From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Fri, Aug 4, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Subject: 8-4-23 THOUGHTS
8-4-23 THOUGHTS
The fundamentals of BELIEVING are discussed below. Verse 21 is most powerful. “Practicing truth” is interesting terminology. That we can claim to believe without truly believing is the subject of much of Jesus’ teaching! The discussion starting at verse 25, brings John the Baptist in to explain the preeminence of Jesus. Hear verse 33... “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.” In verse 36, “believe” and “obey” are used interchangeably! Belief is an IMMERSION, not a feeling we resurrect now and then! Finally, it seems that a failure to believe in Jesus sustains the condition of the WRATH of God! The "judged already" in verse 18 is significant. John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am [He,] you will die in your sins."
John 3:18-36 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." 22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized — 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him." 27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 "You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 "He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 "He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 "What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.” 34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
My Prayer:
Please, O Father God, may we each set our seal that You are true! May we practice, believe and obey with diligence and power what we hold to be the essence of life! That Christ died for our sins and lives with You by Your grace and mercy and love, is what matters eternally. Help us in our belief Father. Revive our souls to joyfully bear fruit. Make us alive to Your promises and the thoughts of eternity with You. In the name of our Savior, Amen.