Monday, September 12, 2022
Being a part of CMI (Children’s Ministries Institute®) here at the International Headquarters for CEF® these last two weeks, we are reminded again of the importance of making the gospel clear and undiluted. Salvation is a precious gift of grace. Grace not works. But how often do we take that grace, our salvation for granted?
We emphasize John 3:16 but often overlook the fact that vs. 17 through 21 puts it into much better perspective. It gives us a more complete picture of the wonder of Salvation. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, least his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
My nephew, Brandyn Bettis, put it beautifully and has given me permission to quote him here:
“Context is everything! Read and memorize just John 3:16 and you can imagine a Savior who gives us another option. Read and memorize verse 17 and you get a God who is not condemning. Read the whole thing and you realize that we are already and always under condemnation. The conviction stated, the verdict decided, the condemnation already ongoing.
But having the broader context also makes the salvation that much more wonderful! We were already under condemnation when Christ came. We were already sentenced and on death row when Christ took our place and shed His own blood. We were already experiencing the wrath of justice when Christ extended mercy and took justice upon Himself.
God, the Judge in heaven, though loving His creation, could not impede justice. The Son of God, loving us, mediated on our behalf and volunteered His life for ours. The Father, knowing that justice would be satisfied and salvation realized all in one, sent His Son.
Without the realization that we are under condemnation already, the burden of sin seems not so serious and the sacrifice of Christ not so momentous.
Realizing that the entire world, for all time, is under wrath allows us to see the seriousness of sin. But more importantly, it allows us to see the justice of God and the mercy of God completed in a salvation.
We are not merely lost, we are condemned. We are not finding our way or our destiny in this world, we are sentenced to death. God didn’t sent Christ to help us find ourselves or to lead us in the right way. God sent Christ to rescue a people already experiencing a life sentence.
Context is crucial because it makes sin lore wretched, Christ more glorious, and us more thankful.”
Yes, what a precious gift salvation is. Have you received this precious gift that cost Jesus everything! So, what has it cost you? Do people see God in you (vs 21)? This is a question I ask myself over and over.
We are not talking about earning salvation through works, but rather demonstrating our repentant, changed heart and gratefulness for a gift we could never repay. This truth is something we keep in the forefront of our minds as we remind the students here as they learn how to reach the children for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessings, Mari
