LEARNING DAILY

 

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  Jesus

 

The words of John are very relevant for this holy week as we near the celebration of Easter. May none of us get too caught up in Easter eggs and bunnies and all the extra “stuff” done at this time. I pray that going to church on Easter Sunday is more than “checking off a box” for this day and Christmas. The pastor of our church is expecting 30,000 people to attend church this weekend. It is a great time to hear about what Jesus did at the cross for people.

 

This holy week is about the love God has for all people everywhere. John 3:16 is about the heart and purpose of God – His love is so great that He sent His Son as an offering for sin on a cross. God gave mankind the greatest gift He could give to demonstrate His love and to pay our debt for sin. Romans 5:8-9 telling us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through Him.” Understand that God did this from His heart; it was not forced upon Him. He sent His son to die in our place because of His great love for each one of us.

 

The Lord Jesus is teaching a very significant and foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. Without spiritual rebirth, no one can enter the kingdom of God and receive eternal life. This rebirth is a recreating of spiritual life in the heart of those who place their faith and trust in Jesus taking their place for the sin in their life. It is God giving eternal life to the Believer’s heart which results in the Believer becoming a new creation, a child of God. When one is truly “born again” or who has gained a new life of obedience to Jesus Christ, they are set free from the bondage of sin, receiving a spiritual desire to be obedient and love God. This obedience includes a desire to live in righteousness, avoid a life of sin, and no longer desire to live the way the world tempts them to live.

 

To believe that God sent His Son to take our place on the cross is to have a sure conviction that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only way to eternal life. “It means one must surrender themselves to obedience to Jesus Christ believing He is both able and willing to bring you to final salvation and to fellowship with God in heaven” (LSSB).

 

“Everlasting life” is the gift God gives to those who accept that His Son’s death upon the cross is for those who believe in Him. “Everlasting life” is forever and is about the quality of life Believers have because it is a life that frees us from the power of sin and Satan. It is a spiritual rebirth that enables us to make godly choices and live righteously according to the Word of God!

 

John 3:3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” That is Jesus telling Nicodemus he must be born again. That still applies to each of us!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.