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The Whole Gospel, Please – A Reflection on a Popular Gospel Verse
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 04-07-16 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 04/08/2016 7:34:38 AM PDT by Salvation

The Whole Gospel, Please – A Reflection on a Popular Gospel Verse

April 7, 2016

john316

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!


TOPICS: Catholic; Charismatic Christian; Evangelical Christian
KEYWORDS: catholic; msgrcharlespope
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To: Mercat
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.

You can start with post 85.

But since when is any Catholic's own personal opinion what counts?

Every time we remind Catholics or what other Catholics have said about something they disagree with, we are chastised with *But is it OFFICIAL Catholic doctrine?*

So tell me then, what official Catholic doctrine says.

Does the RCC officially teach that if you don't believe in the eucharist, you are going to hell?

261 posted on 04/10/2016 4:01:07 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Mercat
Mass is opening up the heart to the salvation of Jesus Christ.

You can do that all on your own.

Since when does Catholicism teach that anyway?

262 posted on 04/10/2016 4:03:14 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: MHGinTN

“The devilish little lie at the heart of the catholic Mass is that each adherent is trying to work, or strive, or struggle to get God life in them and these works of obedience to the ism of catholic is their pride-filled secret way to become worthy.”

You’re very close to the truth but you can’t help but throw in those attacks like “devilish” and “pride filled.” And by the way, it is not a secret. It is available to you if you are confirmed and if you’re already confirmed as a Catholic which I’m guessing you are since only ex-catholics have this much hate, then go to a priest and talk it out. Getting God in you is absolutely what it is all about. No demons, no secrets, no pride. In fact, I have to empty myself of pride, sin, anger, etc. as much as I can to let myself be filled with Grace.


263 posted on 04/10/2016 4:04:22 PM PDT by Mercat
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To: Elsie

That’s fine. That’s the minimum. If that’s all you want, then okay. I want it all. I want to be a saint. I want complete and grace filled union with my Lord and Savior, with God. The sacraments of the Catholic Church help me do that. Going to Mass, as often as possible. Praying several times a day. Spending all this time on this thread looking stuff up. I love it. Thanks. You are a blessing to me.


264 posted on 04/10/2016 4:07:23 PM PDT by Mercat
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To: metmom

“Call no man Father” Oh come on. Now you’re just flailing. You can do better than that.


265 posted on 04/10/2016 4:13:32 PM PDT by Mercat
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To: Mercat

The Bible specifically states that for a season He made Himself a little lower than the Angels for our sakes. Jesus said the flesh profiteth nothing. It is the Spirit that gives Life. JESUS settled the issues raised in John 6, making it clear that eating His flesh would make no difference since it is The Spirit of Him that gives Life. Your priest cannot feed GOD’S DIVINITY into you via your alimentary tract.


266 posted on 04/10/2016 4:19:54 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Democrats bait then switch; their fishy voters buy it every time.)
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To: ADSUM

Don’t say god bless you when you mean something very different based upon the falsehood you preceded the faux blessing with. I have shown you passage after passage from The WORD, yet you post that falsehood? ... Here’s your sign.


267 posted on 04/10/2016 4:23:07 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Democrats bait then switch; their fishy voters buy it every time.)
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To: Mercat
It is available to you if you are confirmed and if you’re already confirmed as a Catholic which I’m guessing you are since only ex-catholics have this much hate, then go to a priest and talk it out.

Why do Catholics assume that former Catholics have so much *hate* and why do they presume that we need to talk to or even want to talk to a priest?

Other Catholics have told us to go to a priest and get all our questions answered, assuming that we have unanswered question and that's why we're not practicing Catholics any more.

I have no more questions. I found Jesus and He's all the answer I need and He dwells in my heart through faith, not by ingestion.

My focus is on JESUS and Him alone. Not religion, ritual, sacraments, activities, or any other works that I think make make me acceptable to God or to merit forgiveness.

I am forgiven, saved, born again and going to heaven and I know it. God promised that if I believe in and receive Jesus, I HAVE eternal life.

Therefore since I have believed and received, I *KNOW* I have eternal life because HE is faithful to do what He promised.

268 posted on 04/10/2016 4:23:32 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Mercat

Wait a minute....

Catholics love to brag on how they believe Jesus and do what He says and so they take the words about eating blood literally, but when it comes to calling religious leaders by the title of *Father*, suddenly they don’t believe Jesus any more?

Why not take that literally as well and obey Him in that, too, and quit calling their priests *Father* since Jesus specifically told us not to?

Why do Catholics disobey the clear, concise command of Jesus?


269 posted on 04/10/2016 4:26:04 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Mercat
It’s a pretzel from folks who are part of the 41,000 denominations schismed (is that a word?) from the Church.

41,30 80...



270 posted on 04/10/2016 4:28:11 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Steelfish
What’s “not perfectly clear” is among 30-40,000 Protestant sects...

(Got the same memo...)

271 posted on 04/10/2016 4:29:32 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Mercat

So, since you’ve decided to answer for the other poster, why don’t you address the first question which came before the one you thought you could address? Tell us how it is that Jesus could establish the ‘eucharist’ of eating the real body and blood of the RISEN JESUS on the night before He went to the cross as The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world?


272 posted on 04/10/2016 4:30:28 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Democrats bait then switch; their fishy voters buy it every time.)
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To: Steelfish
St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote

Goodie for him!

It just MUST be true; then!

Hail Mary!!!


273 posted on 04/10/2016 4:30:31 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Steelfish
The Church believes that when the bishops speak as teachers, Christ speaks;

Whew!

That sure lets Francis offa da hook!

274 posted on 04/10/2016 4:31:30 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Steelfish
We have a Credo recited in every Mass celebrated every two seconds in some part of the globe.

Only every two seconds??


Let's try some easy math:


There are approximately 1.2 billion Catholics world wide;

If merely 1% of them  'ask' Mary for help just once each day;

that means that 12 million separate prayers are headed Mary's direction every day.

Given that there are 86,400 seconds per day... (24 hours times 60 minutes times 60 seconds)

...that means that Mary has to handle approximately 139 'requests' per second!

Purty good fer someone NOT 'divine'!

275 posted on 04/10/2016 4:32:55 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

And the wafers?

Back into the box until needed?


Something like that. They are placed in a metal container called a ciborium, and the ciborium is placed in a fixed, locked box called a tabernacle.


276 posted on 04/10/2016 4:35:15 PM PDT by rwa265
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To: Mercat
Show me anywhere on this board that a Catholic has told you that not believing in the Eucharist means you go to hell.

I've tried to get an FR Catholic to state ANYTHING concfrete about the matter, but none have chosen to do so.


Point Blank:

Will NOT believing that the wafer and wine ACTUALLY turn into blood and flesh keep a person fromHeaven?


Yes or no is sufficient.

277 posted on 04/10/2016 4:36:03 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ADSUM
Since you can’t defend your personal opinion, you are now just name calling.

HMMMmmm...

I missed the name in here:

#236 You are using the WORD dishonestly. Put the rest of the words of Jesus regarding the cup onto the screen and see your deception clearly. JESUS called the cup contents fruit of the vine.

278 posted on 04/10/2016 4:38:15 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: metmom
Call no man “Father.”

Catholics believe the words of JESUS!!


279 posted on 04/10/2016 4:38:56 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: metmom
But since when is any Catholic's own personal opinion what counts?

So far; that's all Francis has been saying; right?

280 posted on 04/10/2016 4:40:44 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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