The Case of God’s Love

How far does God’s love extend?  It is as wide as the Church universal (the entire community of redeemed Image-bearers, rescued from every corner and former faith tradition into Christ’s spiritual house) and as personal as you and me (living stones and individual Image-bearers whom God knows personally).  But…

When Scripture says in John 3:16 “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,” it had a preface or if you’d prefer, an Opening Statement.  It also has a Closing Statement. 

Opening Statement: 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

This is defining the world –specifically the world of the saved. 
Not everyone (period), but “everyone who believes”.

Closing Statement:  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  18 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.

Two groups: Those already NOT condemned and those condemned ALREADY.

For this reason, after the Closing Statement, there is also a verdict, issued by the Judge of all.  In the Last Day, we will all stand before Him to give an account of our lives based in His truth which stands alone.  It’s an account of what we did during the persecutions and trials that come our way.  It’s an account of all the evils being done in our culture, and what we did in that time, whether capitulate in fear, remain silent, or stand courageous proclaiming His Truth. Some will stand before Him to receive Judgment.  Followers of Jesus will stand before Him to receive a vision of the extent of God’s love and forgiveness.

John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.   21 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.

Standing before the Judge of the universe, will equality claims of “your truth” or “their truth” vs. His Truth have any merit?  Better, while there’s still time, would be for us to align ourselves with His Truth, repent, and adjust our lives accordingly.