Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴⁵  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.”  John 4:43-45. 

If one drew a straight line from the middle of Samaria, where Jesus talked to the woman at the well in the previous Scripture, to Cana, where we will next read of Jesus healing the nobleman’s son, this line would cross over Nazareth.  Accordingly, one could reasonably think that Jesus would stop at Nazareth and spend some time there, Jesus’ hometown where He lived as a boy and grew up.  However, at least in this Scripture, nothing is stated at least here about a visit to Nazareth at this time.

In Matthew Chapter 13, we do read about Jesus’ visit to Nazareth, maybe at a different time, although it may be at this same time, which gives us a better understanding of Jesus’ statement:  “a prophet has no honor in his own country”.

“⁵³  When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.

 ⁵⁴  He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?

 ⁵⁵  “Is not this the carpenter’s son?  Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

 ⁵⁶  “And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this man get all these things?”

 ⁵⁷  And they took offense at Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”

 ⁵⁸  And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  Matthew 13:53-58.

So, what is the significance of this John 4:43-45 Scripture? 

For some of us, Christians, at some times, we may need to leave the comfort of home to more effectively perform our ministry elsewhere.  This Scripture can be of encouragement to us for such times.

We should recognize that there are those who may be called to minister in their hometowns for there entire lives.  This Scripture should not bother them.  Also, for others, they may be at home for awhile, this Scripture should also not bother them;  they should be at peace and enjoy their time at home.

We can and should trust God to place us in the Body of Christ where He wants and when He wants to do it.  We should not think necessarily:  “Oh, no, I will live the rest of my life in Poduk, Iowa!”  (No offense to Poduk, if there is actually such a place.  It may be a great place to live.  )

As a personal example, I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, and I still have a lot of good friends in the Muskegon – Grand Rapids area.  Although St. Petersburg, Florida, where I live is a great city, I probably would have cried a lot and been miserable around 1977 when I left home to go to law school in St. Petersburg if I allowed myself to think such thoughts.

1 Corinthians 12:18
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”

God gives us all the grace that we need to deal with any situation.  2 Corinthians 12:9  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

And, we should not think of this grace as just “bare bones” grace.  God does not give the minimum of grace, just enough to get by.

God’s grace is lavish.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 9:32.  “For the LORD God is a sun and shield;  The LORD gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84:11

In conclusion, it is my personal testimony, after living 33 years many miles away from home, that God has filled my life with so many good things, including wonderful visits back home (with the last time being a September fishing trip to Canada with three of my college buddies).  “… the LORD is upright;  He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”  Psalm 92:15.

 ⁴¹  Many more believed because of His word;

 ⁴²  and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  John 4:39-42. 

This devotion reminds me of the Gideons.  In yesterday’s devotion, I wrote a little bit about my failure or inability to be a “soul-winner”.  One of the things that I did to deal with that fact was become a Gideon.  I thought:  “If I am not good about verbally telling others about my faith, the least I can do is help distribute Bibles.”  (Although I am currently inactive, I am still a Gideon.  I continue to pay my dues and give occasionally and admire their good work.)

We may fail or falter in giving our testimony, but God’s word neither fails nor falters.

Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”

Don’t be discouraged if others do not give you credit. 

Like the men of Samaria, some may want to avoid giving credit to the one who shared their faith, so we should not be discouraged.  Through God’s grace and power, we may “reap” even if they quietly, and behind the scenes, check out things by themselves by reading the Bible or attending church elsewhere. 

By no means do I want to minimize the importance of preaching as the means of grace.

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 25:

Question 65:  “Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed? 

Answer:  From the Holy Ghost, who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments.”

In conclusion, today’s Scripture immediately comes to the rescue.  Although we may feel ashamed about our failure or inability to win souls, we can help distribute God’s word and invite people to our church.  We are reminded that God’s word is like fire and like a hammer which shatters a rock.  We are reminded that preaching is the means of grace, and we can support our ministers by our offerings, our prayers, and our encouragement.

 ³³  So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?”

 ³⁴  Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

 ³⁵  “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.

 ³⁶  “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal;  so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

 ³⁷  “For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’

 ³⁸  “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”  John 4:31-38. 

As shared in the “About Me” tag of my web site – Click here: About me « Reformed Doctrine Blog : “Although I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church in Muskegon, Michigan, I moved to Florida in 1977 to go to law school, and I stayed here in Florida.  I attended and was a member, even a lay leader, in a large range of churches from Assembly of God to Baptist to Calvary Chapel to United Methodist to nondenominational churches and small fellowships.”

In some of the churches, committees, conferences, and retreats that I attended, there was such an emphasis on “soul-winning” that, I, for one, felt guilty about either my failure or inability to win souls.  It is hard, even now, years later, to shake this feeling, particularly when I read Scripture such as today’s Scripture.  And, I also tend to want to justify myself for my failure or inability to win souls, or much worse, I also tend to want to twist Scripture to make me look good.  As I write this devotion, I must admit and confront these feelings and tendencies. 

Many of you out there can more fully and better explain this Scripture.  When I hear your sermons or read your commentaries, with God’s grace, your rebuke, exhortation, and encouragement will help me and others.

So, I will limit my commentary to the hope that I see in verse 34.  “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”  This verse reminds me of the following verses which speak of God’s work.   (Emphasis is added to the following Scripture.) 

Matthew 16:18
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” 

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10. 

Philippians 2:13
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Ephesians 1:11
“also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”

In conclusion, we tend to think that Christ’s work ended when He died on the cross, and that the presence of every person either in heaven or hell is solely our personal responsibility, but the main verse in the Scripture for today and other Scripture teaches us and reminds us that Christ will faithfully accomplish His promise and His work to build His church.

 ²⁹  “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done;  this is not the Christ, is it?”

 ³⁰  They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.”  John 4:27-30.

What has Christ done for you?  Although we all can and should generally say at some point of time:  “eternal life”, we should pay attention to the fact that this woman of Samaria was specific as to what Christ had done for her.  This is what a good witness will do, be specific. 

We are reminded of the specific witness of the blind man who was healed.  “He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know;  one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”  John 9:25

We tend to get in trouble when we try to universalize. 

What if the blind man considered that Christ did not heal all blind men, and the blind man only said something to the effect:  “Christ said:  ‘I am the Light of the world.’ “? 

What if the woman of Samaria considered that Christ did not tell everyone all the things that they did, and the woman of Samaria only said something to the effect:  “Christ said:  ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’ “?

Although such general testimony would be true, such general testimony would not give glory to God as He intends.  We remember the words of Jesus.  “And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”  Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;  but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”  John 9:2-3. 

Although such general testimony would be true, such general testimony would not develop hope and trust in God as He intends. 

^“4  We will not conceal them from their children,
         But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
         And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
    ⁵  For He established a testimony in Jacob
         And appointed a law in Israel,
         Which He commanded our fathers
         That they should teach them to their children,
    ⁶  That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,
         That they may arise and tell them to their children,
    ⁷  That they should put their confidence in God
         And not forget the works of God,
         But keep His commandments,”  Psalm 78:4-7.

So, are you going to keep silent about what God has specifically done for you just because God has not healed everyone? 

Are you going to keep silent about what God has specifically done for you just because God has not delivered everyone from their financial troubles?

Are you going to keep silent about what God has specifically done for you just because God has not rescued everyone from physical danger?

In conclusion, what was the result of the following specific testimony and simple invitation of the woman of Samaria, which even contained a humble question?  “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done;  this is not the Christ, is it?”  They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.”  John 4:29-30.

 ¹⁷  The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”  Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;

 ¹⁸  for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband;  this you have said truly.”

 ¹⁹  The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

 ²⁰  “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”

 ²¹  Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

 ²²  “You worship what you do not know;  we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

 ²³  “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;  for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

 ²⁴  “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 ²⁵  The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”

 ²⁶  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”  John 4:15-26.

How do we worship God in spirit?

We must have God’s Spirit, in order to worship God in spirit.

^“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God;  for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.  If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;  but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  Romans 8:6-17.  (Emphasis added.)

How do we worship God in truth?

Here are two elements provided in today’s Scripture.

We must worship God in the truth of who we are, in order to worship God in truth.  We admit our sinful condition.  The woman of Samaria admitted her sinful condition when confronted by Jesus of her sinful condition.  Jesus said:  “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;  for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”  The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

We must worship God in the truth of Who He is, in order to worship God in truth.  The woman of Samaria ^“said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ);  when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” 

Here is an additional element provided elsewhere in Scripture.

We must worship God in the truth of how we are saved, in order to worship God in truth.  Having zeal or trying hard is not sufficient.  “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”  Romans 10:1-3. 

In conclusion, Philippians 3:1-11 ties it together.  Notice how Paul writes about those “who worship in the Spirit of God”, meaning that we must have God’s Spirit in order to worship God in spirit.  Notice how Paul explains in detail the truth of who he is, the truth of Who God is, and the truth of how we are saved. 

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;  for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.  If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:  circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;  as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  Philippians 3:1-11.  (Emphasis added.)

 ⁹  Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

 ¹⁰  Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

 ¹¹  She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep;  where then do You get that living water?

 ¹²  “You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”

 ¹³  Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;

 ¹⁴  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst;  but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:7-14  (Emphasis added.) 

Deliverance follows misery;  today’s devotion titled “the gift of God” follows yesterday’s devotion titled “the wrath of God”.  The Heidelberg Catechism is divided in three parts:  “THE FIRST PART–OF THE MISERY OF MAN”, THE SECOND PART–OF MAN’S DELIVERANCE”, and “THE THIRD PART–OF THANKFULNESS”.  

Why can’t we skip “the wrath of God” to get to “the gift of God”?

God wants us to be humble. 

Isaiah 2:11
“The proud look of man will be abased And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”

Isaiah 66:2
“For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.  “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

Matthew 23:12
“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;  and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

James 4:6
But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ” GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

God wants to contrast the deliverance (“the gift of God”) with the misery (“the wrath of God”), so we will better fear the LORD, so we will better believe in the LORD, and so we will better trust the LORD.

At the time God delivered Israel through the Red Sea, God made Israel look at the dead Egyptians on the shore (“the wrath of God”). 

^“Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians,  and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”  Exodus 14:30-31. 

God wants to contrast the deliverance (“the gift of God”) with the misery (“the wrath of God”), so we will better understand and better appreciate the deliverance (“the gift of God”).

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24. 

Question and Answer 2 of The Heidelberg Catechism summarizes it.

Question 2.  How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?

Answer.  Three;  the first, how great my sins and miseries are;  the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries;  the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.

 ³³  “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.

 ³⁴  “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God;  for He gives the Spirit without measure.

 ³⁵  “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

 ³⁶  “He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:31-36.

As a follow-up to the devotion dated October 6, 2010 titled “Does God love everybody?”, we read the conclusion in today’s Scripture which is also the conclusion of the chapter of John 3:  “but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  

As I concluded that devotion, “… it is my hope that this devotion will guard against a smug and superficial understanding of John 3:16 and replace it by a reverent fear of the LORD and urgency to believe in Jesus as the only way of salvation.”, the conclusion for this Scripture today should be received by us as a warning to believe and obey Jesus Christ.  God does not love everybody, but rather the wrath of God abides on those who do not believe and obey His Son, Jesus Christ. 

We should not get lulled into thinking that the day of judgment will not come.

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;  and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”  2 Peter 2:4-9. 

Psalm 2:10-12 provides a fitting conclusion for us all.

^“10  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
         Take warning, O judges of the earth.
    ¹¹  Worship the LORD with reverence
         And rejoice with trembling.
    ¹²  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
         For His wrath may soon be kindled
         How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

 ²⁴  for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

 ²⁵  Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

 ²⁶  And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”

 ²⁷  John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.

 ²⁸  “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’

 ²⁹  “He who has the bride is the bridegroom;  but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.  So this joy of mine has been made full.

 ³⁰  “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3:22-30. 

In this Scripture, John the Baptist shows no irritation nor resentment about Jesus baptizing others, particularly in the same area and particularly in apparent greater numbers.  Rather, John the Baptist acknowledged that Jesus was gifted from God, that he (John) was “not the Christ but rather an advance man to prepare Jesus’ way, that he (John) was filled with joy about Jesus’ presence, and that “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Are we as gracious about the prominence and success of others in our field?  There certainly is a lesson of humility here to be learned by us. 

But, I want to focus the main theme of this devotion on the statement:  “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.”  This is a good reminder, because we tend to think that we receive things, because we earn them.  Most importantly, we tend to think we somehow earn salvation.

We may think that we earn salvation by our works.  But, Scripture teaches that salvation is not earned by our works.

^“3  For what does the Scripture say?  “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

 ⁴  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

 ⁵  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

 ⁶  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
    ⁷  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
         AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
    ⁸  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”  Romans 4:3-8. 

We may even think that we earn salvation by our “free-will” faith.  But, Scripture teaches us that salvation is also not earned by our “free-will” faith.  

^“15  For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”

 ¹⁶  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”

2 Peter 1:1
“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:”  (Emphasis added.)

Article 8 of The Canons of Dordt clearly explains that even faith is a gift of God, purchased by Christ for us by his death.

“Article 8. For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  (Emphasis added.)

We may even think that we earn our perfection by our efforts through our flesh.  But, Scripture teaches us that our perfection is not earned by our efforts through our flesh.     

^“3  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

 ⁴  Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?

 ⁵  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:3-5.

In summary, “For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7

 ²¹  “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  John 3:19-21. 

The last phrase “wrought in God”, reminds me of Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Not only is it true that the works of Christians are “wrought in God”, a Christian “comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God”. 

In other words, a Christian likes to show off his works as coming from God to give glory to God.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16  

Psalm 138:8
“The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;  Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;  Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

Isaiah 60:21
“Then all your people will be righteous;  They will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.”

 ¹⁸  “He who believes in Him is not judged;  he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  John 3:16-18.

Does God love everybody?

If one only read John 3:16, one could believe that God does love everybody.  But, when one reads further, one quickly sees the distinction between those who believe and are not judged (saved) and those who do not believe and have already been judged (not saved).  Even just within these verses, we can come to the conclusion that God does not love everyone.

And, we are commanded to not limit our study to just three verses.  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

“It is good to see the forest from the trees.”  One of the blessings of reading through the Old Testament, as tough as it is to read some of it, is the overall impression that one receives.  One impression is a strong and clear impression of God’s anger and judgment, not only against the heathen, but also against the nation of Israel.  God did save a remnant of the nation of Israel, but one can very clearly understand that God does not love everybody.

There are also specific verses that one can cite. 

“⁴  For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
         No evil dwells with You.
    ⁵  The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
         You hate all who do iniquity.
    ⁶  You destroy those who speak falsehood;
         The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”  Psalm 5:4-6.  (Emphasis added.)

“Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”  Romans 9:13.

1 Peter 4:18
“AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?”

So, what does it mean in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world”?

There was a need for the Apostle John and others to stress that not only the Jews would be saved.  God chose His elect from all of the nations, not just from the nation of Israel.  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;  and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9-10.

In summary, we can understand all of the Scripture for today.  First, the hope of John 3;16 is presented.  God does love people from every nation.  We are not necessarily shut out just because we are not a Jew.  Second, only those who believe in Jesus shall not perish, but have eternal life.  Third, unbelievers have already been judged.

In regards to this third point (unbelievers have already been judged), a Sermon by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is so helpful to a correct understanding.  Here is a link to the sermon in full, followed by a few quoted parts of it. 

1. That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 72:18. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction.“
2. It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18,19. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!“
3. Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.
4. That the reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God’s appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foor shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.”

In conclusion, it is my hope that this devotion will guard against a smug and superficial understanding of John 3:16 and replace it by a reverent fear of the LORD and urgency to believe in Jesus as the only way of salvation.  Thank you.