The Christian Life According to the 3:16's of Scripture

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.