Moving on to Deeper Truth: God So Loved The World

God’s love is perfect. His redemptive plans for humanity, His elect are good (Rom. 8:9; Jn. 6:37). John 3:16 is one of the most famous, most often are memorized, most cherished verses in the Bible. What kind of love is this that one would die for sinful humanity, yet God demonstrates his own love for us in this: “…at just the right time, when were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:7-10).

This is His commandment to the Church, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command (Jn. 15:12-14).

God so loved the world that He give all who will receive Him an opportunity for a new life (Jn. 3:16). Did you get that? God so loved all that He made, which includes His elect (ekkletos, chosen, picked out). He gave us a new life that was hidden in Him (Jn. 6:33, 37; Rom. 8:29; Col. 3:3; Eph. 1:4-5). This new life in Christ must be built on love if we are to overcome the works of the devil and the flesh (Rom. 8:1-11).

The Son of God was manifested so that He might destroy the works of Satan. The one who practices sin, which is separation from God and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference or rebellion is of the devil, by taking on the devil’s inner character and moral values (1 Jn. 3:8). Jesus overcame the works of the devil when He rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father which represents power and authority (Acts 1:9-12).

Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life.” No one comes to the Father except through Him. We enter in through the narrow gate. There is no other entryway that leads to a new life in Christ, but the path that leads to destruction is wide and broad (Matt. 7:13).

The Lord knows the plans He has for your welfare, not for evil, but to give you a future and a hope. So forget the old things, the old has passed away; the new is here (Jer. 29:11; Isa. 43:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:17). Just receive it and walk in it!

We have been an opportunity for a new life that was hidden in Christ. We are new creations and have been given a new heart (Ez.11:19; Jn 3:16). It’s up to each and every one who professes Jesus Christ as Lord of their life to walk the path that He ordained for them.

He makes known the paths of life, and makes our steps firm as we delight in Him (Ps. 37:23). We must submit our will and ways to His every step of the way so that He can make our paths straight (Pro. 3:6). If we stumble or fall He stands ready to forgive when we ask. In Him we have redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:17). As we “confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).

In these last days we must be aware of false prophets, false christs’ rising up claiming an alternate truth (Matt. 24:24). Jesus told the disciples that a spirit of deception will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age. He warn them to, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” He also said the even the very elect could be deceived during this time (Matt. 24:6-8).

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ The Lord has appointed watchmen who are praying for America. Let’s turn our hearts to Him, repent, ask for the good and right way that He has ordained for His Church!

Blessings,

Minister A. Francine Green