In its simplicity, this verse signifies the salvation message. If you only believe on Jesus. If you would only take Him at His Word -- as it is written, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water. Isaiah, in his vision of days to come, proclaimed the same message. "Behold God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid ... and in that day shall ye say, "Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted." (Isaiah 12:3)
What day? "That day" which was to come. The day in which Isaiah prophesied would come. This current time period -- this dispensation of grace which Almighty God chose to usher in when He tore the veil once and for all from top to bottom, declaring "peace and good will" to one and all. (Luke 2:14)
Sadly, however, what we see emerging today is not the message of rejoicing because our Lord God -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning AND the End became our Saviour on the cross, shedding His precious blood so that we might be saved. (John 3:18) Instead, there appears to be a zealous willingness from many caught up in religious traditions to believe anyone and everyone rather than Jesus. Free e-books for the taking, many will suggest, rather than pointing people directly to Jesus.
Jesus was saying as much when He pointed out. "If you believe on Me." (John 7:37-38)
A perfect example of a scriptural revision gone wrong can be found in John 3:16 -- claimed to be the most cited scripture in the world. Instead of believing in the only "begotten" Son as Jesus actually stated in His message to Nicodemus, modern day revisionists have changed the text of John 3:16 to say "the one and only Son." Rather than proclaiming this to be heresy, these same religious institutions are content revising the scriptures to align with today's religious dogma and traditions.
But what did Jesus say? "If you believe on Me." (John 7:37-38) "I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
But Jesus did not stop there. Jesus cried before the unbelieving Pharisees saying, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness ..." (John 12:44-46)
Throughout the time when He dwelt among us, Jesus was constantly revealing His identity to those who earnestly sought Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Jesus even told the Pharisees, "Though I bear record of Myself, [yet] My record is true; for I know whence I came, and whether I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come and whither I go ... I am one that bear witness of Myself and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me ... Ye neither know Me, nor My Father -- if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:13-19)
Did the Pharisees recognize Jesus for who He really was? Of course not, just like those in the religious culture today who are determined to revise His Word so that the truth that Jesus is Almighty God in the flesh might never be revealed. That we may never learn just how much our Creator loved us.
This is why the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is critical. Here is a man of the Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews coming to see Jesus by night. In his heart, Nicodemus desired to know --"How can these things be?" (John 3:9) Nicodemus already knew about the miracles Jesus performed and recognized that "no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him." (John 3:1-2)
How did Jesus respond? Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee -- We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen, and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:1-12)
Good question! But then Jesus continues the dialogue, saying: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven [even] the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up -- that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:13-16)
His only begotten Son. Coming forth from the bosom of the Father so that He who knew no sin could become sin for us. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21) God Himself dwelling among us as a Son, so that we might desire His redemption. (John 1:1-18) That holy thing in which the angel referred and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
Nicodemus wasn't willing to settle for the religious status quo. He already had all that the world had to offer, and clearly it was not enough. Indeed, Nicodemus asked the right question --"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:4-21; John 7:50; John 19:39)
It is time for us to stop settling for religious traditions too. Reach out to Jesus today. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word -- not as the one and only Son but as the "only begotten" Son. "I and [My] Father are one." (John 10:30) "And He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me." (John 12:45)
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though He were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25-26)
As for the religious, who conveniently change His Word to align with their own false statements of faith? Move away from those who would pervert His Word. Step out in faith shaking the dust off your feet. Most of all, take hold of His precious gift of salvation "for what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, "That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3:3-4)
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” Stand in the offering plate.
How did Jesus respond? Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee -- We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen, and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:1-12)
Good question! But then Jesus continues the dialogue, saying: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven [even] the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up -- that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:13-16)
His only begotten Son. Coming forth from the bosom of the Father so that He who knew no sin could become sin for us. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21) God Himself dwelling among us as a Son, so that we might desire His redemption. (John 1:1-18) That holy thing in which the angel referred and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
Nicodemus wasn't willing to settle for the religious status quo. He already had all that the world had to offer, and clearly it was not enough. Indeed, Nicodemus asked the right question --"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:4-21; John 7:50; John 19:39)
It is time for us to stop settling for religious traditions too. Reach out to Jesus today. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word -- not as the one and only Son but as the "only begotten" Son. "I and [My] Father are one." (John 10:30) "And He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me." (John 12:45)
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though He were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25-26)
As for the religious, who conveniently change His Word to align with their own false statements of faith? Move away from those who would pervert His Word. Step out in faith shaking the dust off your feet. Most of all, take hold of His precious gift of salvation "for what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, "That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3:3-4)
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” Stand in the offering plate.
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