The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 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 them."
These words of John the baptist point to a very precarious dilemma each and every one of us face when we are born into this world. When John said that those who reject Jesus Christ will not see life, it was because of God's wrath remaining on them. That "remaining" means God's wrath hangs over a person as a pre existing condition prior to any consideration of whether a person is fit for eternal life or not. We are born into death.
We are all born this way. It is something we all inherit from mankind's fall in the garden of Eden. I am reminded of Jesus' words in John 5:28, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." Those who would seek eternal life need to cross over from death because they already own and possess eternal death from the moment of birth. A transition needs to take place for anyone to enter eternal life.
There is none of this business of a person holding a neutral position in the court of God until an evaluation is made of their choices and doings in life that warrant either judgement or the eternal reward of heaven. That is an issue that is already settled and in place for each and every one of us at birth. We are all born into a judgment of eternal death because of the sinful condition inherent within us.
This is why the gospel is such good news! Through faith in the Son of God we have the opportunity of crossing over from this death to eternal life! We start life in death and find eternal life through the wonderful provision God has made of his Son, Jesus Christ! He paid the death-penalty for us when he died on that cross. Now, all he asks is that we place our faith and trust in him, "everyone who believes may have eternal life in him". John 3:15.
He gives it freely to us! Where can you find a better deal than that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them."
These words of John the baptist point to a very precarious dilemma each and every one of us face when we are born into this world. When John said that those who reject Jesus Christ will not see life, it was because of God's wrath remaining on them. That "remaining" means God's wrath hangs over a person as a pre existing condition prior to any consideration of whether a person is fit for eternal life or not. We are born into death.
We are all born this way. It is something we all inherit from mankind's fall in the garden of Eden. I am reminded of Jesus' words in John 5:28, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." Those who would seek eternal life need to cross over from death because they already own and possess eternal death from the moment of birth. A transition needs to take place for anyone to enter eternal life.
There is none of this business of a person holding a neutral position in the court of God until an evaluation is made of their choices and doings in life that warrant either judgement or the eternal reward of heaven. That is an issue that is already settled and in place for each and every one of us at birth. We are all born into a judgment of eternal death because of the sinful condition inherent within us.
This is why the gospel is such good news! Through faith in the Son of God we have the opportunity of crossing over from this death to eternal life! We start life in death and find eternal life through the wonderful provision God has made of his Son, Jesus Christ! He paid the death-penalty for us when he died on that cross. Now, all he asks is that we place our faith and trust in him, "everyone who believes may have eternal life in him". John 3:15.
He gives it freely to us! Where can you find a better deal than that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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