As we approach the season of grace, Easter, I believe it necessary to speak of the urgency and necessity of Salvation. However, we do not want to find ourselves in a place absent of God’s presence, or have to speculate about the merits of our own salvation, living in constant fear wondering if we did enough, loved enough, cared enough, gave enough, shared enough, listened enough, yielded enough, or simply served someone other than ourselves.
Let not your heart be troubled, as the closing segment of scripture found in, John 3:16, uses a very slight but profound word, "whosoever".
John 3:16 is the most gracious, wonderful offer conceivable; eternal life for all who believe
Today’s episode is titled.
Whosoever Will
John 3:16
16 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.
By compartmentalizing differing elements of the scripture we recognize; God saw, witnessed the need of humanity from our fall in the garden nearly 6,000 years ago, He has always, without ceasing sought to restore our relationship with Him. Jesus (the Son) after 4,000 years of capture, enslavement, kings, prophets, judges and 400 years of silence, was sent to dwell among us, as there was no other alternative to draw us back to God, but at the same time demonstrate his eternal love towards us, unlike many things we become involved in, they are meaningless unless we genuinely have something of great value to lose. We are the “whosoever”, (us) meaning anyone, without exception is invited to “believe”, not as a thought contained in the mind, but far within the heart. We have a choice, as Salvation is not forced upon us, God like the Israelites in the desert, gave us his word, we have tasted his goodness, but He still gives us, free will. And lastly there is the promise, acknowledging the suffering of Christ on our behalf, and accepting it as payment in full for the ransom of our sins.
It is impossible to clean up our own lives, to make ourselves right. It is impossible to think of eternity, without understanding how God loved us so much, that He sent his only son. This well-known verse is important because it tells us about the unconditional love that God has for his creation, it teaches us about the sacrifice God made for us, and it helps us understand the eternal implications of accepting Jesus. This verse is a promise and affirms the hope we have as Christians that there is an eternal life waiting for those who believe in Jesus. It suggest that no matter who we are, where we come from, what our failings, what our insecurities, our transgressions or trespasses, no matter our ethnicity, our family history, whether short or tall, male or female, child or elderly, the Savior of the world was born unto us all. We only need to believe that He is, and therefore inherit the promise of everlasting life. Is it really that straightforward? I would emphatically, with the greatest assurance answer, yes!
