John 3:36
Thoughts from Josh Talbot
Dive Deeper
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
John 3:36
Behind the Scenes
As we prepare our hearts for the season of advent, it is important to reflect on the “why” behind Jesus coming to earth and becoming flesh. Yesterday, Colleen walked us through the Fall – when sin entered the world through one disobedient decision.
As a result of sin entering the world, there became the need for redemption in order to have a chance at spending eternity with God in heaven. This is the heart behind advent – the world needed a redeemer and therefore Jesus came to earth to be the perfect sacrifice, to cleanse the world of sin and defeat Satan once and for all.
John 3:36 explains that “whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” What does God’s wrath look like? What are we really escaping by believing in Jesus and accepting His forgiveness? Revelation 14:9-11 gives us a glimpse into what eternity apart from God would be like.
“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night…”
Did you catch that? Without the saving grace of Jesus Christ, we will be subject to torment by fire and sulfur (think being in the middle of an active volcano!) with no rest day or night. In the bible we also see that in hell there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30) and no water to quench your thirst (Luke 16:24).
There is only one way to escape this fiery, eternal torment. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” (John 3:36)
Make it Real
Sometimes it is uncomfortable to think about hell and the “spiritual forces of evil” that are described in Ephesians 6:12. However, we have to acknowledge the fact that we are sinful beings because of the Fall, and without God’s forgiveness, we are destined to spend eternity in God’s wrath as described in Revelation 14.
Several verses in the Bible affirm the key to eternal life in heaven with God and freedom from sin. John 3:36 tells us that if we believe in the Son, we can gain eternal life. John 3:16 says that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life. Romans 10:9 says “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,you will be saved.” I could go on with more verses, but hopefully you see the parallel: if you believe that the Son of God died on the cross to cover your sins, then you will be saved.
Based on this, eternal life in heaven and redemption from our sins is not something that can be attained on our own. There is no amount of bible reading, witnessing, giving, or good deedsthat can save us from our sins. We are sinful beings and only through the shedding of innocent blood can we be redeemed. Thus, we need Jesus, the perfect and holy sacrifice, to attain freedom and forgiveness of our sins.
As we reflect on the season of advent and the “why” behind Jesus’ coming to earth, I hope that you will take a moment to consider the free gift that Jesus is extending to you. Are you ready to believe in the Lord, confess your sins, and anticipate eternal life with Him in heaven?
Finally, if you have already chosen to accept this gift, I encourage you to consider the following during advent. Whatever your testimony, God led you to His message of freedom and grace. Who in your life is still in need of this message? Who do you need to invite to the Christmas Eve service? Or who do you need to invite to sit at your table on Christmas day and experience the love of Christ? Finally, what is holding you back from sharing with your neighbor, friend, colleague, or family member about the life-giving freedom that God is extending to them?
Kristen Krimmel
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Lord, we thank you and praise you for sending your only Son to earth many years ago, to be offered as a sacrifice to cleanse the sin of the world. We thank you for providing a way out of eternal death and an escape from Your wrath. Lord help us to recognize and not shy away from the fact that evil forces are at play for our souls, but help us to remember that through Jesus’ death and resurrection the victory has been won and we have the opportunity for eternal life with You. In your precious and holy name we pray, Amen.