The Christian Life According to the 3:16's of Scripture
John 3:16 Intro: In my reading I ran across a reference to how both John 3:16 and 1 Jn 3:16 talked about the great love of God that provided salvation. It piqued my curiosity and I decided to go through the NT and see what other gems of truth were found in the various books at the address of 3:16. My search turned up some great truths concerning the Christian life. I. The Christian Life Flows from the Love of God. Jn 3:16 is probably the most recognized and memorized text in the entire Bible (even more than Jesus Wept, lol). AND for Good Reason. I don’t suppose any one verse proclaims the Gospel Message like this one does. - God Loved the World! - God loved the people of the world So Much, he was willing to give his only Son to be the Sacrifice for Sin and the Savior of all men. - Anyone! Anyone! Who believes in Jesus and receives him as Savior will NOT PERISH! Everyone who believes in Jesus and receives him as Savior will Inherit Eternal Life. Talk about a Powerful Verse! The Christian Life flows from the Love of God. We are told elsewhere that we only Love God because He First loved us. Then also in 1 Tim 3:16 we read about what Paul calls the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. God’s Great Love brought Jesus Christ from heaven to the earth as a man. As a man he suffered the sorrows of human life; as a man he was rejected and reviled; as a man he was crucified and buried; BUT As the Son of God he, by his death, paid the price for man’s sin and then rose from the dead, alive forevermore! II. The Christian Life is Founded Upon the Word of God. 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The foundation of the Christian life is NOT man’s opinions; not the world’s philosophy; not the religions of men. The only foundation of the Christian life is the Word of God. It is Inspired by God. (It’s subjects are inspired; its thoughts are inspired; its words are inspired; the theological term for this is Verbal, Plenary, Inspiration) Therefore, it has No Errors. (When there seem to be errors, the fault is our interpretation or in our understanding, not in the Bible) The Bible is the foundation for all True Doctrine. The Bible is the basis for all Instruction in Righteousness. The Bible has the authority to Rebuke and Correct any life. Peter wrote that the Scriptures came to us by “holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Ghost.” You and I can rest safely on the Word of God! III. The Christian Life Finds its Fulness by the Spirit of God. Our life in Christ is founded upon the inspired Word of God; upon the Facts presented there; upon the Virgin Birth of Jesus; his Sinless life; his sacrificial death; his glorious resurrection! BUT these Facts alone do not make us a True Christian! The Fulness of the Christian life comes by the Supernatural Power and Work of the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit of God that convicts us of our sin. It is the Spirit of God that Converts and Regenerates our spirit. It is by the Spirit of God that we are Born Again, become Partakers of the divine nature, and are changed into the Image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; - Jesus Himself though he was the Son of God was anointed and empowered by the Holy Ghost. - John preached that Jesus would baptize his followers with the Holy Ghost and with fire. - Paul wrote twice that when we become Christians, we become the Temple of God and the Holy Ghost dwells IN us. - Then Paul wrote that it is the Holy Ghost that Strengthens Us in our Inner Man. The fulness of the Christian life comes by the Spirit of God. So the Christian life flows from the love of God; is founded on the Word of God; finds its fulness by the Spirit of God and ... IV. The Christian’s Life will Bear Fruit by the Power of God. 2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 1 Pet 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1 Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. So, just in those 3:16 references we are told that the Christian life will be filled with Peace by the Lord of all Peace; the Word of God will dwell in us bringing us Wisdom and Joy for we will sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs with Grace in our hearts; we will have a Good Conscience and Good Conduct; we will love each other like Christ loved us. The final 3:16 is in Revelation and it warns us not to be lukewarm but on Fire. We are told that if our Christian life becomes lukewarm, Jesus will spew us out of his mouth. What a tragic end for someone who at one time was On Fire for God! Don’t become lukewarm. Let God’s Love Flow through you. Let God’s Word by your firm Foundation. Let God’s Spirit bring Fulness to your Life. Let the Power of God bear Fruit in your life. The Christian Life according to the 3:16's of Scripture.
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Intro: We live in a Troubling World; troubled by International strife (war in Israel and Middle East; Russia & Ukraine); troubled by our own National situation- the political; the economic; the social; the moral;Troubled at times by our own Family situations and our own Personal situations.
There is much in this world to cause our hearts to be troubled. Some time ago I read again a book by David Wilkerson from the early 70's, the Vision. He told of a Dramatic Vision he had concerning America and some other parts of the world. He described the terrors that would begin to take place; not only natural disasters, but terrorism and war; lawlessness right in our own nation; the collapse of our economy; the trampling of morals and the acceptance of perversion like homosexuality; Talk about a Sobering book; Scary; Depressing even. The final chapters were titled: God’s Message for the Unprepared; then God’s Message for the Prepared. Well, I consider myself to be one of the Prepared. How About You? So- I turned expectantly to see what he said was the main message God had for his own people in light of the horrible things that had already been discussed. Bro. Wilkerson said that as he prayed about these terrible things coming on the earth, he asked God, “what message do I give to your people?” God spoke to him and said give them a Message of HOPE- not to be Afraid- to remember that God is Still on the Throne. There it is- Don’t be Afraid- Don’t Let your heart be troubled- God is on the Throne- God Will REMAIN on the throne. So Jesus told his disciples- Let not your hearts be troubled- Don’t be Afraid; Don’t be Fearful; Don’t be Terrified; Don’t be Anxious or Worried. I. Untroubled Hearts Jesus used two factors in teaching his disciples that they could have and should have untroubled hearts: A. Faith- You believe in God; Believe also in Me. BELIEVE- you have had faith; you have expressed faith; you do believe in God; Now let that Faith take you to a new Level- Believe in ME, Jesus said. It’s important that we not only Believe that God Exists but that he Became a MAN and lived on the earth; that he was born of a virgin; raised in a carpenter’s home; anointed by the Holy Ghost to preach the gospel; to deliver the captives; to mend the broken hearted; to set at liberty those who were bound; That he was Arrested, Tortured and Crucified; BUT that he Rose from the Dead; that he Ascended in to Heaven; that he Sits NOW at the right hand of God the Father- [who is On the Throne by the way] Believe that he Prays for us; intercedes for us; is our advocate; our mediator; our go between. BELIEVE- if you really believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son and the precious Holy Ghost you will have an Untroubled Heart. B. Facts Jesus did not only appeal to their faith; to what they did and would believe. He placed FACTS before them that they did not know. He told them that in his Father’s house were many mansions- that if it weren’t so he would have been up front and honest with them and told them so. In this familiar statement that we so quickly read over there are Three Very Important Facts: 1) God Really Does Exist- he Lives; he has a “House” a dwelling place; a home 2) His Home is Heaven- there really is a Heaven; it is an Actual Place; it is a Beautiful Place; it is a Prepared Place 3) In that Place, there are Mansions; homes for God’s People; Jesus was actually going to Prepare a Place for each of his children. WOW= what tremendous Facts to base our Faith on! II. Unfading Hope Jesus then goes on to say that he is going away and that he Will Come Again and Receive us unto Himself that where he is there we may be also. We can have Untroubled Hearts because we have an Unfading HOPE: Jesus is coming back to take his children to their Heavenly Home. Not fiction; not fantasy; not some made up story; TRUE When you KNOW that Jesus is coming to take you to your Heavenly Home- When you have this Unfading HOPE you can have an Untroubled Heart. There is Hope for us In This World. Jesus is preparing a place right now for us; He is already making plans to come and receive us to himself; he already sent the Holy Ghost to be our Comforter and Guide while we are living in this world; there is Hope for us right now in this world. There is hope for us in the World to Come. Where he is there will we be also; we are going to be IN his presence; right there where he is; we will See him as he is; we will walk with him; talk with him; fellowship with him; worship and praise him; honor and magnify him. We have an Unfading Hope! Later in the chapter Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you; Let Not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Talk about an unfading hope; we have not only Peace WITH God; we have the PEACE OF God. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. In John 20 in the appearances of Jesus after His resurrection, 3 times Jesus said to the disciples, “Peace Be unto You.” In Phil. 4:7 Paul declares that we can have the “Peace of God” and says it is “Peace that passes understanding.” Albert Barnes- The Christian who commits his way to God, and believes that God will order all things right, has a peace which is nowhere else known. Nothing else will furnish it ...No confidence that a man can have in his own powers; no reliance on his own plans or on the promises or fidelity of his fellow-men, and no calculations which he can make on the course of events, can impart such peace to the soul as this simple confidence in God. I believe that you and I can have Untroubled hearts because we have an Unfading Hope. Don’t Be Fearful; Be Faithful. Don’t Be Scared; Be Strong in the Lord. Don’t Panic; Pray Don’t Cower in Fear; be Courageous in Faith. God is on the throne; Jesus is coming for us; Heaven is our Home. |
Bro. Dwain GaliherPastor of JHPC Archives
February 2025
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