"IN EVERY GENERATION THERE IS A REMNANT THAT DARES TO BELIEVE GOD."
John 3:16
By Cindy Hyde - 3/20/00
"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."
John 3:16 KJV
Do you know what love is? Let's answer a question that has been asked zillions of times. There is an answer to be found to the question:
What Is Love?
God is love... Love comes from God and He has given us the spirit of love. 2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
God teaches us what love is and how to love. It surely doesn't come natural. I Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of
God to love one another.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Love was what held Jesus to the cross. Not the nails. God loves sinners and saints. We are all sinners. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all sin and must repent daily. The one who says they are without sin is a liar.
There are many who profess Christianity, many who have signs and wonders following them, and we can be deceived. But not if we know that love is what makes the difference. Without love you are nothing. Without the fruits of the Spirit your works are nothing. Don't be fooled by those who do good but have no love. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
How Do We Love? Like God Does.
Love in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
...that he gave his only begotten son...
Who is God's Son? Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was with God from the beginning. He is the Word of life, the eternal life. 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Jesus laid His life down for you because He loved you. John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Jesus died for you because you are His friend. He is your friend. John 15:13-14 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
...that whosoever believeth in him...
How do we believe? We accept what the Bible says as truth. When you believe you hope. You have faith. How do we get it? By hearing. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. How can we hear lest someone tell us about Jesus and we believe? Who told you about Jesus?
...should not perish but have everlasting life...
What is everlasting life?
It is a gift of God. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eternal life is never ending, perpetual, continual life. It means that we will never perish. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
It was a promise of God before the world began. Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
How do we get this life?
The life is in the Son. Whoever has the Son in their life has eternal life. 1 John 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Would you like eternal life?
Now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Would you like to accept this gift of eternal life today? Would you open your heart to recieve the love that God has for you today? Jesus has been standing at the door of your heart gently knocking and asking you to let Him in. Open your heart today. Give Jesus a chance to love you.
If there is one thing this world does not have enough of is love. God loves you. Jesus loves you. God loves you more than you can imagine. No matter what you have done, no matter what you have thought, no matter what you have believed. God loves you. He loves you just as you are right now.
Accept what He is offering you today. Eternal life. Love. Joy. Peace. All the things that the world cannot offer you.
God loves you and so do I.
Cindy Hyde
© 2000-2001
Pastors@TheRemnant.org
Email us if you would like for me to pray with you or if you would like to confess
Jesus as your Savior today. Now is the day of salvation.
