John 3:16 – What does “believes” mean? Does that exclude other obligations, like repentance and baptism? Could this be a synecdoche?
John 3:14-15 is a synecdoche.
John 12:32-33
What’s the evidence of synecdoche?
Context
Numbers 21:4-9 – The bronze serpent
People had to respond to be saved by the serpent.
John 3:14-21
Harmony
Mark 16:15-16
Acts 3:19
Romans 10:9-10
James 2:14, 26, 19
Pattern
Acts 2:44, 41 – They had done much more than just believe.
Acts 16:29-34 – Belief included baptism here.
Acts 18:8
I Corinthians 1:14
Conclusion
My suggestion is that John 3:16 is another instance of this sort of language (synecdoche), where “believes” is simply a shortened way of referring to everything that comes from that belief and is involved in salvation.
Learning the truth about Jesus
Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus sent the disciples everywhere to teach.
Teaching in the book of Acts
Acts 2:14, 42
Acts 4:1, 17, 33
Acts 5:20, 25, 42
Acts 6:7-10
Acts 7:51-53
Acts 8:3
This was a spiritual revolution founded on information.
Romans 1:16; 10:17 – The power of salvation was in the word of God.