John, chapter 3 (3)

John 3:17 (NKJV)

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Amen, thank you LORD.

I find John 3:17 is a worthy Scripture to memorize and meditate on. In the gospel of Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus shared a parable of the two sons. In this story, a father who needed help with work. So he asked his sons to go work in the vineyard. The first son he asked to go and do the work refused to work but later on, he changed his mind and decided to go out and work. Then the father asked the second son to help him with the work. The second son agreed to do the work and said, "I go sir" (Matthew 21:30) but later on, he changed his mind and decided to not do the work. Then Jesus asked the question, who obeyed the father? The people listening in said the first son obeyed the father. Then Jesus responded, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you." (Matthew 21:31 NKJV)

For the longest time, I thought the first son was obedient until with God's help I read John 3:17 that reminds us that Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. I believe the second son understood grace, he did not need extra evidence or maybe get a few things in order in his life before he could obey his father's instruction to work in the vineyard. He simply said he would go and later changed his mind unlike the first son who declined when asked by the father but later changed his mind and decided to do work in the vineyard.

If this is the first time, you are hearing about Jesus and the kingdom of God, I want to assure you that God loves you the way you are, you don't need to first go somewhere get ready, polished and then come to believe in the name of Jesus. If you already know Jesus but the enemy has lied to you with guilt because you may be the son that said yes to the father but later walked away from God or His instructions. God says in Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV), "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love and with loving kindness I have drawn you." Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 12:9 continues to tell us that God's strength in us is made perfect in weakness.

If God does not condemn you before you receive Jesus and become born again as seen above in John 3:17, He is not about to start condemning you now after you have received Jesus (Romans 8:1). Be encouraged.

1 John 3:20 (NKJV)

"For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Prayer: Thank you Father God that You sent Christ to save the world and not condemn it. Thank you LORD God that every feeling of guilt and condemnation is rendered powerless over the lives of Your sons and daughters. May the blood of Jesus Christ speak greater things than the blood of Abel that speaks vengeance in the name of Jesus. May the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life in His Son prevail in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to receive Jesus and be born again into God's Kingdom, that is saved and have a personal relationship with God as Your Father and you as His child by receiving His Son, Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, I invite you to say this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

GLORY TO GOD, You are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!

If you have not already, please feel free to read chapters 1-3 of John's Gospel!