John 3:16 is perhaps the most well-known passage of New Testament scripture.

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.

This passage was quoted to me by a co-worker who had invited me to join the gang for a Friday night carousing in the local taverns. I told him that I decided I was not going to do that anymore because I had become a Christian. His response was, “I believe! And John 3:16 tells us that’s all we need. I don’t need to stop having fun because I believe!” The implication of his response seemed to be that to believe in God simply means to believe in his existence. Certainly, that is a good start. We must believe God exists if we are to worship and follow him. But is there more to belief than that?

Consider an athletic coach trying to inspire his team before a game. During his speech, he says, “I believe in you!” Does belief in this case mean that the coach is merely acknowledging that his team exists? Rather, he’s proclaiming his belief in his team’s ability to perform. Likewise, when we proclaim our belief in the Creator Almighty God, we acknowledge the reality of his power; his ability to accomplish and perform. When we pray, we are drawing on that faith in God’s absolute power. We believe God exists and we believe he is all powerful. The Apostle James tells us that demons actually believe this. They believe and tremble (James 2:19). So even they have these two levels of belief. They know God exists and they know he is all powerful. And clearly this is not enough.

Consider now a parent instructing a child not to play near the busy street. She tells the child he could be hurt or killed if he were to be hit by a car. If the child is going to believe his parent, his level of belief must go beyond believing that his parent exists. To believe his parent, he must believe that what the parent says is true. And so, the third level of belief is to believe God. That is, we believe what he tells us is truth. Note in the Genesis account, this is where the serpent deceived Eve. The serpent didn’t question God’s existence or his power. He caused Eve to question if what God was saying was truth. (see Genesis 3)

These three levels of belief will lead to the fourth which is to believe that we should follow and obey this God. By believing in God, you come to the place where you are willing to submit to his instructions; to follow the way of life he prescribed in the Holy Bible. Notice how the same Apostle John, who penned John 3:16, later summed up what it is to believe and to know God:

He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

Clearly John sees that belief in God is more than acknowledging that God exists or that he is all-powerful or what he says is truth. John sees God as someone who Is to be obeyed.

Do you believe? Please join us in exploring Life's Ultimate Question: Does God Exist? available on the United Church of God website.

by Lynn Leiby

Jan 10^th, 2025