Intro: A Christian believer is a person who has repented from sin against God and accepted the salvation the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, offers. To be a believer is to reflect the heart of Jesus and his ongoing work of salvation to lead us into abundant faith as we learn to live in the Truth. In Greek, the word “believer” brings with it the understanding of making a deep commitment. Believing in Jesus is about clinging to him as our only hope for abundant life. Sometimes people have the mindset that a believer is someone who ascribes to a religious preference or organization. On the contrary, attending a religious service does not make a person a Christian believer. Loyalty to Jesus makes one a believer. Salvation from sin is a priceless gift from Jesus to believers who desire the new life he offers—to experience life from above (heaven).
In our passage today, Jesus has been talking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus—a Jewish leader—about the new birth or new life that is required to be able to see the Kingdom of God. New life is about regeneration or conversion by the Spirit of God. When we connect to Christ, our perspectives begin to change. Jesus wanted Nicodemus to understand all his education and religious training did not give him this new life; he needed Jesus to save him. You and I need Jesus, too. God did not wait for humanity to turn to him before choosing to love us. Instead, God chose to love us and prepare a way of salvation so with Him we could be safe and sound. How long can we expect to be made safe and sound as we follow Jesus? The answer is for eternity…God’s love for you is limitless! Let that soak into your soul, today.
John 3:16-18 (Amp)
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in or relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus to save the world. Help me to grow in my trust each day as I cling to Christ. I know your love for me has no limits. In Jesus’ name. Amen.