 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting LIFE." God So Loved The World. This verse reveals the heart and purpose of God - the great truth that motivated His plan of salvation for human kind. God's love is deep and wide enough to embrace all persons, "the world." (1 Timothy 2:3-4) God "gave" His Son (who also gave Himself willingly. John 10: 17-18) as an offering to pay the price of the sin (offenses and rebellion against God) of all humanity. This act was one of complete, undeserved love. God did not have to provide this sacrifice for us; it was not something forced upon Him (Romans 8:32) To believe (Greek pisteuo) includes three main elements: (a) a faith and confidence that Jesus Christ is God's Son and the only Savior for spiritually lost humanity; (b) an act of surrender that turns over to Christ the leadership of one's life and an attitude of submission that continues to obey Christ (John 1:1-10) (c) the trust and assurance that Christ is both able and willing to complete a person's salvation by bringing him or her to live with Him forever in heaven. Keep in mind that to "believe" in the true Biblical sense is not just a mental exercise; it is an active trust that surrenders the leadership of one's life to Christ. Real faith continues to show trust through selfless action, obedience and service (James 2:14-16) "Perish" is a term in verse 16 that can be easily overlooked in the context of the wonderful gift of grace God offers. It is the tragic consequence of rejecting God (not believing in Him, not surrendering our lives to His leadership, not accepting His gifts of forgiveness and eternal life). To perish does not point to physical death but to the dreadful reality of spiritual death (permanent separation from God) and eternal punishment (Matthew 10:28) "eternal life" is God's gift to those who accept Christ's sacrifice and forgiveness for sins and become "born again" spiritually. It is not something that can be earned by good works or personal effort; is a gift that be received. "Eternal" is more than simply living forever; it is a quality of existence that begins even in this life - it is the opportunity to know God now (John 17:3 ) It is a life that frees us from the power of sin and Satan and allows us to live spiritually beyond earthly things in order to develop an eternal relationship with God. (John 8:34-36) John 3:16 Prayer Thank you God for your amazing love, thank you for giving your only Son, for opening up a way of reconciliation through his death on the cross. Thank you that we can be forgiven, no more in condemnation, free to worship you wholeheartedly and to live fruitful lives that honor you. Thank you for turning my night into day, and thank you for teaching me how to pray. Thank you for your promise of eternal life to those who commit their lives to you. Lord, make me a channel of your grace through my prayers, words and deeds. In Jesus' name, Amen Thank you for joining me.
Also I would like to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a short note or a comment. Blessings, Margarita & Stace
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |