John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I’m
really enjoying this Sunday Sermon series on John 3:16, where Pastor JJ is
breaking down this life-transforming Bible verse into its profound components
of doctrinal Gospel truth, to put together this ultimate message of the love of
God. Here are the notes I took. One of the greatest strengths of the Christian
church is its essential element of “relationship”; the community of faith bonding
and coming together to accomplish the mission of the church that God has given
us, by doing the Lord’s work in the world today. Many say that they are
“spiritual”, but don’t believe in “organized religion”, but God does. The
church speaks the truth in love, seeking to know Christ and make Him known,
because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the life that sets us free.
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and
the life. He
who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
There
are times in our lives that rattle us and shack us up. Times that we
contemplate our life to see if it adds up to something that is worth of what we
call “life”. Thank God that our lives aren’t dependant upon the people, places
and things in this world that have been, are now and are going to be in our
life and living, but dependant upon God, who inserts faith, hope and love with
a “Whoever” policy. Some people thought that they could make God their own by
creating a god in their own image. We all like to think of God as being on our
side; that God is on our team. But this is losing sight of God’s policy. Why
would we have problems with God’s “Whoever” policy and say that God does not
apply to everyone? Maybe because it is hard to believe that God’s policy would
include “us”. Surely, all of us are sinners and have fallen short of God’s standards
and missed His mark for our lives. God exports His grace worldwide, so when we
construct walls by instituting “club requirements” upon the Lord’s plan of
Salvation invitation, we exclude God’s desires and wishes of the “Whoever”
policy. We should use the same policy as God in welcoming others to enter the kingdom of Heaven
John 3:36 “ Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s
wrath remains on him.”
If
we were to die today and God were to ask us: “Why should I let you into My
heaven? What would we say? What does it take to get accepted into His Kingdom? What is required out of us? We have to believe
in Jesus! Trust in Christ, believe in who He is and that His atoning sacrifice
on that Cross in our place paid for our sins and we will be rescued and saved
from death to life. John 3:14-15 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must
be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have
eternal life.” Believe our Heavenly Father, who is both “just”
and our “Justifier”. When our hearts are transformed, our lives change. Believe
that Jesus saves. By God’s power, we are saved instantly. This is Salvation!
Mark 16:16 “ Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned.”
Jesus
does not show the way to eternal life in Heaven; Jesus is the Way. Look to
Jesus and no other place because in no other place is salvation found. Remember
that Jesus (God the Son) is an equal opportunity Blessor for whoever believes in
Him, but also an equal opportunity Rejecter of those who chose to oppose Him. So
simple and yet we tend to make this truth so complicated. Turn your eyes from
the things of this world and fix your heart, your mind, your soul … your life
upon Jesus. He is where you will find life today and life eternal. This is the
gospel for “Whoever” believes in Him.
John 6:37 “ All
that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
In
Christ, Brian
2 comments:
Hi Brian,
Speaking of people making a God in their own image, that is actually what I did before I was saved. I did not like the idea of obeying God, and wanted to deny there was a hell. So I thought that if I made myself believe God was as I say He is, then all would be fine. Wrong! Actually because it was a lie, it was quite miserable and confusing thinking about it.
God bless,
Ken
That is a great point to bring up Ken. We all have a history of errant thoughts and understanding based upon mis-information, ignorance of reality, poor counsel, selfish ambitions, pride, and the such. This "fallen" world to sin creates a bondage of the soul (mind, will and emotion), but the TRUTH sets us free (that TRUTH being God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The temptations of a sinful world, a lusting flesh and the lies of Satan distract and capture our attention by drawing our focus off of the purposeful life in the light of righteousness (a "right" relationship with God - aligned with His loving Word, Will and Way) for us. Ephesians 5:1-14 tells us - Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
The key point is "you were once in darkness", but now a Child of Light. To "walk (live) in the Spirit", let Christ shine and shine our Light on others. Anything else is Hell. We need to think on these things to keep in step with the Spirit in this day and time. Thanks for writing.
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