Today we continue our series entitled, “God Loves You”, under the overall theme for the year of, “Supernatural Manifestation.” Last week we started looking at John 3:16. Let’s go back to it this morning.
The Apostle John said, “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). Today I want to focus in on the words, “whosoever believeth in him.” The point I will make is that the goodness of God towards us often seems ‘too good to be true’.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Eternal life through Christ Jesus is a gift.
a) We did nothing to earn or deserve Jesus dying for us. God did it simply because He loves us.
b) God freely offers eternal life, through His Son, Jesus the Christ, to every person on the planet. This offer is a gift. All any person needs to do to receive the gift is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Once they do, they are saved from all their sin. This is the gospel.
2. A gift cannot be earned, it can only be received.
a) If you attempt to work for a gift, you are actually attempting to change the nature of the gift. If you work for it, it becomes payment and NOT a gift.
b) The Bible says, “God chose His people by grace. And if he chose them by grace, then it is not what they have done that made them his people. If they could be made his people by what they did, his gift of grace would not really be a gift.” (Romans 11:5,6)
c) Eternal life through Christ cannot be earned. It can only be received, because it is a gift.
d) God wants to save you and bless you; not because you are so good, but because He is. That’s the gospel!
3. Faith is often easiest thing TO DO, but the hardest thing to BELIEVE!
a) You receive eternal life by believing in Jesus — nothing more, nothing less! That is not hard to do, but for many, it is hard to believe, because the message is so good.
b) The Bible says, “Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” (Romans 5:7,8)
4. God is SO good that sometimes people think the Gospel is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!
a) The goodness of God towards us is so good that many humans have a hard time believing it.
b) If I tell you that God made plans for you before the world began, that He knew all the mistakes you were going to make and He planned to use you anyway, that He sent His Son to die for you before you were born, and that He now wants you to live the amazing life He planned, but all you have to do if believe on the Lord Jesus to begin the journey, you might think that is just too good to be true. Most of the time, if something is too good to be true, it isn’t true. But in this case it is! God loves you. He loved you before you were born. He made amazing plans for your life. Jesus already died for all your sins. If you want to begin the journey towards fulfilling your life’s purpose, all you must do is BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is not hard to do, but for many, the goodness of this message is hard to believe.
c) There is an amazing life waiting every person who chooses to believe on Jesus as Lord, and who then chooses to pursue their divine assignment by faith.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. This victory was already obtained for me, before I was born, by Jesus. In Christ I already have the victory. I don’t work for it. I cannot earn it. I certainly don’t deserve it. But I choose to receive it. I have believed on the Lord Jesus. I have received eternal life by faith. I now pursue my divine assignment the same way. I walk and live by faith. My faith accesses Your grace. I become the man/woman I was born to be. Not because I am so good, but because You are. Because Your story for my life SO GOOD and it is also TRUE! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
