Saturday, July 07, 2012

USE THE BIBLE REDEMPTIVELY, NOT LEGALISTICALLY

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).

These are some of the most well-known Scripture verses in the Bible, and arguably, could be the most profound, though the message is easily understood.  The God of the Bible is not a god who rejoices in the condemnation of anyone.  He is not a legalist looking for the tiniest infraction of the law so that someone can be condemned to eternal punishment.  Rather, God's purpose is to free us, to heal us, to pardon us, to forgive us.  This he has done through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the ministry of Holy Spirit.

If John 3:16-17 indicates why Jesus came, shouldn't it follow that this is the way Scripture should be used as we minister to people?  It is not our purpose to condemn people with Scripture, but to bring them to health and wholeness.

Our Father's Love,
Tom

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