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Have We All Mis-Understood John 3:16?
We have heard it time and again that God loves everybody, but does He do so literally or figuratively? How the Bible explains it is what we should believe to be the truth.
Basically, the idea that God loves everyone comes from what we read in John 3:16, which says:
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.
The first part is from where the idea comes that God loves everyone. Specifically from the word “world”, for God so loved the “world”. Does this mean that it is talking about everyone, every single being, who has or ever will live?
From Strong’s Concordance we read the following concerning the word “world” as used in John 3:16:
κόσμος
kosmos
kos’-mos
Probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): – adorning, world.
We do see the word “inhabitants” so it could mean each individual, if that is something about which Jesus was talking. Remember, Jesus had been talking to a Pharisees named Nicodemus, who was a ruler of the Jews. the Pharisees and all of the Jewish people believed that God’s love, or God’s favor, was only for the descendants of Israel; the Israelites called the Jews.
During the conversation Jesus was talking about the need for being born again and that all who look to Him would be saved and have everlasting light. Nicodemus was only thinking that Jesus was talking about the Jewish people but Jesus had to remind him that this salvation, this eternal life, was for anyone regardless of their race, creed, religion or color. In other words, the offer of eternal life was for anyone, any inhabitant of the world, and Jesus was talking in a figurative way, not literally. Here’s why.
In John 12 we read the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, what we call Palm Sunday. Many people were celebrating as Jesus was coming into town and the Pharisees saw what was happening. They knew about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and that He was starting to gather a great following. Finally , in John 12:19 we read the following:
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
Again, the same word for “world” was used here. If the word “kosmos” in John 3:16 meant everyone, all individuals, then it should mean the same thing here, but it doesn’t. All it means here is the same as what it means in John 3:16, that it is talking about people of all kinds, that Jews and Gentiles alike, in general terms, were starting to follow Jesus. It did not mean that everyone was following Jesus because they were not, but many people of all kinds – who were in the world – were starting to become followers of Jesus
To support all of this, there are verses that talk about whom it is that Jesus does love. We’ll take a look a couple of them and you will be able to see that John 3:16 does not talk about individuals but people in general, that is Jews and Gentiles alike from all walks of like. Anyone can be born again and given eternal life and that it is these people who we will see are the ones whom God loves.
In John 13:1 we read the following:
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
In this verse we see that the word “world” is the same word used in John 3: 16, but what we see different is that this verse speaks specifically who it was that Jesus loved while in this world (kosmos). The verse says that Jesus had loved his own who were in the world (kosmos), not everyone, but only His own.
Now in John 14:21-24 we read the following as more supporting verses about who it is that Jesus will love:
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
Do you see it? They who love Jesus and obey Him are the ones whom He will love and they are the only ones whom the Father will love, and they will make themselves known only to them. In addition, another follower asks Jesus why does He make Himself known only to them and not to the world? Again, the word “world” (kosmos) is the same word found in John 3:16. In fact this is so important that Jesus again says that “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him.”
Jesus is very specific in saying that the only ones whom He, and the Father, will love are they who love Them. And this means that anyone in the “world” (kosmos) no matter who they are, what their color, race, creed are, whether male, female, young, old or in between they are all given this offer.
Still not convinced? Let us look at one more verse. Actually what I would like for you to read is John 17. This is where Jesus gives His great high priestly prayer for all of His followers. Specifically, however, I would like for you to read the following from John 17:20 – 23:
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Very clearly Jesus prays for all who will believe and follow Him, and what He asks is for the “world” (kosmos) in general to know that God the Father loves all who will follow Jesus just as the Father loves the Son. Basically what Jesus is asking is for all unbelievers to know that God loves all believers of Jesus – they who follow Him.
In all of these verses, and there are more, what is specific is that God loves anyone, no matter from where they come or who they are, who will follow Jesus and be born again into the family of God.
So, have we all mis-understood John 3:16? The answer is an absolute “yes”…
However, the one thing that you should know is this. Whether or not you believe what the Bible says or what some preacher says, this one thing is very clear. It is not the verse where Jesus says, “For God so loved the world (kosmos)” upon which that we should focus… No, what follows next is the most important thing that Jesus says in John 3:16.
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
If you do not believe in Jesus, have bowed the knee to Him and proclaimed Him to be Lord, and believe that He was raised from the dead, it does not matter what you believe about who God loves, if “you” do not believe “you” will be among those who will perish and you will not have everlasting life.
You may know John 3:16 but do you know John 3:35 & 36:
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 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.”
My friend, believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved. Then, and only then, will you be able to truly say, according to the scriptures that we have seen and read, that you are among those whom Jesus and the Father loves. For God so loved “me”… Now that is nice, and that is only for the believer in Jesus. More importantly it is also scriptural…
How Anxious Are You?
How often do you pray?
Read the following from Philippians 4:6-7:
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Do you remember the song, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”? Here are just a couple of verses from that song:
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Do you see the connection? Peace and prayer go hand in hand. Prayer is the greatest weapon all believers have at their disposal. It can be done anytime, anyplace, anywhere. It soothes, it calms, it gives reassurance. In short, prayer gives peace.
No matter what the problem or situation is in which you find yourself, prayer can bring peace in the midst of the storm, but there is a catch. In praying do not just rely on your prayer. Instead, your prayer should lead you into trusting in Jesus for the answer no matter what the answer might be.
You see, prayer is not about just getting the result that “you” want, no, it is trusting in Jesus to provide the answer that He wants to give you. The peace from your prayer comes in the knowledge that you have given over your worries, your concerns, your desires, even your joy’s – with thanksgivings – to the only One Who can take your prayer and turn it into something that not only brings praise to the Almighty but is also something that is in your best interest.
When you worry, when you’re anxious, when you need relief and don’t know the answer take these concerns to the Lord. Let Him know what is bothering you, tell Him your thoughts and thank Him for the privilege of being His child and that you trust Him for the answer. It is when you know that the Creator of the Universe has it all in control and that He knows how you feel and sees you trusting in Him, by the prayers that you give with thanksgiving for the answer, is when His peace will come upon you and He will guard your thoughts and quiet your heart and give you such a peace that it will be hard to understand how He can be so loving and caring about you.
Why bear the pain or forfeit peace, you can know and feel the loving hand of God upon your life, and He will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This new year start it off with prayer. Start each and everyday with prayer and as you lay down to sleep at night talk with God and thank Him for your day. let Him know that you trust in Him and are very grateful for Jesus being in your life. Prayer, with trust, can bring peace to your heart and what a way to start the new year.
If you know Jesus, you can know true peace. It is just a matter of talking with Him and then trusting in His answer. There is no greater peace than in knowing that Jesus loves you and will provide for you with what He knows is best for you. You really can know the true peace given to you by God Himself.
How anxious are you? Ask yourself that question again after you pray – you just might be surprised at the answer… 🙂
Your Faith Did Not Save You: Part II – The Intent
Read the original article here… Your Faith Did Not Save You
Back in August of this year I wrote about why I believed that the 1599 Geneva Bible was more accurate than most of the new, modern versions that are out there. As an example one of the verses that I used was found in Galatians 2 and the verse itself was verse 16. All of the other verses that I quoted all boil down to this one thing; is the correct translation ” in ” or ” of “? Let me show you what I mean.
In the following the verse is taken from a modern translation and it is Galatians 2: 16:
know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
This is the translation from the 1599 Geneva Bible:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Do you see the difference? In the new translation it states that we are “justified” by faith ” in ” Jesus. Admittedly it does sound like this would be the correct translation. However, when we read it in the Geneva Bible it states that we are “justified” by the faith ” of ” Jesus. So, which one is the correct translation?
In addition to looking at the original writing, in translating one must also look at ” The Intent ” of what is to be the correct translation. Now we can look at the original Greek word which is APO’. From Strong’s we read the following:
ἀπό
apo
apo’
A primary particle; “off”, that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively): – (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
Not only in looking at, and trusting in, the translation of Strong’s Concordance but in the modern vernacular the Greek word “APO'” always means ” of ” or ” from “. Even the King James and the Authorized King James version used the word ” of ” and not ” in “.
So, what do we have? Before we make any decisions let us see if we can understand what the intent was that Paul was telling us in stating what he did in verse 16. The easies way of doing so is to look at verse 17 as here we will see quite clearly what the intent is that Paul is saying.
In Galatians 2:17 we read:
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Do you see it? Paul says “while we seek to be justified “by “Christ…”. If, then, we are to be found “justified” by Christ how can one say that we are “justified” by faith ” in ” Christ? The answer is… we cannot. However, if we say that we are “justified by the faith ” of ” Jesus then we can see how easily it is to be “justified” by Christ, because it is by the faith ” of ” Jesus imputed to us that saves. We are not saved by ” our ” faith but by the faith ” of ” Jesus.
So, re-read verse 16 again:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
We are not justified by works. We are justified by the faith of Jesus. We believe in Jesus so that we will be justified by the faith of Jesus and the faith by which we do believe is given to us as a gift so that we “can” believe.
Remember Ephesians 2:8, 9? It says:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast himself.
The faith by which we believe is a gift of God. It is given to us so that we can, or have the ability to, believe in Jesus. If man had the ability to have faith of any kind then he could boast about himself for what he was able to do. Is that what you want? To be able to boast about saving yourself?
The work of salvation is all of Jesus. Man can do nothing to save himself nor can he contribute to his salvation in any way. We are “justified” by the faith ” of ” Jesus and not by “our” faith ” in ” Jesus. Otherwise it would be of works and that cannot be.
So, the intent of what Paul said in both Galatians 16 and 17 is that we are saved and “justified” by the faith ” of ” Jesus on behalf of all who would be saved. The modern translations are misleading they who read their translations and are allowing them to believe that it is by “their” faith that they are saved.
Both the correct translation and the “Intent” of the writings are that we are saved by the faith ” of ” Jesus on our behalf and not by our faith ” in ” Jesus which is really not saving faith at all.
Who Is The One Person Whom You Should Fear?
Do you know who the one person is that I fear the Most??? ME!
You see, I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for the will to do good is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
What a terrible man I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—Only Jesus can!
The problem is that all of us fit into this category. If you want to see the one person whom “you” should fear and who can keep you from going to Heaven… just look into a mirror.
Remember, the only one who can save you from the one whom you see in the mirror is Jesus. For Christ Jesus came into the world to save people like me and people like you. Whoever calls upon Jesus will be saved…
Truth Shall Make You Free
If you are not a Christian, do you know that you are a slave?
You see, we are all born with a sin nature. As such, we are a slave to this nature and committing sins becomes common place. Unfortunately, being in this state, a slave to sin, makes our eternal destiny to be in the Lake of Fire… Hell!
Knowing this, God has made a way for us to be saved from spending eternity in Hell and it is a simple piece of truth to which He gives us an understanding, and with this understanding we are set free from being a slave to sin and we become born a new into the Kingdom of God.
In the Gospel of John, chapter 8, we read in verses 30 thru 36:
30 ¶ As he spake these things, many believed in him.
31 [r]Then said Jesus to the Jews which believed in him, If ye continue in my word, ye are verily my disciples,
32 And shall know the truth, and the truth shall [s]make you free.
33 [t]They answered him, We be [u]Abraham’s seed, and were never bond to any man: why sayest thou then, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, that whosoever commiteth sin, is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth forever.
36 If that Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
In verse 32 Jesus tells us that once we know the truth we will be set free. However, many do not know what He meant by saying “know the truth”; what truth? Again, it takes God to give us understanding in this and, if you can understand what Jesus tells us in verse 36 you will be set free;
36 If that Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Do you understand what He is saying? The truth is this – it takes Jesus to set you free. That’s it. You cannot do this on your own, and no one else can do this for you. If Jesus does not set you free from being a slave to sin you will never be free. Jesus is the only way to being saved, the only way to being set free from being a slave to your sin nature so that you can abide in the House of God.
It is that simple. You are born with a sin nature and, as such, you are a slave to sin destined to spend eternity in Hell. In order to be set free from being a slave to sin Jesus must do all of the work that is necessary in order to break the chains that bind you and to bring you into the family of God.
Do you believe this? Have you called upon Jesus to save you, to forgive you for you sinfulness? Have you confessed that Jesus is Lord and believe that God has raised Him from the dead? If you can say “YES” then you have been set free because you know the truth, the truth that you need to know and understand in order to be set free.
It takes Jesus to give you understanding into this truth and, having done so, you will have been set free. You are no longer a slave to sin. You are now a child of God and a disciple of Jesus, and by abiding in His Word you will be showing that you have been set free and you now belong to God.
Simple truth, simple freedom… Jesus saves.
Should Christians Judge Non-Christians?
How many times have you pointed out a sin with which someone is involved only to be told something like, “who are you to judge me”, or “remember, the bible tells us that we should not judge another”. Is judging others, especially non-Christians, something Christians should be doing?
In response, I would always use the verses from James 5: 19, 20 to show that it is OK to point out sin in others:
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
This would seem to say that it is OK to point out the sins of others. Otherwise, how else could you turn someone from the errors of their ways? Well, I’ve discovered that there is more to this than James 5.
Recently, while reading through 1 Corinthians, I came across a verse that I’ve read numerous times but it never jumped off of the page as it did this particular time. The verse about which I’m talking is from 1 Co. 5: 12, 13 which reads:
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges.”
Did you catch it? I did, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Paul is asking the people in the church at Corinth “why are you judging those who are outside the church (non-Christians). Leave them alone as God will judge them. it is very clear that Paul here is teaching that Christians should not be judging non-Christians. We are to leave that to God.
So, when you put this together with what James stated, as we read above, only those in the church, they whom we call Christians, are the ones who we should be judging in the sense of letting them know what God has said about the matter and then to bring them back into the fold once they see their sin and repent of it. That is also taught in 1 Corinthians 5, and that is what Paul is telling us. Leave it to God to do the judging of non-Christians.
The answer then to the question of “Should Christians Judge Non-Christians” is an emphatic ” NO “! The reason for this, in addition to what we are taught by Paul, through the Holy Spirit, is that non-Christians will not and cannot understand the spiritual things of God.
Take for example 1 Co. 2: 14
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Here we are told that the natural man, who is a non-Christian, will not and cannot understand the spiritual things of God. So, we can talk to them until we are blue in the face, so to speak, and they will never accept what we are saying. This is something that used to drive me crazy because to me it was so simple and I would get so upset that the one to whom I was talking would not accept what I was saying. Now I know why… Simply put they cannot do so without the Holy Spirit working in them to give them understanding.
More importantly Jesus makes this even more clear as to why non-Christians will not and cannot understand what we are talking about when we specifically point out their sin, and they will even get angry and argue or fight with us in the process of rejecting what we are saying.
In the Gospel of John 8 we see Jesus talking with The Pharisees and they are constantly asking Him who was He? The response of Jesus in answering them is very telling. They do not understand all that He is saying and He even tells them why they cannot.
First, in verses 42 and 43 Jesus says this:
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.”
You see, Jesus plainly tells them that the reason they do not understand what He is saying is because they are no able to listen to His word. Then He goes on to tell them why.
In verses 45 through 47 Jesus tells them:
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
In simple words, Jesus tells them that they do not belong to God, basically they are non-Christians, and because of that they cannot hear God’s words – “you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
Again, in John 10 Jesus is talking with the Jewish leaders and they ask Him in verse 24:
24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Pointedly they have asked Him if He truly was the Christ and He answers them in verses 25 through 27 that He has already told them, they didn’t believe Him and Jesus even tells them “why” they don’t believe Him.
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
What Jesus tells them is that He has already answered them and the reason they will not and cannot believe Him is because they do not belong to them; they are non-Christians.
This now brings us back to the question of “Should Christians Judge Non-Christians”? And the answer is “NO”…
Not only will they not believe what you will say but they cannot believe what you will say because they do not belong to God. They are non-Christians and they will not hear nor understand anything you tell them of a spiritual nature.
Now judging non-Christians and sharing the gospel are two different actions. Pointing out specific sin in others who are non-Christians is something that Christians should “not” do, but sharing the gospel and explaining what sin is will be the beginning of the path for non-Christians to follow which will lead them to Christ.
Leave the judging of non-Christians to God. In doing so we can trust in this:
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
1 Corinthians 4: 5
Your Faith Did Not Save You
You’ve heard it and you’ve seen it in print. If you just accept Jesus by faith you will be saved. The plain teaching today is that you can be saved from your sins if you will just have a little faith in Jesus. The problem with all of this is that in your sinful state you are dead in sins and are unable to respond to any calling to having any faith of any kind in Jesus for salvation.
In the following passages we read:
And you hath he quickened, that were dead in trespasses and sins… Ephesians 2: 1
even when we were dead in trespasses… Ephesians 2: 5
And you, being dead in your trespasses… Colossians 2: 13
As you can see, before you are “born again” you are dead, spiritually dead, and are unable to do respond to anything pertaining to Jesus. Just as Lazarus was physically dead in a physical grave, you are spiritually dead in a spiritual grave. When the call comes to “come forth” you must be given to ability to do so, just like Lazarus was given the ability to respond to Jesus’s command to come out of the grave. Before you can come out of the grave you, too, need to be given the ability to do so before you can answer the call to come forth.
Now we know this verse well:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast… Ephesians 2: 8, 9
Here we are told that it is by “grace” that we are saved through faith that is given to us with which we can believe on Jesus. That is very clear in this verse. Any faith that we have is given to us as a gift from God so that we cannot boast about how “our” faith saved us. So, if it isn’t by “our” faith that we are saved, then by whose faith are we saved?
Now here is where the problem arises with today’s modern language translation bibles. Look first at the following verses; you will recognize them all.
1. Romans 3:22
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
2. Romans 3:26
he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
3. Galatians 2:16
know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
4. Galatians 3:22
But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
These all came from the New International Version (NIV) translation of the bible, and many of today’s modern translations say the same thing, in one way or another. The question is this. If we are dead in trespasses, as we have read, how then can we generate any kind of faith in order to believe? The answer is… we can’t. However, the answer to this problem is easy. It is not by “our” faith with which we believe!
Now, read this verses. They are the same four as above, but they are from the 1599 Geneva Bible. All but forgotten in our day, the Geneva Bible was the most widely read and influential English Bible of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A superb translation, it was the product of the best Protestant scholars of the day and became the Bible of choice for many of the greatest writers and thinkers of that time. (from Bible Gateway.com)
1. Romans 3:22
To wit, the righteousness of God by the faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all that believe.
2. Romans 3:26
Through the patience of God, to show at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, and a justifier of him which is of the faith of Jesus.
Know that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we, I say, have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law, because that by the works of the Law, no flesh shall be justified.
But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given to them that believe.
Do you see the difference? Today’s translations state that we are saved by “faith in Jesus”. However, as we have seen we are spiritually dead in trespasses and are unable to respond with any faith at all, and what faith it is that we use is given to us by God that we may believe.
You see, the little word “in” is from the Greek word “apo'” which should be translated “of” and not “in”, basically meaning “taken from or off of”. As in “off of” or “from” Jesus, i.e. “faith of Jesus”.
This is where the 1599 Geneva translations comes into its own. The Geneva Bible states clearly that it is by the “FAITH OF JESUS” that we are saved. This is the faith that is given to us as a gift by God so that we can believe. This way we cannot boast about “our” faith, because we have none, and it is by the “FAITH OF JESUS” given to us that we believe.
This may help you to understand this:
For I say through the grace that is given unto me, to everyone that is among you, that no man presume to understand above that which is meet to understand, but that he understand according to sobriety, as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith… Romans 12:3
When we are called to come to Jesus we cannot do so unless God gives us the ability to do so (see John 6: 44 and John 6: 65), and He gives us a measure of faith with which to believe, and the faith that is given to us is the faith of Jesus that He had with the Father when He was here on earth. We have no faith of our own and, even if we did, it would be an imperfect faith that we would have to rely upon for our salvation, However, the faith of Jesus is a perfect faith. A faith which gives us the ability to come to Jesus and to believe on Him.
So you can see that, if you are saved, if you are born again by the Spirit of God that is was not by the result of any faith of your own, but by the “FAITH OF JESUS” that you are saved. This way you cannot boast of anything as it is a gift of God, given to you so that you could believe with a perfect faith. A faith that would be offered, accepted and held by God for eternity. For it is by the “FAITH OF JESUS” that you are justified and saved.
Think of this. By whose faith would you like to base your eternal salvation upon? Your faith or the “FAITH OF JESUS” given to you with which to believe? To me the answer is clear and I hope you will agree, for only by the “FAITH OF JESUS” are we justified and saved…..
Whom Do You Serve; the Creator or the creature?
In this life we have a choice about whom we serve. There are only two choices and no middle ground. The two choices are the Creator or the creature. By refusing to serve the Creator, even though you don’t conscientiously choose to serve the creature, you do so by default.
In Romans 1: 24, 25 we read:
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Now we know who the Creator is, His name is Jesus. He is the Lord of life. He is God. We are told this in John 1: 3. In speaking of Jesus we read:
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
All that you see, all that there is, in the Heaven’s above in the Earth beneath and in the Ocean’s below all was made by Jesus and was done so for His glory and pleasure. There is nothing that has been made that was not made by Him. Jesus is Lord. In this life you either believe in and serve Jesus or you stand condemned because you do not believe. In John 3: 18 we are told:
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.
In short, either you believe in and follow the Creator – Jesus, or by default you follow the creature. So, who is the creature?
A creature is something that was made, like you, you are a creature because you have been created. But, are you the creature that you serve by not serving God? There is one mightier than you who is the creature that you serve by not serving Jesus.
In Ezekiel 28: 12 – 15 we are told the following:
“You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.”
Satan is the cherub about who these verses are describing. He is the creature that you serve if you do not serve Jesus. There is no alternative. You either serve the Creator – Jesus, or you server the creature – Satan.
You can argue this all you want. You can proclaim all kinds of hatred towards Satan and deny him all you want and you are doing exactly what Satan wants. You see, he doesn’t want you to realize whom you serve, for once you do, you will want to turn from him and cry out to God to save you from this creature. You will want to come to Jesus to ask Him to forgive you for your sins, and to cleanse you from all the filth and perverse actions that you don’t realize that you are doing. For you will realize that:
“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: 36
Think of this. If you are not following and serving Jesus you are following and serving Satan; the problem is that you don’t know it, and you don’t know that you already stand condemned before God. You may try to deny it. You may say that you believe in God. Well, even Satan and his demons believe in God also and they certainly stand condemned.
If you don’t serve the Creator do you know what He will do? He may even have already done so and you don’t realize it. Read this from Romans 1: 28 – 32:
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Did you read those last eight words? They say that even though you may not do all that is described before, if you just approve of the sinful actions that others do, God will do to you the same as He will do to those who do them. Is that what you want?
It may not be too late for you. You can be set free from being a servant (slave) to the creature who is called Satan. If you will just confess that Jesus is Lord and that the Father has raised Him from the dead, if you cry out for forgiveness for you sins, for living a life in disobedience to God, you will be forgiven and saved from the wrath of God that is to come upon all who serve Satan.
Remember, in this life you either serve the Creator or the creature. There are no other choices. So, the question now is this. Whom do you serve – the Creator or the creature. Your choice will determine where you will spend eternity. Why would you choose the creature that can do nothing for you? Why would you not choose the Creator?
There are consequences to our choices. We can control our choices, but we cannot control the consequences. Your choice determines the consequences.
Whom do you serve – Jesus or Satan?
Make the right choice and call upon Jesus now, for He will save all who calls upon Him for salvation.
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10: 13
Preaching For Itching Ears
In many denominations there is on going preaching that is designed to make the church fit the world. The reason for it is so that no one will be offended in hopes that the world will like the church and will let it alone. I call it “Preaching For Itching Ears”.
In 2 Timothy 4:2-4 we read the following:
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
It seems that the time has come when no one wants to hear sound doctrine. There is no rebuking, no exhorting to abstain from all that is evil, there is no patience with learning the deep things of the Gospel of Christ. In short, there is no Biblical teaching being served.
In the Bible we are told that marriage, ordained by God, is to be between a man and a woman, but the church is teaching that marriage can be between two men or two women. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is wrong and that those who practice it will not enter Heaven. The church teaches that homosexuality is OK if it is in the confines of a loving relationship.
The Bible teaches that women are not to be in a position of leadership or to teach. The church says that women have a right to be a Pastor and to teach God’s Word. The Bible is clear on the qualification on being a Bishop, Pastor or Deacon – Men who are married to one woman and head up their home in a loving relationship. The church teaches that it is Okay for women to be in those positions, even though they do not meet the Biblical qualifications. The church, thumbing its nose at God, says that it is Okay for lesbians and gay men to be ordained as Ministers of God’s Word.
Why would God be happy with, and accept with kindness, something that He has specifically called an abomination?
Why would the church preach something that is not biblical? Because it is something that they do not want to hear due to the fact that the “world” says that this kind of teaching is wrong, hateful and intolerant teaching, and the church does not like it when the “world” is against it. The church no longer stands up for the sound doctrine found in God’s Word and instead it preaches what the world tells it that it should preach. God be damned as sinful man cowtails to itching ears. To them, the truth is no longer relevant.
Preachers would rather hide behind their pulpits than engage the world and what it believes. Preachers would rather have the church fit into the world view of things, instead of the church engaging the world in a way that it will view things through the eyes of God’s Word. In short, Pastors have become afraid of the “world”.
The church is slowly loosing its moral compass – the Bible. It is fulfilling the prophecy of what Jesus said in Luke 19: 14:
“But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
When one gives up on its leader they will no longer listen to, nor obey, his teachings and commands. The church is doing just that. Sound doctrine is tossed aside and pulpits are being used to entertain those sitting in the pews telling them what they want to hear and not what they should be hearing. As long as the ear is tickled the people will stay, if not they will leave. Either way the church is dead for they look to, and trust in, themselves and not to God in teaching sound doctrine that will save people from facing the punishment for their sins.
What is being taught now is just the same as the blind leading the blind, and the only place they are all going is straight to Hell for they turned away from the truth to appease those who are offended by true Christian doctrine. The problem is they don’t know it.
Are You Still In Darkness?
So many people believe that all religions lead to the same source of life, but do so by different paths. Is this something that you believe? If you do then you have answered the question of this article. Yes, you are still in Darkness.
The darkness of which I speak is not the darkness that is the opposite of being a lighted room. The darkness of which I speak is the darkness that one has who is spiritually dead as opposed to those who have been made alive by the Light of life. In the Gospel of John, chapter 1 and verses 1 through 5 we read:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The Word of God created life and in this creation He became the life that brought light to sinful man, after the fall into the darkness of sin. Without this Light sinful man, of which you and I belong, would remain in the darkness of our sin, not knowing that life was available; life that makes us alive and show us the way back into the family of God having been forgiven for our sins and born again in newness of spirit.
So, who is this Word that brings this life and light into man’s life? In John 1: 14 we read:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
As man we call Him Jesus. About Him we read the following:
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Think for a moment about what you just read. Jesus made the world in which we live. He came down to us, lowered Himself to be one of us, in order to bring light to our sinfulness and to make us alive and to bring us back into the family of God. But we do not want Him. We don’t recognize Him and we will not receive Him into our lives. Because of this we will remain in our sins, living in darkness believing that all is well only to find that when we die we have been deceived. And we will only learn of this as we spend eternity in Hell because we rejected the Light of Life. By then it will be too late. Your eternal destiny will have been set with no chance of parole or forgiveness, and no one will be able to change that. Is that what you want?
However, you may have noticed that all who will receive Him, He will give them the right to become children of God. You will also see that even though you many have been born into a Christian family does not give you this right, nor can you will this to be done by your own desires and you cannot will this to be done by your own thoughts. Only God can do this for you.
Your only hope is to cry out to the Father and to ask Him for the faith with which you will need to believe in Him. This is the faith by which you will be able to confess that Jesus is Lord and that you can believe that God has raised Him from the dead. Unless you can do this, unless you are born again by the Spirit of God, you will die in your sins and you will remain in darkness for all eternity.
No other religion can make this promise. All religions but one tell you that you can do this by your own will, by your own goodness. But they all deceive you into rejecting the One to Whom you must fly to receive the Light that gives life. In Him is life and only Jesus can do this as He is the creator of all things.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
There is only “one” path to Heaven. That path is lit by the only light that reveals the truth. That light is Jesus. Won’t you submit to Him now? Will you not bow the knee and proclaim Him to be the only Lord and Savior who can save you from your sinfulness, and Who will shine the true light into your life and bring you out of darkness and into His glorious light so that you may have life in Him.
Why remain in darkness and spend eternity in Hell. Cry out to Jesus and come out of the darkness and enjoy the wonderful light of God. Behold the glory of God. Call upon Jesus and confess Him to be Lord and His light will bring you into the presence of God where there is no darkness. Jesus is the only way, the only path to Heaven. All other paths are false and will only lead to destruction and more darkness.
Ask God for the faith with which you will need to call upon Jesus. Come out of the darkness into the shining light of Jesus and be saved.
Riff's Christian Journal 