Bible Text: John 3:16-18 God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only Son.
Memory Verse: “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. John 14:6
How long have you known and quoted John 3:16? I have been quoting this bible verse since primary school days and while I didn’t attach much meaning to it, it was just nice to know that I could quote. Just like various other verses, this was the first verse my friends and I wanted to shout out if anyone asked us to quote a verse from the Bible. But then, it was just what it was – a quote! Less or no meaning was attached and neither did we try unravelling the treasure.
Many of us still only quote it because it’s easy to quote but what’s the application of John 3:16? The most obvious is that God loves us so much, He sent Jesus to redeem us from sins and the heavy yoke of the law, Galatians 3:13 but there is more.
When a believer gives their life to Christ, they do so because they have been chosen by God and therefore make a confession with belief that Jesus is Lord, but that conversation stage is not what guarantees eternal life, rather it moves them from a candidate of hell to heaven – a change in direction.
To enjoy the benefit of a full redirection to God, a believer needs “Active Faith – Believe”. This is not a one-time belief but daily, hourly and in fact believe by the minute. The road is a moving lane and therefore very important to keep believing in God so that there is little change or regression.
The NKJV and many other translations of the bible uses the word “believes” because it’s not just a one-time confidence in the name of Jesus but an action to accept and continuously lean on Jesus in order to gain eternal life.
Jesus is real and the only barrier to eternal life is not believing in Him or believing there is another route to the Father.
PRAYERS:
- Father I thank you for your wonderful works in my life
- Thank You for being there for me and for the grace to Believe in you totally
- Help me Lord not to waver in my faith
- Help every element on unbelief in me, Help me to trust in you without doubt.
- Forgive my iniquities Lord and let your mercy prevail over judgement
- Thank you Father and in Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.
