Reading for June 29: John 3:13-17

Friday, June 29, 2007

Reading for June 29: John 3:13-17

John 3:13-17 NASB

No one has ascended into Heaven, but He who descended from Heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
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Comments:
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The most recognized and memorized Scripture in all the Bible is John 3:16. It encapsulates the Gospel message in full. But, for many Christians, it has become all too familiar. And, for the non-Christian, it has often become just a Christian mantra that has little or no meaning to anyone outside of the Bible belt.
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Here is today's challenge: Read this verse with freshness. Listen to the message and deepen your appreciation for the depths of God's love and the redemption available through Christ.
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For God so loved the world: The Creator of all existence expressed His desire for all of humanity to know Him personally. In this we see the greatest gift: love.
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that He gave: God initiated the invitation for man to know Him. It was not man's idea or even man's search for God that revealed the truth of Who God is. It is only by God revealing Himself to man.
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His only begotten Son: There is a uniqueness in Christ. He is the only One that ascended to and descended from Heaven. This speaks to Jesus' coexistence with God and reveals His equality with God, which is fully expressed in Him being God. There is no other that can even claim with evidence this fact of Christ.
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that whoever believes in Him: an open invitation that is only limited to our response to the nature of who Christ is. There is a cost of beginning a relationship with God, and it is believing what God has revealed about Jesus through the Bible. Many believe in Jesus but not what the Bible teaches us about Him. Some want Him to be a prophet or a teacher. others want Him to be a moral man or an example to follow. As noble as these are, it is not what the Bible teaches about Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God; the Word that was with God and that is God; He is God in human flesh. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End. He willingly laid down His life and then took it back again.
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shall not perish: Through His death and resurrection, those who believe in the Christ of the Bible will not experience the final death. It is appointed once for all to die and then be judged. But not all will perish. Life eternal is what man was created for. All people will face eternity. But some will not perish. This conversely means some will perish. This is permanent and total separation from God. There is no equating the harshness of this reality. It is consignment to Hell and punishment that is only chosen by rejecting the love God so provided for all through Christ.
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but have eternal life: Life in its fullest and perfect sense. We now are looking in a mirror dimly and do not see clearly what greatness lies ahead for those in Christ Jesus. Life in the presence of God Christ Jesus the Holy Spirit. As unexplainable as Hell, Heaven holds for those in Christ the promise and reality of eternity with life.
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God so loved us that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, not to point people to separation but to a lasting relationship with Him. The Gospel message is truly the most amazing love story ever told. Have you shared john 3:16 with someone you love lately? Recite it today to a friend or family member. Allow God to use a fresh view of His message to change your life and others around you.
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John