Recently, The Holy SPIRIT directed me to go back, read and meditate on John 3:36:

 He who believes in The SON has eternal life

But he who does not obey The SON will not see life

But the wrath of GOD abides on him

John 3:36

I believed I had fully understood this Scripture in my previous BIBLE studies; I had highlighted, underlined and even circled two words in the passage “believes” and “obey”. My head knowledge of this passage, told me that a true follower of CHRIST must not only believe in HIM (trust HE is WHO HE said HE is, has done what HE said HE did, and is doing what HE said HE will), but must also obey HIM (to be guided by, to submit to the control of, to allow oneself to be persuaded; to comply with). But head knowledge of GOD’s WORD is not enough, we must have heart knowledge of HIS WORD.

Heart knowledge only comes when our Beloved LORD GOD’s Holy SPRIT gives us understanding of HIS WORD, by combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (1 Cor 2:13). As HE leads, guides, and teaches us (Jhn 14:26, Jhn 16:13), HIS WORDS are written on our hearts becoming part of who we are; transforming us into a new person by changing the way we think (Rom 12:2). Each one of us going through the process will seek to know the meaning of what we are hearing and reading. Our seeking will include:

• Confirming what we are hearing or reading, through examination of The Scriptures (Act 17:11, 1 Thes 5:21, 1 Jhn 4:1─Jer 23:21-22, Rev 2:2)
• Praying or asking GOD questions concerning the meaning of The Scriptures (Mat 17:10-13)
• Inquiring of GOD who HE is addressing in a particular passage of Scripture (Luk 12:41)
• Meditating or reflecting upon The Scripture itself (Psa 119:15-16) until HE gives us understanding and confirmation through other passages in HIS WORD (Luk 24:27)

In my search to fully understand John 3:36, HIS Holy SPIRIT directed me to go back to the original language for the word ‘believes” and to examine its meaning in that language. I learned, the English word “believes” in John 3:36, was translated from the Greek word “pisteuo“(NT:4100) and it means:

• to have faith in or upon, with respect to, a person or thing
• to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ)
• to commit to trust, or put in trust with
• intransitively, to think to be true; to be persuaded of; to credit, place confidence in
• in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence in

So I learned that this word meant far more than accepting HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST as true or real. It also meant to entrust your spiritual well-being to HIM, placing absolute confidence in HIM. The Holy SPIRIT then showed me, this is the same Greek word used to describe the demons belief in James 2:19.

Demons are indeed believers in GOD, not those type of believers who know about HIM; but those who truly know HIM and HIS character.  These demons know HIM (Job 1:6, 1 Kin 22:19), HIS SON JESUS CHRIST (Mrk 1:34, Luk 4:33-35) and HIS WORD (Mat 4:5-7). For the first time I knew in my innermost being, demons had lived in and experienced HIS very presence (Heb 8:5, Exd 25:17-20, Eze 28:14-16) until they were cast out (Rev 12:7-9), because of sin which is disobedience, unrighteousness, lawlessness (Eze 28:15-16, 1 Jhn 3:4, 1 Jhn 5:17). The same fate that happens to all the disobedient (Jer 7:12-15, Mat 7:21-23).

So when is faith not enough? When it is not united with obedience, as confirmed in John 3:36 and James 2:26.

The English word “obey” in John 3:36, was translated from the Greek word “apeitheoo“ (NT:544) and it means not willing to be subject to, not willing to be persuaded, spurning belief, disobedient. If you are not willing to know GOD’s WORD, not willing to be persuaded that HIS WORD is truth, rejecting The BIBLE because you refuse to believe it is applicable today or applicable to your life; then you are in the company of demons (fallen angels). And your spiritual life is just as dead as a body without any breath in it (James 2:26). Having faith in GOD without obedience to GOD, still brings death and wrath (Rom 2:8, 2 Thes 1:8-9, 1 Pet 4:17-18).

They profess to know GOD

But by their deeds they deny HIM

Being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed

Titus 1:16