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Teachings of Christ
Introduction
John 3:16 in Sports
Key Words
For God so loved
More to come...



For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 (NKJV)

For God So Loved
God's love is demonstrated throughout the Bible. John would later write that "God is love." Twice John wrote this, first in 1 John 4:8 and later in 1 John 4:16.
    To truly know and understand God, one must first realize that love constitutes God's nature. Love is God's defining attribute. Just like heat cannot be separated from fire, and wetness cannot be separated from water, so too God cannot be separated from Love.

God in the Old and New Testament
When discussing God's love, sometimes we mistakenly think of the New Testament God as kinder and gentler than the God of the Old Testament. As if somehow God's attitude toward humanity was softened with the coming of Jesus.
    This misconception may occur because the most vivid Old Testament events relate directly to God's justness. Take 3 examples, The Garden of Eden, the Flood, and the Golden Calf. These all speak to God requiring obedience. Consequences for disobedience are dramatically played out in those passages.
    What gets missed is the love and compassion that God demonstrated after each of those events.

  • Garden of Eden: When God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden, he made clothing for them (Genesis 3:21). God made their clothes.


  • Flood: After the flood, God blessed the earth, Noah and all living creatures, making a covenant never to destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 8:21-9:17). The sign and seal of God's promise was the rainbow (Genesis 9:11-17).


  • Golden Calf: While Moses received the 10 Commandments, the Israelites made and worshipped a golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:1-6). What gets skipped is the negotiation between Moses and God following this. God intended to destroy the Israelites, and relented only because Moses pleaded with God (Exodus 32:9-14).


    • A Father's Love
    In each of these cases, God demonstrated his love. Yes, God is just, but he also loves us as a father loves his children.
        Ephesians 1:5 - He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.


    More to come (The World) ...




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    Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®,
    © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.