John 3: 1
- 21
This famous
passage links four related subjects into one theme: There is no grace or faith without God’s love for the world.
(1) If we are not born into the Kingdom of God by
the grace of God, we cannot have faith. (1 – 13)
(2) The faith that brings salvation
comes from beholding the lifting up
of the Son of Man. The term, "lifted up," refers to the cross, but it also refers to the
resurrection and to the ascension. Jesus
will be lifted up on the cross, the great sacrifice of atonement. He will be raised up on the third day, conquering
death. His cross, his resurrection and
his ascension are different facets of his glorification. (verse 14 – 15)
(3) God loves the world, which prompted God's gift of the Son so
that those who believe in him should have eternal life. God so
loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (verse 16)
(4) There is a judgement day for those
who love the darkness more than the Light, and who for this reason do not in
faith look to the uplifted Son for eternal life. (verse 17 – 21)
These four subjects are so closely related as to become one theme:
There is no faith without grace. Grace has no
meaning in isolation from the judgment.
If we have no sin, we need no forgiveness. If there is no judgment, we need no grace.
Therefore there is no grace or faith without God’s love for the
world.
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