Basics

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

It has struck me lately how often I hear preachers and Bible teachers mentioning the word “gospel”.  They go on talking and don’t explain what they mean.  They just assume everybody knows.

Sunday I heard repeated references to the gospel and how important the gospel was, and how we need to keep presenting the gospel.  Not once was there an explanation of what he meant by that and the sermon itself didn’t explain it.

So what is the gospel?  That’s been going through my head this morning.  In trying to break it down and summarize it John 3:16 finally came to mind.  Here in a nutshell, summarized by Jesus Himself, are the basics of the gospel.  It’s all you really need to get started following Jesus.

Now I would be the first to concede that there is much more involved and that this is the beginning of a life of study and growing and grace.  You can get into the Greek, you can get into the theology, you can get into the history, you can get into the application, but the basics are there.

So?  The gospel is the good news that God loved us enough to send Jesus who died for us and gives us hope of eternal life.  

Start with the Basics

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

It never hurts to go back to some of the basic foundational truths of scripture.  Is there one verse that could do it all for you if you were on the short track?  If you were due to be executed next week or in five minutes, is there one verse that could tell you everything you really need to know to get right with God?

You just read it.

Everything you need to know to get over the hump, through the gate, past the judgment is found in this verse.  Think of it as that extra gallon of gas you had in your trunk when your car stopped just a few miles short of the station.  Think of it is that MRE in your backpack that you had when you were one day away from the trail head.  Think about it any way you want, but do think about it.

You can think about it with rejoicing.  That’s what I do.  I rejoice that it is that simple to start the journey with Jesus.  You can think about it with rejection.  That’s your choice and God will honor it.  You can think about it with acceptance.  Welcome to the family.

So?  If you make it over the hump the through the door, that doesn’t mean this verse has everything for the rest of your life.  It’s the starter package.  After this, you plunge into the depths of the wisdom and truth of God, and learn to walk and righteousness.  But it’s a good place to start.  

Starving at Harvest

Proverbs 5:23 (KJV) He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

This is a sad indictment on the condition of so many people.  The question I would have is how can you have no “instruction” in the midst of so much information.  You see, this person that is going to die and who has gone astray is not in that situation because there is a lack of knowledge available.  He is there because he has refused to consider it honestly.

While I would consider that there are probably some people isolated enough not to know anything about Jesus, I don’t think that applies to anybody you know.  I know it doesn’t apply to anyone I know.  The problem is not a lack of knowledge.  The problem is the lack of willingness to accept that knowledge.  I am struck by what Jesus says in John chapter 3.

John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Jesus is talking about judgment and people being condemned.  The sad truth it shares is that people hate the light.

So?  You may have crossed over into the kingdom.  Praise God for that.  Pray for others around you that have not made that decision.  In your own life, keep seeking knowledge and wisdom, and allowing yourself to be instructing so that you can grow in grace. 

Once Again My Eyes Go Wide

(Joh 3:16 KJV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

I was moving from the praise portion of my morning worship to the thanksgiving focus.  As is often the case I first express my gratitude for the Son being willing to become a mere human being in order to accomplish our redemption.  Somehow my thinking came to this term “only begotten” (3439).  It is one of those terms that seem contradictory because it implies that Jesus had a beginning, which would make Him a created being.  That does not go with His divinity.  

I had an insight.  At least it was an insight for me.  You may have known it all along and it is one of those things you were hiding from me.  It may be in the commentaries but I don’t spend a lot of time reading people’s opinions.  What dawned on me was that this designation referred to the transformation from the divine trinity to the new born infant.  What that involves, how much the baby knew, could He recite Plato from birth and such questions are lost in mystery.  We will try to penetrate them but will come away filled with wonder.

So?  God became man.  He dwelt among us.  He lived the perfect life.  He died on a cross so that we could have forgiveness from sin.  Glory.  This revelation hits me on a regular basis and continues to be a wonder. 

The Thinking Heart

(Pro 23:7 KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Why is regeneration so important?  Regeneration is a big word that is synonymous with the phrase “born again”.  In spite of the blasphemous way in which some advertisers us the term, it comes from the mouth of Jesus. 

(Joh 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Seeing is colored by our vision.  I am mildly color blind.  Because I am aware of that I avoid certain vague greenish/brownish colors because I can’t really tell them apart.  I look forward to the resurrection because I will then be able to find out how beautiful God’s creation really is.  Until then it is impossible. 

In the same way I cannot see the beauty of salvation until the color blindness, or sin, of my heart is dealt with.

So?  Christians think different.  We see different.  We act different.  It starts in the heart that is able to think. 

The Mouths of Fools

(Proverbs 26:9 KJV)  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

What used to be the most quoted verse in the Bible?  When I was growing up it would have been John 3:16, no question.

(John 3:16 KJV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Things have changed.  The fools are taking over the pulpits and classrooms of America.  Now the most quoted verse is Matthew 7:1.

(Matthew 7:1 KJV)  Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Why do I say fools?  The current crop of leaders and church attenders have chosen the verse that serves their purposes and allows them to live in rebellion and sin but feel righteous about it.  You can quote John 3:16 out of context and the depth of meaning is still there.  So is the conviction and need for real faith.  Matthew 7:1 usually is quoted out of context and warped to fit the occasion.  No one keeps reading and sees the demand for personal accountability and the call to confront others in their sin.

(Matthew 7:5 KJV)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

So?  Don’t be a fool.  Use the word with care as it was intended to be used.  God will not be mocked.