Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 22-23, Luke 22:24-38
Good morning,
There are people who say they don't believe in the God of the Old Testament because He is a "jealous God" or a "God of wrath" but believe in the love of Jesus Christ. Their are churches that pretty much have the same belief or at least put forth the same message.
Today's verse should be familiar to everyone. It's a verse that is one of the first one that kids will learn in Sunday School or Awana Clubs. But as with so many other of those verses that we learn, it is often very important to learn or to know about the verses that precede or follow it.
John 3:16 tells of "how God so loved the world", this is the God of the Old Testament sending His "only begotten Son", that "while we were yet sinners" (Rom. 5:8) Christ died for us
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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
How many times have you read or spoken John 3:16 without also reading or saying verse 17. He sent His Son into the world to save sinners, not to condemn them. Who did Jesus minister to? Sinners of every shape and kind, tax collectors, prostitutes, and other outcasts of society. Who did He speak out against? Those who thought that they didn't need Him, who were convinced of their standing before God in themselves and their works and "religion".
You could think of Jesus as a missionary, an evangelist for the Father.
"The concept of God sending His servants into the world to save them from judgement is so important that the church recognizes her call in the very word used to describe worldwide outreach - missions. This word comes from the Latin verb missio, which means to send. When the church sends evangelists and missionaries to preach the Gospel, she is imitating the Creator Himself" - Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries.
From the prophets to Christ to modern day missionaries God has sent His people into the world not to condemn the people, but to save them.
Read these verses from the Amplified Bible, especially regarding the word believes which it amplifies as trusts in, clings to, and relies on:
16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
Last Friday I mentioned how Peter and John ran into opposition as they went out ministering. Christ constantly faced opposition among the Pharisee's and High Priest.
I recently received a message from friends who are on the mission field in China who asked for prayer concerning the local authorities. Another friend is leading a team on a medical missions trip who ran into opposition in the form of a cancelled flight. While serving they trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ.
Relating to Matt 9:37- "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.", we need to continue to pray for and support those who are in the field.
Say a prayer for the missionaries that you know who are "out in the fields" today serving their Master.
May you also pray that you'll be willing to go where He would send you. It could be right where you are.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
John 3:1-17
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him,"How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
NKJV
No comments:
Post a Comment