{"id":5414,"date":"2018-08-01T05:00:22","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T09:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=5414"},"modified":"2020-01-13T10:00:09","modified_gmt":"2020-01-13T15:00:09","slug":"john-3-pt-3-god-so-loved-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=5414","title":{"rendered":"John 3, Pt.3- God So Loved the World"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Born Again<\/a><\/div>

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God loves us<\/strong><\/span> (vs 16a): “For God so loved<\/span> the world<\/strong>, that<\/span> he gave his only begotten Son<\/strong>” –<\/em> In this verse \u201cGod\u201d (the designation of the divine nature) is used of the Father, who gave his Son. <\/em><\/span>God is a loving God<\/span><\/strong> (2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 John 4:8,16<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The object of love\u00a0 is “the world,” (kosmos)<\/em>, a broad word that here refers to all humanity. God doesn’t limit this love only to the Jewish people or to believers, but to all of humanity. It is this great love of God that motivates us to love Him & love others.\u00a0 \u201cWe love, because He first loved us<\/strong>\u201d 1 Jn.4:19.<\/p>\n

The word love ‘agape<\/a>‘ is not talking about an emotional love nor has the definition of love or romanticism the world understand, but agape is ‘benevolence<\/strong>, good will’ it is an act of the will, a selfless, sacrificial love<\/strong> that cares & constantly seeks the benefit of the other person.\u00a0 Agape love is active.<\/strong> It demonstrates love through actions. Please see 1 Cor.13<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 This is the love that God has for us, the reason He gave His son & also the love that moved Jesus to voluntarily die for us in the cross\u00a0(John 10:18<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The world cannot teach us this love, because it comes from God. In Galatians 5:22<\/a> we learn that ‘agape’ love<\/strong> is the fruit of the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The ancient Greek had 4 terms to define ‘love’: ‘Agape’, ‘Phileo<\/a><\/strong>‘, denoting personal attachment, friendship, brotherly love, this is a feeling, a fondness. You can find both terms in Jn. 21:16<\/a>.\u00a0 Storge<\/strong> (natural love and affection of a parent for their child, family loyalty). Rom.9:10<\/a> translated ‘kindly affectioned’, & Eros<\/strong> (romantic love).<\/p>\n

In this way the love of God<\/strong> was revealed<\/span> to us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that <\/strong>we might live through Him. <\/span><\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>In this is love<\/span>: not that we loved God, but that He loved us<\/strong> and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice<\/span> for our sins<\/strong>. <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>Beloved<\/strong>, if God so loved us, we must also love<\/strong> one another<\/strong>.<\/span> . .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16<\/sup><\/span>And we have come to know<\/span> and to <\/strong>believe<\/span> the love that God<\/strong> has for us<\/span>. <\/strong><\/span>God is love<\/span>.<\/strong> Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him <\/span>1 John 4:8-11, 16<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

4\u00a0<\/sup>But God,<\/span><\/strong> being rich in mercy, because of His great love<\/span><\/strong> with which He loved us, <\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>even when we were dead in sins<\/strong>, made us alive together with Christ<\/span> (by grace you have been saved), <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>and He raised us up<\/strong> and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>so that in the coming ages He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>For by grace you have been saved<\/strong> through faith<\/span>, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, <\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>not of works<\/strong>, so that no one should boast.\u00a0 <\/span>Eph. 2:4-9<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God wants us to hate evil or sin<\/strong> (Rom.9:10<\/a>), but to love<\/strong> one another (Jn.13:35<\/a>), love<\/strong> our neighbors , & even love<\/strong> (agape) our enemies. Matt. 5:44<\/a>. Also let us not forget that LOVE . . .<\/sup><\/span> rejoices not<\/span> in iniquity,<\/span> but rejoices in the truth<\/span>.<\/strong> 1 Cor.13:6<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>On one hand God loves the sinner<\/strong><\/span> (Romans 5 :8; 1 John 4:10<\/a>), but on the other hand God hates sin or evil. Sin separate us from God<\/span><\/strong> (Is. 59:2,<\/a> Jer.5:25), it blinds us to the truth<\/strong> (1 Jn.2:11<\/a>) & we will perish<\/strong> if we stay in our sins.<\/p>\n

‘But God<\/strong> proves His love<\/strong><\/span> for us in this: While we were still sinners<\/strong>, Christ died for us<\/strong>‘ (Rom.5:8<\/a>).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are some that teach that God hates sinners<\/strong> & to prove it they use Psalm 5:5<\/a> :” You hate all workers of iniquity<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em>“. \u00a0\u00a0 The Hebrew word for iniquity H520<\/a> \u201ca\u0302ven\u201d literally means “perverseness, wickedness<\/em>“.\u00a0Iniquity is sin at its worst.<\/strong> Iniquity is premeditated, continuing with out repentance & escalating<\/span> sin (Job 6:29<\/a>). God hates (without sinful intent, not like men hate) these type of sinners, which means He abandons\/gives them over<\/strong> to a reprobate mind, because they had harden their hearts<\/a><\/strong>. Please check also ‘Iniquity<\/a><\/strong>‘.<\/p>\n

There is a use of the word hate today that means malicious<\/strong>, which is incompatible with love\/benevolence, and this type of hate God does not have (Deut.32:4<\/a>, Psalm 5:4<\/a>) He is Holy!<\/span>\u00a0 The word hate is used in the bible to describe to ‘love less’ or to ‘reject’<\/strong> (Gen.29:30-31<\/a>), disgust, etc. That type of hate can certainly co-exist with benevolence<\/strong>, so there is no contradiction when we properly understand the meaning of these words.<\/p>\n

We can find that the object of God’s hatred is\u00a0always<\/span> evil and wickedness.<\/strong> And when referring to people it’s because of their continual unrepented<\/strong> sin<\/strong><\/span>, or iniquity<\/strong>. It is not, that for no reason at all\u00a0God decided to only love a few people (or the elected, according to Reformed \/Calvinist doctrine) & hate the rest or non-elected.<\/p>\n

– The second part of that verse John 3:16b says: “that whosoever<\/strong><\/span> believeth in Him<\/strong> should not perish, but have everlasting life<\/em>“.<\/span><\/span> God loves<\/strong> the whole world and wants ALL<\/span> to be saved, He longs to have a relationship with us, but He will force no one to yield to His plan.<\/p>\n

For this is<\/i> good and acceptable in the sight of God<\/strong> our Savior, <\/span><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>who desires<\/strong> all<\/strong> men to be saved<\/span> <\/span>and to come<\/strong> to the knowledge of the<\/strong> truth<\/strong>.<\/span> 1 Tim.2:3-4<\/a>
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The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any<\/span> to perish, but all <\/span>to come to repentance. <\/strong>2 Pet.3:9<\/a>
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He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins<\/strong><\/span>,<\/strong> and not for ours only<\/span>, but also <\/strong>for the sins of the whole world<\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong>1 John 2:2<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

who gave Himself as a ransom for all<\/span><\/strong>. This was the testimony given at the proper time. <\/span>\u00a0 1 Timothy 2:6<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation<\/strong> hath appeared<\/span> to all<\/span> men<\/strong>\u201d Titus 2:11<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Behold <\/span>the Lamb of God,<\/span><\/strong> which taketh away the sin of <\/span>the<\/span> world<\/span><\/strong>\u201d John 1:29<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Any denomination that changes or limits the atoning sacrifice<\/span> of Christ to be only for a few<\/strong> chosen ones,\u00a0 is contradicting God’s Word & changing the gospel!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do not believe what others tell you (including us), because we are not going to be judged by what some other person says. On the Day of Judgment (we are not going to be judge according to the Mosaic Law either as some teach) we are going to be judged only by what our Lord said when He came. That is going to be the only standard for judgment. Our Lord JESUS<\/strong> says in John 12:48:<\/p>\n

“The word<\/span> that I <\/span>have spoken<\/span> will judge him in the last day<\/span><\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

The concept of a ‘Limited Atonement’<\/strong> means that Jesus didn\u2019t die for everyone, but only for a limited or selected group, namely Calvinism\u2019s \u201celect\u201d or the ‘Israelites’ alone, or the Awakened Ephraimites, or the Jehovah’s witnesses’ elect, etc. The rest or the alleged \u201cnon-elect\u201d wouldn\u2019t have a Savior who really died for them, BUT if they didn\u2019t have a Savior, then how can they be held accountable for rejecting a Savior that they never had?<\/strong> So a Calvinist (or any ‘elected one’) would then have to say that the rest are not<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0condemned<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span> for rejecting the grace of Calvary, or for not believing Jesus, but because of their sin<\/strong> or because God hated them for no reason<\/span>. However, that\u2019s not at all what Jesus said<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Remember in all these passages of John 3<\/strong>, Jesus is talking<\/span>, next verse Jesus is referring to Himself, these are His own words:<\/p>\n

17\u00a0<\/sup>For God sent <\/strong>not<\/span> his Son into the world<\/strong> to condemn<\/span> the world; but that the world through him<\/span> might be saved.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>18 ‘He who believes<\/strong> in Him<\/strong> is not<\/strong> condemned.<\/span> But he who does not believe<\/strong><\/span> is condemned<\/strong> already, because<\/strong> he has not believed<\/strong><\/span> in the name of the only begotten Son of God<\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong>John 3: 17-18<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is the reason some are condemned & some are not? because of election? sins? not being of a particular race, an Israelite or an awakened Ephraimite? No, none of those, but because of FAITH<\/strong><\/span>! Either they believe<\/strong> HIM<\/strong><\/span> or they don’t.<\/p>\n

What happens next, is that after we truly believe Him we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit<\/strong> & as a consequence\u00a0 and because of our love for Him, we will bear some fruit John 15:4-10<\/a>.\u00a0 Those fruits got nothing to do with keeping the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) as some teach, but with the Holy Spirit working in us, in our hearts. <\/strong>We need to remain in Jesus & His words<\/strong> remain\u00a0 in us. Jn 15:7<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We all have a choice to make, either we believe God<\/span> or we believe that other voice, we have the same choice as Adam & Eve! If we reject the Word of God as our only authority, then we are rejecting God’s authority, the Truth & we will be on our way to deception, we will accept a lie.<\/p>\n

<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And this is the condemnation<\/strong>,<\/span> that the light<\/span> has come into the world<\/span>, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.<\/span> <\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>For<\/span> everyone practicing evil hates the light<\/span> and does not come<\/span> to the light<\/span><\/strong>, lest his deeds should be exposed.<\/span> <\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>But he who does the truth comes to the light<\/strong><\/span><\/span>, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been<\/span> done in God.\u201d<\/span><\/span>. John 3: 16-21<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Jesus spoke<\/strong> to them, saying, \u201cI am the light of the world<\/span><\/strong>. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in the darkness<\/span>, but shall have the light<\/strong> of life.\u201d<\/span><\/span> John 8:12<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God is light & in Him there is not darkness at all. 1 John 1:5<\/a>,\u00a0 Jews knew God is light: Psalm 27:1, Habakkuk 3:4, Hosea 6:5, Isaiah 51:4, 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

Five point Calvinists<\/a> teach that faith<\/span> is a gift of God, which is put in the sinner\u2019s heart that was elected for salvation. But the Bible teaches otherwise. It’s salvation that is a gift of God<\/span> & it’s not by works we do. But faith<\/span> comes by hearing<\/span> God’s Word<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

“God, who at various times and in diverse ways spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span> <\/em>2\u00a0<\/sup>has in these last days spoken to us by His Son<\/strong><\/span><\/span>, whom He has appointed heir of all things,<\/strong> and through whom He made the world<\/em>.<\/span>” Hebrews 1:1-3<\/a>.\u00a0 Today we proclaim His spoken words.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hour\u2026now is, when the dead<\/strong> shall hear<\/span> the voice of the Son of God<\/span><\/strong>: and they that hear<\/strong> shall live<\/em>\u201d (John:5:25<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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For, \u201cEveryone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved<\/strong>.\u201d<\/span>14\u00a0<\/sup>How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe<\/span> in Him of whom they have not heard?<\/span><\/strong> And how shall they hear<\/span><\/strong> without a preacher?. . .So then faith comes by hearing,<\/span><\/strong> and hearing by the word of God<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>But I say, have they not heard<\/span><\/strong>? <\/span><\/span>Yes, indeed:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir voice<\/strong> went into all the earth,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and their words to the ends of the world.\u201d Rom.10:13-18<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In whom ye also trusted<\/em>, after<\/strong> that ye heard the word<\/span><\/strong> of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed<\/span><\/strong>, ye were sealed<\/strong> with that holy Spirit<\/strong> of promise. Eph. 1:13.<\/a><\/p>\n

18 Therefore take heed how you hear<\/span><\/strong>. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him. Luke 8:18<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then why some people are able to believe or have faith<\/span> & some others don’t ?<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

First, it is necessary for the real gospel of Christ to be preached so that sinners can hear<\/strong><\/span>, then believe & be saved.\u00a0 Many haven’t heard the real gospel<\/strong>, some have heard a counterfeit & many others are trying to be good or doing good works to attain salvation. (many of them belong to religious groups that are ministers of the Old Covenant<\/strong> or a mix. The only way to read & understand the Old Testament, is through Jesus Christ. If someone does not believe that Jesus is the Christ<\/span>, a veil remains when reading the Old Testament. 2 Cor.3:11-17<\/a>). This is one of the reason we must preach the true gospel to every person, in every nation, in the whole world (Matthew 28:19<\/a>, 20<\/a>; Mark 16:15<\/a>,16<\/a>; Luke 24:46<\/a>, 47<\/a>). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Second, I recommend you to read the Parable of the Sower<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> The seed, is the Word of God & it’s given to everybody<\/strong> when we preach the gospel, but it depends on the condition of the heart<\/a><\/strong> (soil\/ground) to receive it, keep it & then give fruit. A proud heart will resist the Word.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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