Monday, March 4, 2013 - 5:00 pm

Today I read through John 3-5, and the words of Jesus in chapter 3, verses 16-21 cut right to the heart of the gospel, speaking love and salvation, but also a warning. Knowing that God is the source of life, hating and running from Him is condemning oneself to death. With that knowledge, these verses become much clearer: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. / For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. / Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. / This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." Remember, before we discount this and say with culture that mankind is basically good, this is God Himself in the flesh saying this. He created mankind, and He knows our design and the way we're supposed to function in relationship with Him. If anyone does, He should know the secret thoughts of men's hearts. This passage is saying that He brings salvation, and that we need it. It's not saying that Jesus brings condemnation, but that He brings life, truth and freedom, yet we have the choice to hold onto condemnation against His will if that's what we decide. Remember though, before we get mad at God for giving us free will, that the point of free will is that we may choose life, truth, freedom and joy - in short, a relationship with God Himself. What is a relationship without free will? It's merely duty. God wanted us to enjoy the relationship with Him, to relish it, to want to please Him, and so understand how He enjoys and relishes it as well, and has given us many good and pleasing gifts for our delight. Without free will, we couldn't fully experience the giving and receiving of love, one of God's greatest gifts to us, along with salvation, and life itself. Let us choose life, truth, joy, and the love that is beyond all other passions - undying, unending, an unstoppable, powerful love that sets our spirits aflame with godliness!