Rather, he refers to the fame and influence of Christ. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. He speaks the words of God Himself. There was purpose in it. (Comp. hath everlasting life; he has it in Christ his head, in whom he believes; he has a right unto it through the justifying righteousness of Christ, and a meetness for it by his grace; he has it in faith and hope; he has the beginning of it in the knowledge of Christ, and communion with him; he has some foretastes of it in his present experience; and he has the earnest and pledge of it in his heart, even the blessed Spirit, who works him up for this selfsame thing: and he that believeth not the Son; that does not believe Christ to be the Son of God, or Jesus to be the Messiah; or rejects him as the Saviour; who lives and dies in a state of impenitence and unbelief: shall not see life; eternal life; he shall not enter into it, and enjoy it; he shall die the second death. How was this? John was not yet cast into prison. Understand the meaning of John 3:36 using all available Bible versions and commentary. How, indeed, could it be stayed within narrow limits? Indeed, Jesus is God the Son, son of God the Father. It will abide or dwell there as its appropriate habitation. The original Greek word, apeithn, means "rejecting belief," "refusing obedience," or "refusing to be convinced.". The ignorance of the world has been proved, the rejection of Israel is complete: then only is it that we hear of this new place of children. They were not to wonder then at what He says and does now; for an hour was coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those that have done good to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil to resurrection of judgment. The close of the chapter shows us the Lord in Galilee. Verse of the Day , God, My Praise (Study In God - All I Need-19). Alas! Afterwards, John the Baptist explains why he's content to see his own ministry fade into the background. Thus, manifestly, the whole question is terminated at the very starting-point of our gospel; and this is characteristic of John all through: manifestly all is decided. The divinity of the Son is in this chapter proved as clearly as in 1 John v. 7. (Verses John 1:44-51). So it must be now; for God is revealed; and the Father in grace seeks true worshippers (be they Samaritans or Jews) to worship Him. There is the nicest care to maintain His personal glory, no matter what the subject may be. John 1:11-12; John 1:11-12) It was not a question now of Jehovah and His servants. There are many aspects to be considered. The third chapter of John contains two related stories. But they learn that it was his divine Physician who had not only healed, but so directed him. God does not here condescend to call it His, though, of course, it was His and holy, just, and good, both in itself and in its use, if used lawfully. It was no longer a moot-point whether God could trust man; for, indeed, He could not. As a present fact, the Lord justifies the judicial act before their eyes by His relationship with God as His Father, and gives the Jews a sign in the temple of His body, as the witness of His resurrection power. Blessed servant he of an infinitely blessed and blessing Master! The Word, in order to accomplish these infinite things, "was made. But all that is historically related of the Lord Jesus inJohn 1:1-51; John 1:1-51; John 2:1-25; John 3:1-36; John 4:1-54. was before the imprisonment of the Baptist. John the Baptist was the earthly witness that God used to present His dearly beloved Son to the world. 31-36). It is here we learn in what condition of His person God was to be revealed and the work done; not what He was in nature, but what He became. But the chapter does not close without a further contrast. (36) Here too we have, in the words of John, thoughts which we have found already (John 3:15-16), and shall find again (), in the words of Christ Himself.He that believeth not the Son.--Better, he that obeyeth not the Son. How singularly is the glory of the Lord Jesus thus viewed, as invested with the testimony of God and its crown! Here was One on earth who knew all secrets. John 3:17-21 (A) Condemn the World. In truth, Christian baptism did not yet exist, but only such as the disciples used, like John the Baptist; it was not instituted of Christ till after His resurrection, as it sets forth His death. Indeed, it is the total eclipse, not merely of law and remedial mercies, but even of promised Messianic glory, by everlasting life and resurrection at the last day. Hence it is that here the Son, according to the grace of God the Father, gives the Holy Ghost eternal life in the power of the Spirit. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Alas! God wants people to be saved . In John He is One who could be described as Son of man who is in heaven; but He belonged to heaven, because He was divine. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." He redeemed us from the curse of the Law, and secured redemption and the forgiveness of sin, for all who would trust in His finished work at Calvary for the salvation of their soul. (Ver. John gives us this point of contact with them, though in an incident peculiar to himself. The disciples of John dispute with a Jew about purification; but John himself renders a bright witness to the glory of the Lord Jesus. In love, God sent his Son to die for all in order to forgive and accept all, in Christ. John 3:17; John 3:17) This decides all before the execution of judgment, Every man's lot is made manifest by his attitude toward God's testimony concerning His Son. The looking for signs and wonders is rebuked; but mortality is arrested. for he knew He was the Christ. Better, he that obeyeth not the Son. (Verses John 5:17-18). This is all perfectly true, of course; and we have it elsewhere. It implies, also, that it will continue to remain on him. What can be conceived more notably standing out in contrast with the governmental system God had set up, and man had known in times past? . The Father seeks worshippers. If He judges, it is not without full warning. "No man hath seen God at any time: the only-begotten Son," etc. Very remarkable are the following words of the Jews (b) concerning the Messiah, whom they call the latter Redeemer: "whosoever believes in him "shall" live; but he that believes not in him shall go to the nations of the world, and they shall kill him.'' The Lord Jesus Didn't Bestow the Way of Eternal Life Upon Man. What sayest thou of thyself? He could, therefore, tell them of heavenly things as readily as of earthly things; but the incredulity about the latter, shown in the wondering ignorance of the new birth as a requisite for God's kingdom, proved it was useless to tell of the former. If we give it careful thought, we can . (Ver. (See Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 13:11-13) Again, let me just remark in passing, that although, no doubt, we may in a general way speak of those who partake of the new nature as having that life, yet the Holy Ghost refrains from predicating of any saints the full character of eternal life as a present thing until we have the cross of Christ laid (at least doctrinally) as the ground of it. You don't know if they know, or know and don't care, or if they are just U2 and know, don't care and deep down don't . Man is morally judged. Answer (1 of 13): John's Gospel is complex. A cash balance plan is an excellent choice for owners and employees when considering how to provide cost-effective retirement benefits. 2. Observe, that blessed as the light is, being God's moral nature, truth is more than this, and is introduced by grace. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; buthe who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.". If His time was not yet come, their time was always ready. "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." He gave them title to take the place of children of God, even to those that believe on His name. It is not a message or a sign, however significant at the moment, which passes away as soon as heard or seen. The character is wholly different from the position and glory of Messiah in Israel, according to promise and prophecy. The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. It would not suit God, if it would suit man, that He, seeing all, should just pronounce on man's corruption, and then forthwith let him off with a bare pardon. His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next. Most music is crap. It was an extraordinary birth; of God, not man in any sort, or measure, but a new and divine nature (2 Peter 1:1-21) imparted to the believer wholly of grace. Just as distinct and beyond comparison is His testimony who, coming from heaven and above all, testifies what He saw and heard, however it might be rejected. It is not John's business here to call attention to His Messiahship, not even when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, Who art thou? "He came unto his own [things], and his own [people] received him not. Nobody had gone up to heaven: God had taken more than one; but no one had gone there as of right. Observe, it is not (as is often very erroneously said or sung) a question of sins, but of the "sin" of the world. John is not saying that Christ in himself is not already as great intrinsically as he could possibly be. This verse is the only place where God's wrath is mentioned in the gospel of John. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. , , . Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Yet thousands choose to remain in this state, and to encounter alone all that is terrible in the wrath of Almighty God, rather than come to Jesus, who has borne their sins in his own body on the tree, and who is willing to bless them with the peace, and purity, and joy of immortal life. how to get incineroar hidden ability; John 3:8; John 3:8.. We have had his name introduced into each part of the preface of our evangelist. So only is man born of God. (John 12:48). The same God who did not leave Himself without witness among the heathen, doing good, and giving from heaven rain and fruitful seasons, did not fail, in the low estate of the Jews, to work by providential power at intervals; and, by the troubled waters of Bethesda, invited the sick, and healed the first who stepped in of whatever disease he had. {n} He that believeth Heb 2:4; Joh 3:15,16, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). Such was Jesus in person, contrasted with all who belong to the earth. The incarnate Word was here full of grace and truth. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. Nathanael's call is just as clearly typical of Israel in the latter day. Why is John 3:16 the most famous verse in the Bible? Just as in John 4:1-54, so here it is a question of power in the Holy Ghost, and not simply of Christ's person. Scripture is, or may be, before man always. Today, the phrase "born again" can have any one of a host of meanings. Accordingly there is a four-fold testimony to Jesus: the testimony of John the Baptist; the Lord's own works; the voice of the Father from heaven; and finally, the written word which the Jews had in their own hands. John is clear about why he wrote his Gospel (20:31): "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you may have life in His name.". This only secures His honour in those that believe God's testimony to Him, the Son of God; and to these He gives life, everlasting life now, and exemption from judgment, in this acting in communion with the Father. John 3:16 teaches us that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, God's Son, will be saved.