A Love Letter

A Love Letter

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life…John 3:16.”

Each thought in this verse is a rich vein of gold waiting to be unearthed by "WHOEVER" is willing to dig. The hardened ground of our hearts is first broken up by the words, “FOR GOD.” JOHN 3:16 proves without question God is FOR US and not against us. The Apostle Paul knew this truth when he wrote: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Man has a “front end problem.” His alignment is all wrong. The Bible tells us that by nature we are children of wrath. When Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, man’s relationship or alignment with God was broken beyond human repair. Paul refers to this breech in Romans 5:12: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Thus, man’s sin caused spiritual death between man and God and this problem still exists today.

The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And that “There is none righteous, no not one.” Therefore, if sin separates us from a Holy God and we all have sinned as the Scriptures say, “How can we possibly be saved?” Since we cannot save ourselves, what can we do? Humanity is in the same sinking boat. So, “Is there any hope of rescue?” The answer is an undeniable YES! THERE IS HOPE. THERE IS A SAVIOR. God provided His Son because He is FOR US and not against us. JOHN 3:16 proclaims without question that God is FOR US. He has proven it because He has been reconciled to us through His only Son, Jesus Christ. And now, He beckons us to be reconciled to Him through Christ. Second Corinthians 5:18 affirms this truth: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation.” No longer do our sins need to be atoned for by the blood of bulls and goats as if living in Old Testament times or under Mosaic Law. The New Covenant says, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Praise the Lord, “GOD IS FOR US! The only issue to be resolved, “Is whether we are FOR GOD?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life…John 3:16.”

A rich vein of gold is found in the words “…SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE.” This is the God-type of love or “agape” love. It is a sacrificial love and comes from God and God alone. Romans 5:8 expresses this love in action: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” When we were in Adam, dead in our trespasses and sin, God demonstrated this sacrificial love toward us. We will never know the depths of the Savior’s love for us. We must simply look to another expression of this love: THE CROSS OF CHRIST. The love of John 3:16 not only provides a Savior but also grants us the privilege to live our lives though our Savior. The Bible says, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him (1 John 4:9). Thus, the Christian can join the Apostle Paul in proclaiming, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and give Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).”

“THE WORLD” is described by the Greek word, “kosmos.” It refers to humanity. This shows the universal application of the Gospel. God cares for all humanity not just the Jew! “Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight…” “If anyone shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.” How the words of John the Baptist ring true: “Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.” This is a message for all mankind without exception. It is for THE WORLD. “THAT HE GAVE” indicates God knew our helpless state and took the initiative. God knew man would fall and not be able to get back up. So our hopeless condition became God’s opportunity. He provided the way where there appeared no way. He offered a remedy and that is the CROSS. Christ became sin for us and took our curse so a Holy God could remain righteous and a guilty sinner could be redeemed. God sacrificially gave by providing the only bridge by which He might be reconciled to us. And, if we receive His Son, we are reconciled to Him. The Apostle Paul expresses this in his letter to young pastor Timothy: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”