body for the mere sensation of evil. Paul makes this difference between life. Listen to what he says to those who have died to sin for Christ’s sake: “For you have died, and your life is hidden in God with Christ: when Christ appears, your life, then you will appear with Him in glory.”(Col. 3:3–4) . You see what he calls the life of the saints when they appear in glory with Christ. The Psalmist sings the same to us: “Who is a man who, even if he loves his life, sees good things? Keep your tongue from evil"(Ps. 33:13–14) . Isn't this the life of the saints depicted here? But I think this is clear to everyone. Not for this purpose, of course, he commands someone to refrain from evil in order to receive the revival of the flesh again, for they will be resurrected even if they did not stop evil, but he encourages someone to a life in which one can see good days, spending them in glory and eternal life in bliss.
“But the wrath of God remains on him.” In this addition, the blessed Baptist showed us more clearly the purpose of what was said. Let the inquisitive person turn his attention again to the meaning of this saying. "Unbelieving", speaks, “The son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” But if it were really possible to understand this saying in the sense that the unbeliever will be deprived of life in the body, then, probably, the Baptist would immediately add: “but “death” remains on him.” Because he calls "wrath of God", then obviously contrasts the punishment of the wicked with the bliss of the saints and calls life the true life in glory with Christ, and the punishment of the wicked - the wrath of God. That in the Holy Scriptures punishment is often called wrath, I will present two witnesses to this - Paul and John (the Baptist). One said to those converting from the pagans: “And the children of wrath are by nature, like the rest”
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
He who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
When Christ, your life, appears, then you will appear with Him in glory.
He who believes in the Son has eternal life, and he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
And whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.
He who reaps receives his reward and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that both he who sows and he who reaps will rejoice together.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Search the Scriptures, for through them you think you have eternal life; and they testify of Me.
Do not strive for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for the Father, God, has set His seal on Him.
For the bread of God is the one that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
He who loves his soul will destroy it; but he who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
For life has appeared, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you this eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us.
I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that by believing in the Son of God you have eternal life.
The promise that He promised us is eternal life.
To those who, through constancy in good deeds, seek glory, honor and immortality, eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He said to him: Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.
... but if our outer man is decaying, then our inner man is being renewed from day to day.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said to him: You answered correctly; do this and you will live.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life. John 6:51–54
That is why we sigh, wanting to put on our heavenly dwelling; As long as we don’t end up naked even though we’re dressed.
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.