Featured Study of John 3:16

John 3:16-18

 

Same old straw man false arguments

 

That is only part of the Truth of the Gospel

It clearly goes on to say in the context, "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God" verse 18

Those who refuse to believe in the One True Gospel, are already condemned to eternal punishment, which verse 36 goes on to say, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him"

The Coming of Jesus Christ brought both salvation for those who repent of their sins, and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and judgement for those who refuse to believe and accept what God demands in His Infallible Word!

 

Agree.

'Whosoever believes' are also qualified in:

John 3:3-5 - before one can enter or even see the kingdom he must first be born from above.

John 3:14-15 - the fiery serpent was there for 'everyone that was bitten' Numbers 21:8. Those not bitten felt no need to gaze upon it.

John 3:21 - Those 'coming to the light' do so because God has [already] wrought within them.

 

I agree, Believing does not bring forth the birth, the birth brings forth belief.

 

Has anyone mentioned the fact that John 3:16 is a statement of fact, and not an invitation?

This is an invitation:

28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mt 11

This is a statement of fact:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. Jn 3

 

Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Brother Glen

 

"And he has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers.... yet he shows himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when he invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ, which is nothing else than an entrance into life." John ...... Calvin, (not Owen), in his commentary on John.

I guess there's always somebody that doesn't get the word.

 

I can’t believe a guy who thinks God has amnesia. To do that, He must destroy every Bible on earth then forget He destroyed them.

 

I understand the verse to say God from the beginning chose you,

into salvation

In to hollowing of Spirit

and

to belief of truth

Therefore, thanks should be given God.

 

I think where the wheel is running off for you is that you do not understand "the kingdom" that is the subject of John 3 and have not considered it as a major Bible doctrine, one that is a major theme from Genesis 3 when God gave the dominion of the earth to Adam only to have it usurped by the serpent. Do you know that the apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ ministered with him for the entire course of his public ministry on earth and when he was crucified, not a single one of them went to the tomb to see him rise from the dead, and did not believe those who did see him after he rose from the dead? Why do you think that is? It is because Jesus Christ was preaching the gospel, the good news, the glad tidings of the kingdom of God and his disciples were preaching the same thing to Israel. How does one enter the kingdom, according to Jesus who is to be the King in the kingdom? It is by submitting to his authority under God the Father, by faith, and being born again. How can that be? It can be when Jesus Christ dies the death of his people and that fact is pictured by the serpent on the pole in Numbers. He became sin for us who knew no sin.

Of course we read on past John 3 and arrived at chapter 19 and find out his people rejected him and put him to death and said we will not have this man to rule over us.

"He came unto his own and his own received him not, but to as many (which was not many at all) as received him, to them gave he power (authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

Then the next verse -

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Would you please notice that John 1 is in the past tense. This means that John is writing from an historical framework. He wrote this gospel in 90 AD. The way God birthed men is clearly laid out in the New Testament, which was written by these men who ministered with him. It was by God giving his Gift of the Spirit to permanently indwell men upon their repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who died for us and was buried, and rose again from the dead. Believing this is how I am born again and am a son of God. It is how I can understand the kingdom of God and it is how I know I am in the kingdom of God. God opened the door of faith to us in Acts 10 and it is still open today.

Except a man is born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This means you and me and every one who is alive today.

Paul and Barnabas at the end of the first missionary campaign of Paul;

Acts 14: 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago (in Acts 10) God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

God in his providence makes transitions according to the workings of men. Who would be so bold as to teach God would sacrifice his Son for sinners and then not receive them when they come? Go out, he said, and compel them to come in that my house might be full.

Praise God for a God like that.

It is not too late to make your own transition and believe God.

 

I 'understand' the kingdom as presented by Christ and the apostles, not as Dispys present it.