SOAP 08/01/2016; John 3:16

Today's reading: Isaiah 65, 66; Psalm 62; John 3

S) "¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

John 3:16 (NASB)

O) This is, for good reason, perhaps the most well known verse in the entire Bible. It conveys some of the most important truths about Jesus, the gospel, and God, all in a relatively short sentence. But, because it is so brief, and because people are prone to assign their own convenient definitions to things, and because of proof-texting, this verse is sometimes used almost like a cop-out for people who want to go to heaven, but don't want to live a life of obedience. Part of the problem, is that the word "believe," can be misconstrued. The word here is much more comprehensive than a simple statement of acknowledgment. This is a matter of lifestyle. If a person really believes in Jesus, then they believe all that He said. If they believe all that He said, and they truly love Him, then they'll desire to obey Him in all that He said. Not only did Jesus expound on this Himself (see John 14:15), but John the Baptist actually alludes to this same thing, later in this very chapter (see v.36), where he actually sets belief and obedience in contrast. So, the term "believe," carries with it a connotation of obedience and submission. Furthermore, this verse shows us the bare-bones mission statement of Jesus. His purpose for coming the first time, was to reconcile the world to their Creator. That leads to the last point, and this is sometimes missed, I think. God the Father loved the world so much, that He gave His only begotten Son. Sometimes, I think we get a wrong image in our heads, that Jesus is the compassionate one, and God the Father is some angry judge, seeking to condemn or otherwise destroy the world. However, it was the love of the Father in Heaven, that He desired us to have eternal life with Him. He wanted it so much, that He created a way for us all to be saved, if only we will believe in (and obey) His only begotten Son.

A) This may very well be the first memory verse I ever had as a child. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Because this verse is so, so familiar, there is a human (and wrong) tendency in me to gloss over it. I have a tendency, because of that familiarity, to not dwell on the beauty of this verse. My Father in heaven loved the world so much, He loves me so much, that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for me. I do believe with my head, that Jesus is who the Bible says He is, and that He did what it says He did. I believe with my heart, in who Jesus is, what He said to do. I also need to manifest that belief every day, with the way I live out my faith. Also, I want to dwell on this love more. It is the lovinkindness of God that leads me to repentance. The more I am dwelling on His love for me, the better I will be at loving Him back. That's really what I want to do. I want to love Him back, and love involves action. Primarily, that happens first, through obedience. But, I am most motivated, most inspired to love and obey, when I first dwell on His deep love for me.

P) Father, thank You for this amazing love. Thank You for the grace, all the countless ways, all the incomprehensible grace, that was and is at work in bringing me to faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your love and Your mercy. Thank You for Your patience and compassion. Thank You for providing the sacrifice, the propitiation I could never pay. Thank You for the Scriptures, that I would even learn who Your Son is. Let me dwell on this amazing grace more often. May this verse never become stale to me. Keep my heart soft to the beauty of its simple expression of Your love for me. Thank you. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.