2007-07-26 13:54:54 · 15 answers · asked by I Love Jesus 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This personal relationship with Jesus that you are seeking is not as hard to find as you think; and there is no mysterious formula for getting it. As soon as we become children of God, we receive the Holy Spirit, who will begin work on our hearts. We should pray without ceasing, read the Bible, and join a Bible-believing church; all these things will grow us spiritually. Trusting in God to get you through each day, and believing that He is your sustainer is the way to have a relationship with Him. Although you may not see changes immediately, you will begin to see them over time, and all the truths will become more clear.
2007-07-26 13:58:12 · answer #1 · answered by A Voice 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
God bless you, Wendy, for asking this question:
John 3:16 has been interpreted so often to mean anyone who calls "Lord, Lord", can enter the kingdom of heaven, but it just doesn't work that way; in fact, most people don't know what person said those words.
In theology, there is a rule of first measure, meaning you must take what was said first, and apply it to what is said later.
John 3:16 was Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, and Jesus first said: Unless you are born again you can not enter the Kingdom of heaven (verse 3).
He says you must be born of the water and the Spirit. This is so important, when we are baptized in water, we symbolically die to this world and resurrect like Jesus to a new life, energized by His Spirit.
So, you see, there is more than just believing in Jesus. Also, in verse 20 and 21 tell you those who have that Spirit have obeyed God. Get that, God's indwelling Spirit compels us to live the heavenly lifestyle here.
That is what Christianity is all about. "The Kingdom of God is within you", said Jesus.
And only those who are lead by God's spirit will exhibit these changes.
There is much more that I can say, Wendy, and if you have any more Bible questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail.
Shalom, peace in Jesus, Ben Yeshua
2007-07-26 14:14:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
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.
This means that Jesus Christ died for your and my sins. He lived a sinless life and when he died he took on all the sins of the world from the time of the beginning until the end. When you confess your sins to Christ and ask him into your heart he will take on your burden of sins and intervene with his Father and ask that you be forgiving. It will be like you are beginning with a blank slate. No sins.
2007-07-26 14:06:15 · answer #3 · answered by RebelDixie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Words fail us. Since Jehovah has feelings, the pain he suffered over the death of his Son is beyond the power of our words to express. What can be expressed is Jehovah’s motive for having allowed it to happen. Why did the Father subject himself to such feelings? Jehovah reveals something wonderful to us at John 3:16—a Bible verse so important that it has been called the Gospel in miniature. It says: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” So Jehovah’s motive amounted to this: love. Jehovah’s gift—his sending his Son to suffer and die for us—was the greatest act of love ever.
2007-07-26 14:01:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Sure.
God loves those in the world who He wants. Jesus, being the propitiation for sins ( and was typified many times in the Old Testament as that propitiation ), for all people in the world, past, present, and future. The Word of God came to Earth as Jesus of Nazareth, and though perfect according to the Law of Moses and therefore sinless, paid the price for all of us sinners. In other words, he died so that we might live.
Whoever believes in Jesus as the sacrifice for their personal sins is granted favor by God, unmerited. And they are separated by God from other people in the world who did not believe.
The "will not perish" part of the verse means that those who trust God through Jesus Christ will not suffer the "Second Death" where God's wrath is set upon those who did not trust Him. And those people will die that second time and be removed from God's presence.
Those that did believe that Jesus is the key to the covering for their sin will have eternal life with God.
I think that covers it! Though as I was typing it, I realized that there are many, many other ways to word it. lol
2007-07-26 14:10:24 · answer #5 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To atone for sins and crimes, the early jewish peoples had to offer sacrifices of plant or animal to God.
God made the choice, that once and for all, he would offer the ultimate sacrifice of his son to cover all sins forevermore.
Jesus was begotten by the father, to serve this purpose. He preached to all those around him of the glory of God, and ultimately came to his purpose on that hill. His death was the sacrifice to save all peoples. Our only requirement is to accept that sacrifice as our own.
2007-07-26 14:15:13 · answer #6 · answered by Moose 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"For God... - the greatest One
"so loved... - the greatest commitment
"the world... - the greatest number
"that He gave... - the greatest act
"His only Son... - His greatest possession
"that whosoever - that'd you, me or anyone
"believes in Him... - the greatest agreement
"should not die... - that is, not be eternally separated from God, in darkness
"but have everlasting life." - the greatest gift, eternity with Jesus!
I hope this helps a little. Verse 17 sews it up a little, too.
2007-07-26 14:10:23 · answer #7 · answered by TroothBTold 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This scripture tells us that God so loved US ALL that He sacrificed a part of Him for our sake.
It goes on to say that if we believe in His Son, which was the sacrificed Lamb of God, that we will never perish and will have everlasting life...eternity with God.
I hope this helped.
2007-07-26 14:05:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that who ever believes in will not perish but have eternal life.
It means that God loved us so much he sent Jesus to die for us, and if we believe in him we will live with him in heaven forever.
2007-07-26 14:13:11 · answer #9 · answered by LovelySparkleZ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"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."
2007-07-26 13:57:29 · answer #10 · answered by fuzz 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋