Another Look At John 3:16

"Jesus answered [Nicodemus], “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit ..... 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ... He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." - John 3:5-6,16-18, 36

I was reading through John chapter 3 this morning. Something caught my eye. A realization. Something that seemed deeper than the promise of God in verse 16, as if that was not enough! What might that be?

We are born into this world as condemned men and women. The Father did not send the Son to condemn the world. It was already condemned. And so, none of us have any hope beyond this life - but this natural life is not the end of our existence. We all get our start in the same place. Born of water. Born of flesh. We experience ups and downs - joy and sadness - plenty and want - and then we die. At least to the things of this world - but there's more. Being condemned, we all will face a day of reconning.  

But God, the Father, did not send Jesus to condemn mankind but to save it. Man chose to justify himself through his flesh and works. Thinking he knew better than God who created him. The Father sent the Son so that mankind might be redeemed - born again by the Spirit. It is the only way that mankind might be restored to the Father and spend eternity in Heaven. Those who reject Jesus are bound to face the wrath of God. eternal separation. I guess you could think of it this way. The world has been declared guilty already. All have sinned - are convicted. What they are waiting for is the sentencing. We know what the penalty is. And that will be an eternal sentence to hell. 

Shouldn't that give the redeemed a sense of urgency about warning others of the wrath to come and salvation by faith in Jesus. After I returned from Vietnam and before I started college, I went back to work at my stepdad's family's shop. We made mattresses and boxsprings and sold furniture. When I would make a delivery with my stepdad, he would most often leave a Gospel tract on the nightstand or end table as we left. He and my mom became Christians while I was in Vietnam. I wasn't a Christian then and thought it was intrusive - rude - and inappropriate for him to impose his faith on others. I didn't understand that he was casting spiritual seed. The people might throw it away or they might read it and the Spirit might bring conviction to their hearts and they might be saved.  My stepdad got it. He was responding to the prompting of the Spirit. I didn't get it until the day that my heart came under conviction and I too was saved by faith and born again. 

Don't miss the opportunity to cast seeds of your own. God will give you opportunity to do you part and He will be faithful to do His part. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone