16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth <pisteuo> in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Here in verse 16 we are plainly told, "Whosoever believeth <pisteuo> on Him (referring to the Lord Jesus Christ), shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Then in Acts 16:30b the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas;

30. Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31. Believe <pisteuo> on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Let me begin this study by quoting Isaiah 28:9-10 where we are asked 2 questions, and then given the answers.

9.   Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10.  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Now the first question we must answer is, does believing on the Lord Jesus Christ simply refer to mental acknowledgment of the Lord Jesus Christ?

James 2:19 answers this question plainly by stating;

19.  Thou believest <pisteuo> that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe <pisteuo>, and tremble.

20.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith <pistis> without works is dead?

Hebrews 11:6 tells us;

6.   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is <esti>, and that he is a rewarder of (pays wages or hires) them that diligently seek him.

24.  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [*he], ye shall die in your sins.

The Lord Jesus Christ openly proclaimed here that He is the "I AM" God! And we are plainly told here in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that He, the Lord Jesus Christ is the "I AM" God of heaven and earth, and that He hires those who diligently seek Him as such!

Now keep in mind, belief is the action, or works that expresses faith. So exactly how do we get the faith that enables us to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

First of all Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us;

8.   For by grace are ye saved through <dia> faith <pistis>; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9.   Not of (human) works, lest any man should boast

This is amplified in Acts 18:27 where we are told;

27.  And when he (Apollos) was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

The Apostle Paul stated in Galatiansl 2:20;

20.  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

First Titus 2:11ff. describes how everyone receives the initial grace of God by stating;

11.  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12.  Teaching <paideuo> (chastening) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13.  Looking for <prosdechomai> that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14.  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke (continuously) with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

And Thayer’s Dictionary defines this word;4327 <prosdechomai> in part;

1) to receive to oneself, to admit, to give access to oneself

a) to admit one, to receive one into intercourse and companionship
b) to receive one (coming from some place)
c) to accept (not to reject) a thing offered

Keeping this in mind lets go to the 4^th Chapter of the Book of James where we are told beginning in verse 6ff exactly what we must do to be given more of God’s grace;

6.   But he (God) giveth more grace. Wherefore he (the Scripture) saith, God resisteth <antitassomai> (is against orderly arranging the life of) the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

And then beginning in verse 7ff we are given the steps of the humbling process;

7.   (Passively) Submit <hupotasso> (the orderly arrangment of) yourselves therefore to God. Resist <anthistemi> (standing against) the devil, and he will flee from you.

Then in verse 8 we are given the next step in this humbling process;

8.   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded <dipsuchos> (two souled).

How do we cleanse our hands of sin?

1 John 1:9 tells us;

9.   If we confess <homologeo> our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In Amos 3:3 Jehovah God through the Prophet asks;

3.   Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

9.   Be afflicted<talaiporeo> (realize your wretchedness) and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

9.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That’s exactly what the Apostle John tells us in 1 John 3:4-6;

4.   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5.   And ye know that he (the Lord Jesus Christ) was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6.   Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever (continuously) sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

10.  Humble yourselves (in this manner) in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Romans 10:17 tells us;

17.  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

That’s exactly what 1 Corinthians 1:21 tells us;

21.  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us;

8.   And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency <autarkeia> in all things, may abound to every good work:

Now let me emphasize here that one does not have to know doctrine to be saved, but if one has been genuinely saved they will certainly recognize and identify with these basic principles in their salvation experience. Now you may question whether all of this is really necessary. Yes! Everyone of the above principles are necessary. And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught everyone of these exact principles throughout His earthly ministry.

In Matthew 16:24ff the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples;

24.  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25.  For whosoever will save his <psuche> (soul) [life] shall [lose it] <apollumi> (perish): and whosoever will [lose] <apollumi> (perish) his <psuche> (soul) [life] for my sake shall find it.
26.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own <psuche> soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul <psuche>?
27.  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

23.  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24.  For whosoever will save his <psuche> (soul) [life] shall [lose it] <apollumi> (perish): but whosoever will [lose] <apollumi> (perish) his [life] <psuche> (soul) for my sake, the same shall save it.
25.  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and [lose] <apollumi> (perish) himself, or be cast away?

25.  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26.  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own [life] <psuche> (soul) also, he cannot be my disciple.
27.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29.  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30.  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31.  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32.  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33.  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath (possesses), he cannot be my disciple.

In other words, to be saved from our sin…and to become disciples…to become Christians…we must accept the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ as our death…for the payment of our sins…and the only way in which we can do this is by denying ourselves, forsaking everything that we possess, and perish our soul lives in passive submission to God’s orderly arrangment for our lives in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then following the Lord Jesus Christ through His word, which is the word of God. And there is no other way for us to accept the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ as our own death. And once we have perished our soul lives in total passive submission to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the word of God, which in fact is the act of repentance, we will then follow the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism,

On the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2; the Apostle Peter preached and concluded his message in verse 36 by stating;

36.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38.  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In Matthew 3:13ff we are told of the Lord Jesus Christ’s own baptism;

13.  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14.  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15.  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh <prepo> (conspicuous manner for) us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16.  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And 1 Peter 3:18ff tells us;

18.  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19.  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20.  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22.  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Next let’s briefly look at the believer’s baptism.

Rom 6:3ff describes the meaning of baptism beginning with the question;

3.   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4.   Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5.   For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6.   Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7.   For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8.   Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9.   Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10.   For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11.   Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God [through] <en> (in) Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notice again what Romans 6:3 tells us;

3.   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

In Acts 2:47b we are told;

47.  …the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us;

13.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

17.  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Now to amplify the subject even further the Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly said that anyone desiring to be His disciple must follow Him. How do we follow Him?

In Phillippians 2:5-13 the Apostle Paul actually commands us to;

5.   Let this mind <phroneo> (mindset) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6.   Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7.   But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8.   And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9.   Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10.  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11.  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12.  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed <hupakouo>, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Beloved God directs our lives through our total submission to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the authority of His word which is the word of God. And God further expects us to work out, complete our salvation in fear and trembling because it is God Himself who is energizing us to will and to do His good pleasure.

The Lord Jesus Christ amplified the necessity of our total submission to His authority in Matt 28:18 where He told His disciples;

18.  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power <exousia> (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

And because of this the Lord Jesus Christ went on to say;

19.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1.   Let every soul be subject <hupotasso> (under orderly arrangment) unto the higher powers <exousia> (authorities). For there is no power <exousia> (authority) but of God: the powers <exousia> authorities) that be are ordained <tasso> (arranged) of God.
2.   Whosoever therefore resisteth <antitassomai> (resists the orderly arrangment of) the power <exousia> (authorities), resisteth <anthistemi> (stands against) the ordinance of God: and they that resist <anthistemi> (stand against) shall receive to themselves damnation <krima> ( a pronounced sentence).

I remind you again of what we are told in Hebrews 11:6:

6.   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (the "I AM"), and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

13.  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14.  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

21.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful (miraculous) works?
23.  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity <anomia> (lawlessness).

19.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21.  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22.  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23.  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24.  Ye see then how that by works (actions) a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Now we’ve looked at Biblical doctrine, and also the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself on the subject of what it really means to believe, and both are in accordance with one another.

And so in conclusion, if one really believes that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins and that God raised Him from the dead and placed Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and authority, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church; then that person will accept the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death as their own death by passively submitting their souls to God’s total authority over their lives in the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Body, the Church, and to the total authority of the word of God. This then is the what it means to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.