Mar 8, 2009

For God so loved the world !

From Ryle...

"The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14)

The Bible stands unequaled in all Literature. Yes, there are many volumes of sacred writings held in high esteem by many peoples; works of history, poetry, philosophy, spirituality, humanity, philanthropy and mystery. They each have their place, and have undoubtedly contributed in some way or another to either the maintenance, or advancement of their respective cultures. But, still, none of them equal the Bible in its depth of inspiration, or its sweep of influence.

We readily recognize numerous references from Scripture that fill our daily lives with spiritual trivia. That lump in people's throat is their Adam's apple. A person enduring extreme adversity has the patience of Job. Someone who's been around forever is as old as Methuselah. The dove and the olive branch remain the global symbol of peace; the serpent, an image of evil. Jezebel is to this day the quintessential stereotype of a controlling woman, and Judas is the all-time bad guy.

We speak of walking on water to suggest the impossibility of some task, and soaring with wings as eagles to suggest attaining some great and noble goal. These are but a few of the many famous expressions that come from the Bible.

There is one text of Scripture, however, that towers above and beyond all others. It is without question the single, most known Bible verse in the entire world. And the expression it produces is always one of awe. It is known by the youngest of children who are first learning to read, and it is pondered by the oldest of the aged who stand on the threshold of eternity.

Of course, I'm referring to John 3:16 — "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.”

It is that singular sentence that stands uniquely alone – needing no commentary, and soliciting only reverence. Indeed, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

1 comment:

  1. "Let There Be Light"

    "In The Beginning" The Creator(Our Father) said,
    "Let There Be Light, and There Was Light"

    "LIGHT Begets Light!"
    "The Beginning of The Creation of GOD!"

    And the revelation that The Messiah received of
    The Creator and gave unto the apostle John bore
    witness to The Truth that The Messiah, was
    "The Beginning of the Creation of GOD(Our
    Father, Creator of ALL)"! (Rev 1:1, 3:14)

    And The Messiah bore witness to His Brethren
    when He testified, "My GOD is your GOD and My
    Father(Creator) is your Father(Creator)."(Jn 20:17)

    The Messiah testified "I have sent My angel to
    you with this testimony for the assemblies. I am
    the root and the offspring of David. I am the bright,
    Morning Star(Light)"! (Rev 22:16) ) Peter testified
    "We have the more sure word of prophecy; and
    you do well to take heed, as to a lamp shining in a
    dark place, until the day dawns, and The Morning
    Star(Light) arises in your hearts."(2Pt 1:19) "But
    you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
    a holy nation, HIS own special people, that you
    may proclaim the praises of HIM who called you
    out of darkness into His marvelous Light."(1Pt2:9)

    And the evening(darkness) and The Morning
    (Light) was the First Day." (Gen 1:5)

    "Let There Be Light"!

    "The Beginning of The Creation of GOD"!

    It is very important to both know and experience
    The Messiah as He Is, Was and always Will Be,
    and also to know the "glory He had with Our
    Father" before He was born in "the likeness of
    sinful flesh". (John 17:5, Rom 8:3) For what The
    Messiah Was and Is, Is that which He will always
    Will Be."The Only Begotten Son" of "Our Father"!

    First, let me simply state that I do not believe the
    "catholic" and "christian" theo'ry'logical doctrines
    concerning "The Only True GOD, Father ALL". For
    they "image"ine a three-headed "god" they call
    their "trinity", or they declare their "christ" to be
    their "god and father", or they believe that The
    Messiah was but an exalted messenger(angel)
    or prophet.

    John The Baptist testified, "And I saw, and bare
    record that The Messiah is the Son of GOD(Our
    Father)."(John 1:34) Peter testified, "You are The
    Messiah, The Son of The Living GOD(Father of
    ALL)"!(Matt 16:16) And the Ethiopian eunuch
    testified, "I believe that The Messiah is The Son
    of GOD(Our Father)". (Acts 8:37) "Seeing then
    that we have a great high priest, that is passed
    into the Heavens, The Messiah, The Son of
    GOD(Our Father), let us hold fast our profession."
    (Heb 4:14) "These things are written so that you
    might believe that The Messiah is The Son of GOD
    (Our Father)". (John 20:31) The Messiah testified
    that He was "The Son of GOD", and that His GOD
    was "The Only True GOD(Father of ALL)".
    (John 10:36,17:3)

    And The Messiah also testified that He was the
    "Son of man" and "The Light of the world".
    (Matt 26:64, John 8:12)

    It is needful to believe that The Messiah Was, Is
    and always Will Be "The Son of The Living GOD",
    and that there is but "One GOD, HE WHO is
    Father of ALL". (Mat 16:16, Eph 4:6) The Messiah
    bore witness to His Brethren when He testified
    after being "raised from among the dead", "My GOD
    is your GOD and My Father(Creator) is your Father
    (Creator)" (John 20:17)

    Is The Messiah's GOD and Father your GOD
    and Father?

    Who are The Brethren of The Messiah?

    "Let There Be Light"

    Once again, It is very important to both know and
    experience The Messiah as He Was, Is and always
    Will Be. The Messiah simply testified in John 17:5
    "And now O Father, glorify Me with YOUR own self
    with the glory that I had with YOU before the world
    began".

    Prior to that testimony The Messiah had testified,
    "Yet a little while is The Light with you. Walk while
    you have The Light, lest darkness comes upon
    you: for he that walks in darkness does not know
    where he goes. While you have Light, believe in
    The Light, that you may be the children of Light."
    (John 12:35-36)

    And the apostle John testified: "In the beginning
    was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and
    The Word was GOD. (John did not testify that
    The Word is GOD)The same was in the beginning
    with GOD. All things were made by Him, and
    without Him was not any thing made that was
    made. In Him was Life; and The Life was The
    Light of men. And The Light shined in darkness;
    and the darkness comprehended it not. There
    was a man sent from GOD, whose name was
    John. The same came for a witness, to bear
    witness of The Light, that all men through Him
    might believe. He(John the baptist) was not that
    Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
    That was the True Light, which enlightens every
    man that comes into the world. He(The Messiah)
    was in the world, and the world was made by
    Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto
    His own, and His own received Him not. But as
    many as received Him, to them He gave power
    to become the sons of GOD, even to them that
    believe on His name: Which were born, not of
    blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
    of man, but of "The Only True GOD, Father of
    ALL"." (John 1:1-13)

    It is needful to realize that The Messiah testified
    of "The Only True GOD" in John 17:3, and so it is
    that The GOD and Father of The Messiah IS,
    WAS and always WILL BE "The Only True GOD".

    "The Only True GOD" is "Father of ALL".

    And "The Father of ALL" is "Our Father", HE WHO
    IS "The Only True GOD" and Father of The Messiah
    and His Brethren.

    And the apostle John testified in John 3:17-21:
    "For Our Father sent not his Son into the world
    to condemn the world; but that the world through
    Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is
    not condemned: but he that believes not is
    condemned already, because he has not believed
    in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD(Our
    Father). And this is the condemnation, that Light is
    come into the world, and men loved darkness
    rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
    For every one that does evil hates The Light,
    neither comes to The Light, lest his deeds should
    be reproved. But he that does Truth comes to The
    Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that
    they are wrought in GOD(Our Father)."

    In John 12:34 the people asked, "Who is this Son
    of man? Then in John 12:35-36, "The Messiah said
    unto them, yet a little while is The Light with you.
    Walk while you have The Light, lest darkness come
    upon you: for he that walks in darkness does not
    know where he goes. While you have Light, believe
    in The Light, that you may be the children of Light.
    The Messiah spoke these things, and departed,
    and hid Himself from them."

    Simply, "In The Beginning" The Only True GOD
    spoke The Word, "Let There Be Light", "And there
    was Light"! "And there was evening(darkness) and
    there was morning (Light), The First Day". (Gen 1:5)
    Certainly such "Light" was not "natural" light, for
    "natural" light, the sun, moon, and stars were not
    created until the "fourth day". (Gen 1:14-19)

    "In the beginning", "The First Day", The Father of
    All created "The Light", without which Creation and
    Life, as we now know and experience it, could not
    have been.

    The First Day, "The Light", The Messiah, "The
    beginning of the Creation of GOD(HE WHO is
    The Only True GOD and Father of ALL)"!
    (Gen 1:3, Rev 3:14, John 17:3, Eph 4:6)

    And "The Only True GOD" created all "things" by,
    through, and for "The Light", The Messiah, "The
    Son of The Living GOD" and "Son of man".
    (Col 1:15, Eph 3:9, Mat 16:16, Mat 12:32)

    LIGHT begets Light!

    And "The True Light which enlightens every man
    coming into the world", was born as a child
    destined to be The Messiah. (John 1:9, Mat 1:21)

    The Messiah, "The Light of the world".
    (John 8:12, 9:5)

    The Messiah, "The firstborn of every creature
    (all creation)". (Col 1:15)

    The Messiah, "Begotten of Our Father",
    "The firstborn among many Brethren".
    (Heb 1:5) (Ps 2:7) (Rom 8:29)

    The Messiah, "A servant of The Only True GOD
    (Father of ALL)". (Isa 42:1-7)

    The Messiah, "The Lamb of GOD".
    (John 1:29,36)

    The Messiah, "The firstborn from among the dead".
    (Col 1:18)

    Once again: "In The Beginning" Our Father, "The
    Only True GOD" spoke: "Let there be Light, and
    there was Light"! The Messiah, "The Beginning of
    the Creation of GOD", "the firstborn of every
    creature(all creation)". (Gen 1:3, John 17:3,
    Rev 3:14, Col 1:15)

    Thanks Be To "Our Father"!

    The Messiah, The Creation of "The Only True
    GOD, Father of ALL"! (Rev 3:14)

    The Messiah, "made so much better than the
    angels"! (Heb 1:4)

    The Messiah, "The Light of the world"!
    (John 8:12, 9:5)

    "The Lamb of GOD", "The Light of The New
    Heavenly Jerusalem"! (Rev 21:22-23)

    Paul experienced "The Light " on the road to
    Damascus. "And it came to pass, that, as I
    made my journey, and came near unto
    Damascus about noontime, suddenly a great
    Light from Heaven shone round about me.
    And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice
    saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why do you
    persecute Me? And I answered, "Who are
    You, Master"? And He said unto me, I am
    Yehowshuwa'(Yeshua, Jeshua) of Nazareth,
    Whom you persecute. And they that were
    with me saw The Light, and were afraid; but
    they did not hear the voice of Him that spoke
    to me. And I said, "What shall I do, Master"?
    And He said unto me, arise and go into
    Damascus, and there you shall be told all
    things which are appointed for you to do.
    And when I could not see for the glory of
    that Light, I was led by the hand into
    Damascus." (Acts 22:6-11)

    Paul also testified, "At midday I saw in the
    way a Light from Heaven, ABOVE THE
    BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN, shining round
    about me and those who journeyed with me.
    And when we were all fallen to the earth, I
    heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying
    in the HEBREW tongue, Saul, Saul, why do
    you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick
    against the pricks." (The Messiah could not
    have told Paul, "I am jesus" for He spoke in
    the "HEBREW tongue") (Acts 26:13-14)

    Paul saw "The Light" that was The Messiah
    and he was blinded(naturally, not Spiritually)
    for a time. Now when The Messiah was in
    the "likeness of sinful flesh", born as "the
    Son of man", He could only reflect "The
    Light", liken unto the moon which but reflects
    the light of the natural sun.

    "Let There Be Light"

    The Messiah, "The Light of the world"!

    And consider the natural light provided by the
    sun, which was Created on the fourth day.
    Does not the natural light of the sun reveal
    outwardly, all the earthly, natural things?
    Consider what happens when that which you
    thought was clean is exposed to the light of
    the sun? Is not the least outward particle of
    uncleanness readily seen in the light of the
    sun? And so it is with "The Light" that is The
    Messiah. For His Life, "The Life", reveals
    and exposes all the uncleanness in "our"
    life, the life that is of "our" own creation,
    which is the "I(ego, id)" in all of us, the
    product of "our" own vain "imag"inations!
    So it needs be that "The Light" penetrates
    deeply, even into the innermost recesses
    of the heart, "rightly dividing the soul and
    spirit", exposing all the darkness that the
    "I" in all of us did not want to "see"!

    Yet for such a cleansing to begin one must
    "experience The Messiah(The Light) and
    The Power that raised Him from among the
    dead"!(Php 3:10) Oh, there are many who
    know of a "messiah", yet who has
    experienced "The Light"? For "The Light"
    was "The Beginning of Creation" both the
    old, which was natural and earthly and The
    New, which is of The Spirit and Heavenly.
    Those who "love this world and it's things"
    yet desire that which "decayed, waxed
    old and vanished away" (Heb 8:13) They
    are of those "whose 'god' is their belly,
    and whose glory is in their shame, for
    they mind earthly things". (Phlp 3:19)

    Sadly, those who "love this world and it's
    things" yet love darkness more than The
    Light and they will abide in the darkness
    they loved forever ;-( (1Jn2:15,Jn3:19-20)

    Sadder yet, systems of religion that are of
    this world, such as "catholicism", "christianity",
    "judaism", "islam", etc., have so perverted
    The Testimonies, that today, as in the two
    thousand or so, years gone by, "The Way
    of Truth is evil spoken of"! All because of
    the theo'ry'logical, heretical doctrines that
    are of men! And especially those
    theo'ry'logical doctrines which seek to
    define "The Only True GOD, Father of All".
    (2Peter 2:1-2)

    All such doctrines are but the product of
    mankind's "imag"ination and mankind's
    "imag"ination is destroying and perverting
    Creation(land, air, water, creatures, Light,
    Truth, Love, Peace, Joy, Hope, .etc.)

    Yes, sadly ;-( Creation is being destroyed
    by self-willed men who could care less
    about that which is of The Truth(What Is,
    Was, and always Will Be), and care even
    less about those things which they can
    not comprehend apart from their
    "natural" senses and mental processes ;-(

    And The Truth testifies, The Creator "will
    destroy those who destroy the earth(HIS
    Creation)"(Rev 11:18).

    Sadly, in this wicked world, those who
    seek profit will naturally overcome those
    who do not ;-(

    Yet, There Is Hope!

    For The Life is of The Spirit!

    And Miracles do happen!

    And Faith rejoices against profit(greed)
    and theo'ry'logy(logic)!

    Hope is there would be those who experience
    The Miracle that is receiving "a love of The
    Truth" for they will "see" "The Light".
    (2Thes 2:10, John 8:12, 9:5)

    And they will receive peace, in spite of the
    dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world, for
    they will clearly "see" that "The WHOLE
    world is under the control of the evil one".
    (1John 5:19) And they will clearly "see"
    things as they are and not as "imag"inative,
    world-loving humans would have others
    believe them to be, for they will "see" The
    Light that is The Messiah....... francisco

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