For God So Loved The World

I hope everyone is having a great day as continue this week looking at our theme, “Impact 3:16” with what is by far the most known “3:16” out there, John 3:16. This verse, in context, is when Jesus is talking with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews (John 3:1). Nicodemus was an honorable man from all accounts unlike many of his fellow rulers. Nicodemus knew that Jesus had to come from God simply by the fact of all the “signs” or “miracles” he was performing (John 3:2) and was curious to learn from Jesus the Rabbi. Jesus doesn’t waste the opportunity to explain salvation comes by being born again through water and the spirit i.e., obedience to the gospel through baptism (John 3:3-8; Galatians 3:26-27). Nicodemus was confused by this and we read in John 3:14-16 this…

John 3:14–16 (NKJV)

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 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.

I emphasized the “should” in verses 15 and 16 because so many ignore them. Believing in Jesus as the “only begotten Son of God” should be enough to lead one to eternal life, but the reality is far different.

Many people have believed in Jesus and called out Lord Lord to Jesus but notice what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 7:21-23.

Matthew 7:21–23 (NKJV)

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Believing in Jesus and even saying calling out Lord, Lord only gives one the “right to become” a child of God.

John 1:12 (NKJV)

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

There is a reason Paul rights in Ephesians 2:8-9…

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Our belief in Jesus is only the first step in our salvation, as even the demons believe but are not saved (James 2:19).

We must grow that belief into faith (Hebrews 11:6) which is a trust in God through knowing him by studying his word (Romans 10:17).

We must repent or turn to God and away from anything that would keep us from God (Acts 17:30; Luke 14:25-33).

We must confess Jesus as Lord with our lips before men giving our word to be faithful to our Creator (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33).

We must obey the gospel through dying to sin, burying the old man of sin, and being raised as a new Creation, to walk in a newness of life (Romans 6:3-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Yes, belief “should” lead us to eternal life but not everyone wants to accept God’s grace through faithfulness to him, they want it on their terms and simply put they are not God nor can make such demands.