"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son"
John 3:16-18 (NIV)
The most quoted scripture of all time, John 3:16-18, defines in just a few words the message of the Gospel and reveals the perfect love of the Father for all mankind. In a world where we find it hard to distinguish what's true or false, we can know with absolute certainty that God's love has the power to save us and reconcile us back to our heavenly Father! The message of God's love has never changed, been complicated, misleading, or questionable. Instead, it's clear and concise and can only lead us to a pivotal decision whether to accept or reject it! Whether you tune into a radio station to hear its sound or turn it off, the radio waves still exist. So it is with God's love. It remains the same whether we choose to accept it or not!
John 3:16 reveals that Jesus was not sent to the world to condemn it but to save the world from the destructive power of sin. Jesus came to earth to show us who we can be through Him, along with an exit strategy for sin. The law of the Ten Commandants is the 'truth mirror' that reveals the cracks in our lives, but Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, "I have come to fulfill the law." In other words, Jesus' sacrifice for us fulfills what the law demands from us. Today, our new 'truth mirror' is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
What great news this is! Today, we can rest assured that Jesus has fulfilled the requirements for anyone to avoid punishment for their sins. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." This is the heart of the Gospel! We can now live without fear because fear has to do with punishment, and His love has the divine power to drive out all fear!
1 John 3:1-2 says, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
This is why we are called each day to share God's love. That men and women, boys and girls who are made in God's image, would become children of God and know and experience the true love of the Father through Jesus Christ! What God has so graciously lavished upon us should only stir our hearts to want to share this good news and see people set free from the fears attached to sin!
If you are saved, you are a child of God. If you are a child of God, He wants you to represent Him and be an ambassador of His true love paid for on the cross of Calvary! If you have experienced the love of God, God wants you to share the incredible news with others. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "The truth will set you free," so today, let your message of truth bring freedom to others who need it!
