Dear Tim (and everyone else),
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
I bet you started reading that scripture and knew exactly where it was going, at least if not that version, another one. We all know it as the foundation of the Gospel. Its where it all starts. It was probably the first scripture you memorized. Its on bumper stickers, bracelets, tattoos, even you, Mr. Tim Tebow, wear 3:16 on your eye black to show your opponents Who is on your side. I mean heck, if I knew the God of the universe was on your side, I’d be afraid of you. (I think that’s well played, strategically speaking.)
Back to my point:
Yes, God loves the world.
Yes, He sent his Son to save us and give us everlasting life.
Yes, the Father knew we would sin and that sin would nail Jesus, His beloved Son, to the cross and THAT and only THAT gets us back to Him.
But that’s not the end of the story. Thats only part of it. KEEP READING.
John 3:17 [AMP]
For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
(My own boldness added.)
Everlasting life is great and all, but it’s not today, it’s not right now, not in the moment of my sin. What I need in this moment is verse 17. Go read it again and where it says “the world” insert “me, I, your name” or whatever makes it right (or grammatically correct) for you.
Oh come on… I was serious about that, go back, read John 3:17 again. And make it personal.
Jesus, the only Person who was 100% perfect, is the only One who can legally judge us as sinners because He never sinned. But God clearly said, it’s not what He’s going to do, Jesus’ job is not to condemn or judge us. He’s here to give salvation in the moment of sin, we will deal with everlasting when that comes around, but for right now, I (and everyone else) need to know that I can find salvation, and be made safe and sound through Jesus. He’s not judging my sin, he’s saving me from the power it has over me.
Hallelujah, am I right?
I sin on the daily (probably on the minutely) but because of Jesus I can find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. Safe and sound. He’s not worried about my sin, we both know its there, but He’s taken care of it, He will not reject me, pass sentence on me, judge me, or condemn me.
Praise Him. (That’s said in a sing-songy voice, so everyone knows.)
So if Jesus isn’t busy judging, condemning or rejecting you, that frees up a lot of time to do what He really came to do:
Love you, accept you, heal you, teach you, give you peace, show you mercy, give you grace, make you righteous, to raise you out of death into life (and life more abundantly), and ultimately save you and make you safe and sound through Him. (If you don’t believe me, just keep reading the rest of John.)
So Tim, what do you say? Will you tell the world what Jesus came to do? Will you make your face say 3:17 this season?
Think about it,
Courtney Jo
