Believing vs Obedience

Believing in Jesus vs Obedient Faith
John 12:42-43 / Acts 6:7
Many believed in Him ..
John 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Obedient to the faith ..
Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Some parallels ...
Two sets of religious leaders ..
Chief rulers (Jn 12) / priests (Acts 6) ..
The number ..
Many of rulers / great company priests
Both speak of believing ..
Rulers believed / priests’ faith
The difference ...
Rulers in John 12 ..
Believed in Jesus but did not confess Him ..
Priests in Acts 6
Believed also, but they followed up in obedience
Popular idea ..
Saved by “faith only” …
Causes believing don’t have to be baptized ..

Many discussions end here …
Bible answers this ..
James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Deny clear passages ...
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Footnote “some manuscripts omit”
Vaticanus, Sinaiticus … also omit John 8:1-11 and other passages
Often do not agree with each other
Alexandrian and 1000’s others all include it..
Believed, but did not confess ..
John 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him …
Luke 6:46 more than saying the words
Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10
Not willing to take a stand


The Reason for their fear ..
The Pharisees … lest they be put out of the synagogue
Pharisees and Sadducees were leading sects
These rulers loved their sect more than they loved their Lord ..
Not worth it .. Matt. 16:26


Obedient to the faith ..
Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.


Obeying the gospel ?
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 .. Faith only ?
John 3:16 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 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Believing in Jesus vs Obedient Faith
John 12:42-43 / Acts 6:7