“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Every time I have heard a denominational preacher teach the false doctrine of “faith only” salvation, they always quote John 3:16 as their proof text. Even though the verse doesn’t say, “whoever [only] believes in Him,” that is how they use it. Not only do they insert a “faith only” definition where the verse doesn’t say it, they are also divorcing this beautiful statement of God’s love for us from its immediate context. Wouldn’t it make sense to define the term “believes in Him” according to the illustration that Christ had just given? Of course it would! [Read more…]