1) God so loved the world. John 3:16
There are 2 sides to the coin. Often a picture of a coin is published showing only one side. It has another side, but unless we see the original we can never know what is on the other side.
People when reading the scriptures often only see one side of an issue revealed in the text.
“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.”
This very well known verse is a favourite of many people. The emphasis is usually placed on the concept of the magnitude of God's love for man, rather than the manner in which His love is manifested. A careful analysis of this verse shows it is about the 'manner' not the 'magnitude' of His love.
The beginning of this verse is better translated from the original Greek according to the meaning from Strong's Concordance. The word 'for' is often translated as 'because or seeing that” and 'so' is not a superlative, but gives the sense of 'in this way' or 'in this manner'. The beginning of the verse will then read as
Because (seeing that) God in this way (or manner) loved the cosmos, that he gave his only begotten Son.
John then then continutes, saying that those who believe in His Son will not 'perish'.
The flip side is that many would perish
This quotation must be seen in the context of the chapter and the emphasis on “should not perish.” God's love is then shown as the provision for the forgiveness of sins and the way man can gain life. Verse 14 of John 3 gives the context for this verse. It states:
“That as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” (John 3: 14)
This takes us back to Numbers 21: 1-9. The people of Israel had spoken against God and Moses and complained that they had been brought into the wilderness to die. They said that they loathed the light bread. They rejected Yahweh's means of keeping them alive. Yahweh sent serpents among the people and many died. They then turned to Moses and acknowledged their sin and Moses prayed for them. Yahweh told Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole and those who had been bitten, if they looked on it, they would live. Only in this way was the love of God available.
We must note here that many people had died. The nation was being taught that obedience was essential if they were to live. A loving God had allowed the destruction of “much people”. Why? The nation was learning there was only one means of salvation. Throughout Israel's history there were many instances when our just and loving God brought destruction upon many of the people so that His ultimate plan could be achieved.
Take also the flood. Here again a loving and just Creator brought destruction upon an irreverent and disobedient civilisation. Consider the record of Isaiah.
“For a small moment I have forsaken thee: but with great mercies I will gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment: but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Yahweh thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.” (Isaiah 54: 9)
Returning to John 3, the lesson becomes clearer. The crucifixion was the means by which man, who ultimately will perish without God's intervention, was to gain redemption and forgiveness of sins. By a death, only those who believed would be saved. Just as many in Israel were saved on that occasion in the wilderness, many would be saved through Yahshua's sacrifice. But we must also be aware that Yahweh had destroyed many in showing his requirements of obedience and acknowledgement of sin. Just as many Israelites died in the wilderness, John 3:16 implies that many of “the world” will “perish” or be destroyed. His “love of the world”, in the case of the flood and in Israel's wilderness experiences, demonstrates that Yahweh's love of the “world” is completely different to the modern day notion of Christian love or the sentimental and sensual love of the world of music and movies. The word in context implies a love with a social and moral application.
Yahweh's purpose with man and the earth will be achieved according to His standards. His love of the world is that world of the ultimate perfection of His creation and the ultimate perfection of the people called out for his name. He would like all mankind to reverence and acknowledge Him as their Creator and Redeemer, but that in this dispensation will not happen. John 3 specifically refers to Yahweh's means of redemption and not to a freedom for all to indulge in the pleasures of a degenerate age. Also, Yahweh's purpose will not be achieved on this earth without the destruction of many people and the devastation caused by Armageddon. The “world” as Yahweh sees it is not as man sees it.
John 3:16 is not advice to make friends of the world, but rather to go out, as Yahweh does with his word, and proclaim the only message of salvation. The only path of salvation is through Yahshua's sacrifice and the redemption process. This is the only way to salvation and life beyond death. This verse says without redemption all humans would perish.
The Christian attitude to the “World”
If we believe that John 3: 16, presents an all embracing love of the world, then John's later advice in 1John 2: 15-17 is a contradiction.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he that does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2: 15-17)
James gives similar advice,
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted (without spot or blemish, morally or physically) from the world.” (James 1: 27)
James gives an even stronger and very serious warning.
“The friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4: 4)
Paul wrote of Demas' love of the world.
“Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world.” (2 Timothy 4: 10)
Peter also examines effect on the faithful follower of Yahshua through worldly association,
“There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.” (2 Peter 2: 1-3)
Peter tells us of the Christian responsibility.
“And he commanded us to preach unto the people. and to testify that it is he who was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.” (Acts 10: 42)
The advice that Peter gave about the world to those of his generation when they asked about salvation is found in Acts 2.
“With many other words did he testify and exhort saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (warped, perverse) generation.” (Acts 2: 40)
There is no doubt that we live amongst a warped and perverse generation, particularly in relation to moral standards. Throughout the book of Acts in many places the duty of the Apostles is clearly shown to be that of preaching and testifying.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10: 10)
The scripture presents the future as having two sides: one of salvation and peace to those who associate with Yahweh's redemption plan, and the other of destruction to those who reject his plan. John summarises it:
“that whosoever believeth in him should not perish”
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)
This may be one of the most misunderstood passages of the Bible. Paul is notorious for long sentences of connected thoughts, and this is part of a complex wide ranging thought which lasts 2 chapters, and includes what seems opposite advice:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Cor. 5:11-13)
As I was thinking to write this article, having just read Psalm 46 as I do each year on that day, on January 25th a Bible was found untouched after a tornado hit Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
We have been given many time periods to prophetic events in the Bible. Many people think it too hard, and do not make an effort to understand them. However, if they were not to be understood, why were they given? And the Bible says the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).
In the light of the findings of science, how literally do we take what the scriptures say about the power of the God of the Bible, Yahweh Elohim (literally He who will become Mighty Ones)? Science at its best is a measurement of observable and repeatable phenomenon wrapped up in explanations which abound in analogy. There is no doubt in the benefit of investigating phenomena of the natural world. The surprising thing is that the more we investigate natural phenomena, the more it fits the explanations recorded over 2000 years ago.
The God of Israel is approachable and reasonable. He often speaks directly to his people. The following will seek to understand a passage where he speaks via the prophet Amos which has a few variant translations.
