April 4
JOHN 3:17
-As we discussed previously, John 3:16 is the most quoted verse in all of the Bible. Many do not understand what "to perish"
or "to die" means, for they are spiritual concepts that refer to the carnal mind. Many as well, do not go on to the next verse
and read it. It contains a beautiful truth that is waiting to be discovered. Let us venture on to verse 17 and be liberated
from the traditions and doctrines of men.
-John 3:17 states, … For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him
might be saved … So … DID HE DO IT? DO WHAT? Well … DID HE SAVE THE WORLD? The answer is … YES!!!
-1ST John 4:14 states, … And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son TO BE THE SAVIOR
OF THE WORLD … Well … Did Jesus succeed or fail? 1st Timothy 2:4 states, … God will have ALL
MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus, WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME … Romans 5:10 states, … For if
when we WERE enemies, WE WERE reconciled to God, by the death of His Son, …
-Let us summarize the matter:
1. God sent His Son NOT TO CONDEMN, but to SAVE THE WORLD …
2. The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world …
3. God will have all men to be saved …
4. Jesus Christ is a ransom for all, which will be fully testified IN DUE TIME …
5. We WERE ( past tense ) reconciled to God when we WERE ( past tense ) enemies …
-So … Is the world already reconciled to God? Y E S! They just don’t know it yet! God is in the process of
awakening ALL MEN TO WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN AND THROUGH THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST. As they are awakened, they
will repent and exercise faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This awakening process is to take place on
the individual level, and is to take place in the entire human race as well. On the individual level, we are to experience
the salvation of our spirit, soul, and body. This is referred to as justification, sanctification, and glorification, and
is to be seen as a PROCESS, in which we are saved, we are being saved, and we shall be saved. On the corporate level ( speaking
of the entire human race ), mankind is being brought to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in THREE GREAT HARVESTS:
1. REMNANT ( THIS PRESENT AGE )
2. NATIONS ( THE AGE TO COME , THE MILLENNIUM )
3. WORLD, OR ALL THINGS ( THE AGE OF THE AGES, THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES )
-Remember … These three great harvests are seen in type and shadow in Israel’s THREE GREAT FEASTS:
1. PASSOVER ( BARLEY HARVEST )
2. PENTECOST ( WHEAT HARVEST )
3. TABERNACLES ( GRAPE HARVEST )
-As we have stated, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles are to be experienced ( spiritually speaking ) by all men on the
individual and corporate levels of humanity. It will result in the salvation of all men ( spirit, soul, and body ), and will
also culminate with a universal and triumphant declaration, in which GOD SHALL BE ALL IN ALL ( everything to everyone, 1st
Corinthians 15:28 ), having brought the entire creation unto Himself, in the order of REMNANT, NATIONS, AND WORLD ( ALL THINGS,
Colossians 1:20 )!!!
-Jesus did not come to condemn, so why does the church continually preach condemnation? Many do not understand what Christ
HAS ACCOMPLISHED. They think that THEY had something to do with their salvation. Remember … For by GRACE are you saved
through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST ( Ephesians 2:8,9
) …
-YES … You must have faith! But faith is not what saves you. THE GRACE OF GOD HAS ALREADY SAVED YOU! The faith that
we exhibit in the Lord Jesus Christ is nothing more than proof that God has awakened us, the fruit of that awakening, and
that which GIVES US ACCESS to what CHRIST HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED!!! In essence, the very faith that we have to believe in
God is also a GIFT FROM HIM, for God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
-AMEN!-
