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 3:16-18,
"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
These are the oft quoted words of Jesus to Nicodemus. In these several verses we learn of an incomprehensible love God has for lost and sinful mankind. I say incomprehensible because of the disposition of man's heart toward his Creator. Man rebelled against God, turned from God to go his own way. This resulted in an estrangement between the two, yet God so loved mankind that he sent his Son to make a way for mankind to be reconciled to himself and given a place at his table for an eternity.
Quite apart from any inclination from God that man deserves anything, God has expressed his grace and mercy by sending the Son of his love to die a miserable death on that cross to make eternity possible for all who will embrace him in faith.
In addition to the love of God that provided a way for man, we learn that path is only found and only traveled by faith. None of us can ever be good enough to pay for our sins. The only payment we can make is the eternal death we all deserve. However, God sent his Son as the Way. That Way is achieved or attained only by an exercise of our wills, to embrace Jesus Christ in faith. We are all born into this world as lost and fallen people destined for God's condemnation on judgment day. However, God himself makes it possible for us to be reconciled to him, no longer "condemned".
Here is how John the Baptist put it at the end of the chapter, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36. Clear, succinct, concise and truthful: the trademark of John the Baptist's communication.
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.
"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
These are the oft quoted words of Jesus to Nicodemus. In these several verses we learn of an incomprehensible love God has for lost and sinful mankind. I say incomprehensible because of the disposition of man's heart toward his Creator. Man rebelled against God, turned from God to go his own way. This resulted in an estrangement between the two, yet God so loved mankind that he sent his Son to make a way for mankind to be reconciled to himself and given a place at his table for an eternity.
Quite apart from any inclination from God that man deserves anything, God has expressed his grace and mercy by sending the Son of his love to die a miserable death on that cross to make eternity possible for all who will embrace him in faith.
In addition to the love of God that provided a way for man, we learn that path is only found and only traveled by faith. None of us can ever be good enough to pay for our sins. The only payment we can make is the eternal death we all deserve. However, God sent his Son as the Way. That Way is achieved or attained only by an exercise of our wills, to embrace Jesus Christ in faith. We are all born into this world as lost and fallen people destined for God's condemnation on judgment day. However, God himself makes it possible for us to be reconciled to him, no longer "condemned".
Here is how John the Baptist put it at the end of the chapter, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36. Clear, succinct, concise and truthful: the trademark of John the Baptist's communication.
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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