Posted on 04/08/2016 7:34:38 AM PDT by Salvation
The Gospel proclaimed on Wednesday of this week included the familiar John 3:16. So familiar is this verse, that many hold up signs or have bumper stickers that simply say, “John 3:16.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life (John 3:16).
It is indeed a beautiful verse, but I would argue that many use it inauthentically by pulling it out from its place within a longer passage. The fuller segment is John 3:16-21, which is as much a passage of warning as it is of consolation and assurance.
Here it is again, along with the remainder of that longer passage:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God (John 3:16-21).
This fuller context has somewhat of a different tone. It sets forth a great drama in which our lives are cast. It amounts to sober assessment of the obtuseness of many human hearts and of the urgent need for us to decide well in life.
Those who merely quote the first verse run the risk of presenting this text as a kind of a freewheeling assurance that all is well and that salvation is largely in the bag, that judgment and condemnation are not a significant factor since “God so loved the world.” And while the concept of faith is included in this first verse, without the larger context the tendency is to soft-pedal the need for repentance and for the obedience of faith. In so doing, the true drama and sober teaching of the fuller text are lost.
The longer passage fleshes the message out and has a balance that the shortened text does not. Here is what Jesus is in effect saying, expressed in more modern language:
As I live, I and my Father do not desire that any should die in their sins or be lost. I have not currently come as your judge but as your savior. I will come one day as the judge of all, but now is a time of grace and mercy extended to you.
But you need to know that you have a decision to make, a decision that will determine where you will spend eternity.
So please listen to me! Open the door to me and let me draw you to the obedience of faith and the beauty of holiness. If you do this, light will dawn for you, for I am the Light and your life will grow ever brighter.
But if you will not repent and come to a lifesaving obedience of faith, your heart will begin to despise me and the light of my glory. You will become accustomed to the darkness and begin to consider the Light (which I am) to be obnoxious, harsh, judgmental, and even cruel. Yes, you will begin to hate me, for I am the Light. You will prefer the darkness because you love your sins more.
Come to your senses and don’t let this happen. You have a decision to make: for the light or for the darkness, for me or for the prince of this world, Satan. Be sober and understand the dramatic choice before you. Your salvation depends on your choice to come to obedient faith in me or to reject me.
And know this: on the day of your judgment, the verdict will not be rendered by me so much as by you. For by then, you will either love the Light or hate it. And I will not force you to live in a light you detest. You will be free to go your own way. It will not be I who reject you. It will be you who reject me.
Be sober. Don’t let this happen. Don’t marginalize or ignore me. Don’t prefer the world and its twisted values and passing pleasures. Your sins will make you hate the light and prefer the darkness. You have a decision to make.
This message is much more complex than that contained in the popular, abbreviated text known as John 3:16. God’s mercy is offered, but the final verdict will center on whether or not we accept it. This message may be less consoling but it is true nonetheless, and only the truth can set us free.
There is a tendency by many to pull out certain verses and isolate them from their context and from the fuller message of the Gospel. The full and authentic Gospel echoes the opening call of the Lord Jesus: “Repent and believe the Good News.”
So yes, John 3:16! But please continue reading. The whole Gospel, please!
I do totally respect the Missouri Synod. I believe that they do believe in the True Presence of Christ, just as Luther did. Not quite the same way that the Roman Catholics do but still Body and Blood present in the bread and wine.
It’s “perfect;y clear” to Catholics. We have a Catechism. We have a Credo recited in every Mass celebrated every two seconds in some part of the globe. What’s “not perfectly clear” is among 30-40,000 Protestant sects where any person thinks they can crack open the pages of the Bible (one that was assembled by the early Church fathers in the Council of Rome AD 382) and yet these Protestant sects think they understand the Word of God.
In the year 110 A.D., not even fifteen years after the book of Revelation was written, while on his way to his execution St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “Where the bishop is present, there let the congregation gather, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic church”. The Church believes that when the bishops speak as teachers, Christ speaks; for he said to them: “He who hears you, hears me; and he who rejects you, rejects me” (Lk 10, 16).
OK, I admit I haven’t read this letter of Polycarp. I should do that but could you be more specific and once you start quoting the early Church fathers aren’t you wandering away from sola scriptura? I’m confused.
Jeff Cavins is awesome.
Its seems to me that over and over the problem is that one ties God to time. Jesus was here in time and space as a physical human being but in his divine self he is God, without limits. It is His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity that I worship.
You’re doing a good job but basically there are hard core anti-Catholics on this board who will not listen. I’m not sure of their motives. I would like to think that they are trying to save my immortal soul but since all they do is yell and tell me I’m eternally damned I’m not inclined to listen to what they are saying. “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling” evidently that isn’t the Jesus that they believe in.
There’s a great movie - Cold Comfort Farm. Ian McKellen is the old man who sneaks off and is a preacher. His scene telling the poor people that they are all damned is wonderful. I recommend the movie.
Show me anywhere on this board that a Catholic has told you that not believing in the Eucharist means you go to hell. In fact its the other way around. I’ve been roundly condemned on this thread but since I know I’m a friend and sister of Jesus it doesn’t worry me. You do however, sound a bit worried. ;-D
Just like the Scriptures are not always clear, differing understanding among the early church fathers occurred, but on the principles of faith they were clearly in substantial agreement and unanimous on the main principles.
Oh, I see now.
It's OK for Catholics to have doctrinal differences over certain issues and it shows the strength and unity of Catholicism that they are all still Catholic.
But when Protestants have doctrinal differences, it shows the weaknesses of sola Scriptura and every man being his own pope how it's wrong because of the doctrinal differences.
Yes he is. Our class marvelled at how knowledgeable he is about Scripture.
Since you can’t defend your personal opinion, you are now just name calling. Typical when one’s belief is based on emotion and not the Word of God.
God Bless you.
Call no man “Father.”
The Spirit gives life, the flesh is no help at all, the words Jesus spoke were Spirit and life.
Jesus died ONCE FOR ALL.
He rose again, conquering death.
If He’s still dying, the price was never paid for our sin and there is no redemption.
He is not in heaven now continually suffering for our sin. He’s seated at the right hand of God, victorious over sin, death, and hell and all the evil forces arrayed against Him, waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool.
If the Catholic Jesus is still dying for our sin, the Jesus the Catholic church teaches is NOT the Jesus found in Scripture.
I received both the Precious Body and the Precious Blood this morning at Mass. It is up to the individual parish whether the Precious Blood is offered to the congregation. With our previous pastor, it was not offered during “flu season” which he decided was between Christmas and Easter. Next time you tell another what the Catholic Church does, it might be useful to research it or at least ask a practicing Catholic.
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
Jesus said it was the fruit of the vine.
Do you not believe the words of Jesus?
Now wait a minute. I like Billy Graham. Not flimflam. :-\
Yes, it is consumed by the EMEs and the priest and deacons. At my brother’s funeral I took a Xanax before because I was so upset, then I was asked to distribute the Precious Blood. Few people took the Blood. So I had to drink most of the cup. Then of course, at a Catholic Church funeral dinner/lunch there is wine and beer. I did not partake however but I can attest that the Precious Blood really is alcoholic wine.
Which raises the issue of cultural warfare. I grew up in the 50s and 60s and even after my children were born my MIL was very unhappy that her grandchildren were to be baptised Catholic. I don’t think it was theological with her. But there has been a lot of serious anti-Catholicism out there for a long long time. My aunt was not allowed to teach in Missouri because she was Catholic. So here’s the thing... we’re all conservatives who I hope believe in Freedom of Religion. The Catholic Church has taught during all the modern age (and of course before) that marriage is marriage and contraception and abortion are wrong. (by the way - contraception and abortion are forms of sorcery). So we can box ourselves up and say that so and so is evil and going to hell or we can join together and pray for our country.
Yelling at you? You can hear their voices through the printed word?
That's pretty impressive.
Could you also point to where someone said that you are *eternally damned*?
I'd like to see the quote.
I’d never heard of O’Brien until you brought him up. Mass is opening up the heart to the salvation of Jesus Christ. I don’t know where you get the idea that we’re trying to control God or make Him do anything. As you and I both believe, Jesus died for our sins. To participate in his Passion is not the same as you seem to think - taking a human in human time and sacrificing him over and over. How stupid is that? I simply pray that I can join in the life and death of Jesus as well as his resurrection. It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.
What does the European Cyclist Federation have to do with all this?
“Then you can try explaining the blasphemy that you are eating the very Soul and DIVINITY of God the Son, to get God’s Life in you rather than doing what Jesus told you to do, believe on Him Whom God has sent for your salvation.”
That’s it!! You nailed it. This morning I consumed the very body, blood, soul, and divinity of God!!! And whereas one eats other food to take it into one’s own body, I eat of this food to be taken up to be with God. That’s it. Thank you. And at the same time I do believe in Jesus and that he has saved me. So I have the whole package. hallelujah
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