Me and my friend Steve did a bible study on John 3:16-21 yesterday. It’s interesting studying these verses since they can sometimes seem numbing. I believe John 3:16 is the most known piece of scripture as it is quoted at sporting events and billboards. However, when studied in the Greek language, the words come to live! Let’s take a look:
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.
– God’s love for the world is agape, or unilateral. He loves the world unconditionally.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
– Condemn in this passage is like putting some one on trial or take them to court. Save in the greek is to heal, cure, or to mend the relationship between man an God. How does that change the way you see evangelism? Jesus didn’t come to point the judgemental finger at sinners but to mend the relationship between them and God!
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. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
-back to that agape love thing. The same way Jesus describes his love for the world is the same way Jesus describes the worlds love for evil. Wait what? Humanity has an unconditional love for evil, or all things against God. This should show the mission of Jesus. I think in light of this verse, Christians should be in prayer for those who do not love the Lord, that they may see the light and desire it more than the evil they serve.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:16-21 NIV)
-We are known by our fruits. The way we live will determine if we are truly walking in the light or imposters. The truth is plainly seen by everyone, however that light is hated by those who live in the darkness.
All-in-all, Jesus came to cure the sin of the world trough love and grace and not though judging the actions or pasts of the world. We are to model that style of evangelism of loving others without taking them to trial for their sinful nature. God Bless!
