For The Hope Which Is Laid Up For You; Which Ye Heard Before In The Word Of The Truth Of The Gospel - Part 2767

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (I John 3:16)

Interestingly, the world is familiar with John 3:16 -- the message portrayed to those whom Jesus preached to when He walked on this world. As a reminder, John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

When we compare these two scriptures, one might be inclined to say they are contradictory .. for the latter verse tells us that God laid down His life for us, while the former His Son. Is there a contradiction? Of course not! How do we know? Because God is not the author of confusion. (I Corinthians 14:33) So why the difference?

Well, in the gospels, God is manifest as a son. We see this declared in another new testament 3:16 -- "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16) 

Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) 

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) 

Indeed, when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, it was so that she could bring forth a son -- the fetus called the "holy thing" by Luke the physician. This occurred only after the Holy Ghost declared, "This is My beloved Son, this day have I begotten Thee."  (Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; II Peter 1:17) And as we also know from Hebrews 9:8, the new testament could not be ushered in while the old covenant was still standing. 

"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing!" (Hebrews 9:8)

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:14-18)

So, before the foundation of the world was formed, God had already decided His plan of salvation. It was in the beginning that the Lord God decided to leave His last will and testament for His beloved church. Herein, He knew that in the new testament, His fullness of glory would dwell bodily in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:9; 

"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell ... and having made peace through the blood of the cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things inn earth or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:19-20

There was a reason Thomas called the risen Jesus "my Lord and my God!" 

And there is a reason why we too need to understand and receive Christ Jesus as our Lord God and Saviour, our all in all. (Colossians 2:6; Acts 2:36-41)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature .. for by Him were all things created that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers -- all things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:15-17) 

Yes, Jesus -- the One and Only Head of the body of Christ church. 

Stand in the offering plate.