We Might Be Asking the Wrong Question?

In John’s Gospel we read these wonderful words: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13, ESV).  Notice the words:

“who believed in his name” (Greek: τοῖς πιστεύουσιν)

The result of those who believe in his name is that he gives the right to become children of God – adopted into His/God’s family.  But later in the Gospel, John records spurious faith, false, counterfeit faith in similar ways: “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing” (John 2:23, ESV).  There we note the same phrase, “believed in his name (Gr: πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς).  In this latter case we note that Jesus did not trust their faith. “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people” (John 2:24, ESV)

“The Greek repeats the verb, but with a slightly different meaning: we might paraphrase, ‘the people trusted in his name, but he did not entrust himself to them.’” ^[1]

“Christ did not entrust Himself to them because they were not true believers. He concluded this because he knew all men. These were nominal believers whose only interest was the miracles.”^[2]  This is a warning to us.  From one vantage point we see through inspired text that both groups of people “believed in his name”.  But that evidence is insufficient.  The determinate question relates to what Jesus believed about them.  Notice this parallel issue:

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:22–23, ESV) [Emphasis mine]

Paul would later write, “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”” (2 Timothy 2:19, ESV)

Paradoxically our professed belief about Jesus is a minor point compared to what Jesus’ belief about us is.  We might be asking the wrong question.  We/I often ask, "Do you believe in Jesus?"  Perhaps the fundamental question is, "What does Jesus believe about your belief?"

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^[1] Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 184). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

^[2] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2081). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.