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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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John 3:16
“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.”
The RING OF TRUTH!
You need to know this verse off by heart – it is non-negotiable. It is probably the most well-known and best-loved verse in the whole of Scripture – and Jesus said it. In doing so He did not, however, bring a new truth about God to the world – but rather re-established something many had forgotten or ignored.
God has always “loved the world” and He always will – neither time nor eternity will ever change Him or His love. He has always been an inclusive God. He loved Adam and He loved Noah. He loved Abraham and He loved David. He loved Jonah and the people of Nineveh to whom He sent him. God loves Jews and Gentiles.
As Paul says, “… the living God [Jesus] is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). He was sent as the Saviour for the whole world and everyone in it – but it is only any good for those who believe, those who appropriate His salvation for themselves.
Jesus is God’s “One and Only Son.” He has no other. There is no other Saviour – As Paul says, “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). God gave His One and Only Son. Jesus “gave Himself as a ransom.”
There was an old lady lying in bed dying. A priest came up and said, “Can I save you?” “Show me your hands,” she replied. He did. “You can’t help me,” she replied, “the Only One who can has got nail prints in His hands.”
That One is Jesus.
“Whoever believes.” “Whoever” is totally inclusive – so you can write your name in there. I can’t do it for you (or anyone else – neither can you). It is all a matter of free choice. God wants us to love Him out of our own free will. He does not want robots. He will not threaten or coerce. Yes, He will draw me and He will love me but I have to respond.
“Shall not perish.” We have already seen that the soul that sins dies – it will perish (see Ezekiel 18). We all are under that curse and sentence. Therefore, we are headed for God’s wrath and Hell, until we do something right. We need to believe that Jesus paid the price, satisfied the sentence and removed the curse that was ours. Then we will “not perish but have Eternal Life.”
“Eternal Life” is not the same as everlasting life. Not many of us would want this life to go on forever as it is, would we? No. Eternal Life is life in a totally new dimension. Although yes, it is everlasting; more importantly it begins as soon as I am ‘born again’ and sealed with the Holy Spirit . It’s the very ‘Life of God’.
We first see the term ‘born again’ here in this chapter, in the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus. New birth is spiritual; normal birth is natural. Natural birth occurs after a mother and father consummate. Spiritual birth happens when I come into a similar closeness with God. His seed, His Holy Spirit, is implanted in my life and begins to grow within me. From that moment on, I have the guarantee of God’s life -His Eternal Spirit within me.
Isn’t that terrific?
As Hillsong’s Russell Fragar puts it –
Before the world began you were on His mind
And every tear you cry is precious in His eyes.
Because of His great love He gave His only Son
Everything was done so you would come.
Nothing you can do could make Him love you more
And nothing that you’ve done could make Him close the door
Because of His great love He gave His only Son
Everything was done so you would come.
Come to the Father though your gift is small
Broken hearts, broken lives He will take them all.
The power of the Word, The power of His Blood
Everything was done so you would come.
Is His ‘seed’ in you? If not, it can be today. Just ask Him. He loves you so much.
Then you will know that you will not perish but have Eternal Life, beginning today.
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