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Post by delo63 on Jul 19, 2017 8:20:00 GMT -6
So most people know the famous verse of John 3:16, but I always wondered why the following verses were not included.
John 3:17-21 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. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I have come to the conclusion that the reason the rest is not quoted as much is because it's messy. It immediately puts the choice right in front of you. It clearly defines that salvation is through believing in Christ alone, if not you are already condemned.
I believe these verses put the gospel in perspective, though the gospel is meant as a free gift for everyone, a majority of people will pass it up simply because of the allegiance that is required.
This also shows why so many in our world today can't stand the Word of God and are against the church. They delight in their evil and fear the truth, so they will either ignore it, mock it, or try to change it to fit their own desires.
I know this to be true, because I was guilty of this in my own life. I had so many things that I have done wrong and I couldn't think that a wretch like me deserved any sort of grace. I also would try to justify my sin by changing the gospel in my mind, that made it justified for me to do whatever I wanted. Unfortunately I learned I can't change the laws of God for my own agenda.
However the amazing thing about God is that no matter what you do or how far you run from Him, He will always be there with open arms, waiting for you to comeback.
So as we approach the end will we have the courage to change our final choice before it's too late?
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Post by Gary on Jul 19, 2017 9:50:46 GMT -6
Great thoughts, delo63. I've thought the same things for awhile. Preaching John 3:16 without the next few verses misses that the Gospel is a choice. Believe in Christ = Saved. Don't believe in Christ = Already condemned.
It's such a simple choice. A free gift without cost. Yet it seems that most reject.
It's like Warren Buffet showing up at your house with a check for ten million dollars. "Please take it," he says. "It's a free gift... no strings attached... I have more than enough money of my own."
Yet the replies are, "What do I have to do for it?" or "I don't want your money" or "I think your money is fake" or simply "No thanks".
The world's rejection of the Gospel is like this, but infinitely more ridiculous.
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Post by delo63 on Jul 19, 2017 10:12:02 GMT -6
That's a good point Gary, I believe without these verses it diminishes the truth of the gospel. With only John 3:16 it is only telling part of the story and not fully grasping the true message.
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Post by watchmanjim on Jul 19, 2017 21:20:20 GMT -6
It's true the Gospel can be reduced to a very lean and poignant few phrases, as we have demonstrated in other threads. But the more you understand about it, the better.
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Post by kjs on Jul 20, 2017 12:21:18 GMT -6
1 Corinthians 1:23 “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,”
Christ is a Stumbling-block to human pride. If we are to be saved by Jesus Christ, then we must confess ourselves to be guilty sinners, we must lay aside all trust in any merit of our own, all hope of heaven because of our own good works. This is a stumbling-block to many. Penances are no stumbling-block. Men will freely inflict on themselves fastings and bodily sufferings, to purchase for themselves, as they think, the pardon of their sins and the hope of heaven; but simply to accept the salvation provided by Jesus Christ - when they are asked to do this, they hesitate, they raise difficulties, they entertain doubts. God's way of salvation is too simple for many. If he would bid us do "some great thing" we would gladly do it. Here, again, is it not plain that such a cause of stumbling is unreasonable? If I will not take God's way of getting to heaven, how can I expect to get there by any other? And if there could be any other way, what necessity was there for God to give up his own Son to death for us all?
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