John 3:1-21 Jesus is the Light that Gives Eternal Life

John 3:1-21 NIV
Today, in our reading, we have one of the most well known scripture verses: John 3:16. "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."

I have a few friends who are non-Trinitarian. I remember one of them asking me what my favorite scripture was. At the time it was John 3:16. She was totally aghast. Her reply was something like: "I should have known." You see, there is something in John 3:16 that I had never thought about and in fact I still do not see how it means what she thought it meant. She felt we (Trinitarians) use it to justify our belief in the Trinity. I had never thought about it that way. I saw and still see John 3:16 as a  reminder that God was willing to give his only begotten Son for us and as a promise that all who believe in His Son will have eternal light.

The light has come into the world. The light is Jesus the Christ. Those who receive the light will inherit eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 1:1-5 The Word is God

John 1:1-5 NIV


"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Most of us don't have good enough memories to memorize the whole Bible. There are many favorite verses that people remember. John 1:1 is one I hope that if you don't know it, you will remember because it reminds us that Jesus is not a separate god from God the Father. He and the Father are one. Over the years, I have had more than one discussion with non-Trinitarians regarding the oneness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These opening verses of John 1 give heartache and headache to those who say they believe in Jesus Christ; yet, deny his deity. (Since it refers back to creation, take a moment to also contemplate what it means for the Spirit to have also been present, hovering over the waters. (Gen 1:1-2))

Let me repeat verse 1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 

Jesus the Christ is the Word. He is true God. He is the light of the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J.