For God so Loved the World...

Six simple words...if one has ever heard the gospel, you have heard this verse, John 3:16. The believer and the unbeliever have heard those words. The question is: Do you believe it?

Let's take a brief trip back to Genesis...

In Genesis, God formed the world and us, because He loves us. We were created in His image, for relationship with Him. The Earth was perfect, until the fall of man. Oh, you know the story of Adam and Eve. She ate from the tree she was not supposed to eat from. But don't blame Eve so fast, Adam was hanging out right there with her watching it all unfold. They ate the fig, probably. (Just a nugget from Kristi McLelland.) This one act of sin caused the separation from God and His perfect plan. But don't miss Genesis 3:15 and the announcement of the Gospel. God mentions Jesus for the first time, not His name but the fulfillment of redemption and restoration.

1 John 4:8 states, "God is love." His love is an agape love. A love which is perfect, unconditional. While we were still sinners, God still shows us His love. (Paraphrased from Romans 5:8)

Yet, He is not only a God of love, but all knowing, all powerful, wonderful, omnipresent, eternal and just. Everything He does, or allows, is rooted in love. His longing is for the world to live in peace. His plans for us are perfect. But you say:

Our world is wounded. Rising gas and food prices. Evil done to children, taught to children. Death and sickness of children and adults, alike. People are wounded, battle scars may not be visible on the outside, oh, but the scars on the heart-broken, wounded and bleeding. So, one may ask the question, where is this loving God, the one that allowed it all?

While our world is broken, because of sin, God bridges the lost and broken world to Him through love. When Jesus died on the cross, (For God so loved the world, that He gave His Son), He rose from the grave. In the act of dying on the cross, buried for 3 days, and rising again, He paid the penalty, as a Sacrificial Lamb, for our sins. We can now live in righteousness.

You become a child of God when you accept Christ's free gift of salvation. How do you receive this gift?

1) Admit that you are a sinner.

2) Ask forgiveness of your sins and turn from them.

3) Believe that Christ died for you on the cross.

4) Receive Christ into your heart and life.

"Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

A simple prayer: "Dear Jesus, I know that I am sinner, and I ask for forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do Your will. In Jesus Name, Amen."

I pray that if you are an unbeliever, or a Christian who has lost your way, I pray that you prayed that prayer of salvation. If so, please reach out, I would love to send you a Bible.

"God proved His love on the cross, when Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, I love you." Billy Graham

Resources used for this post: English Standard Version Bible, Billy Graham Association and Dr. David Jeremiah's book "God Loves You."