Rhapsody of Realities 5 June 2023: Begin With the Message of Love
SCRIPTURE: John 3:16 – 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Then preaching the Gospel, some Christians focus primarily Won the subject of sin, emphasizing the need for people to
repent of their sins. The message of repentance was apt for the Jews because they were under the Law. What was required of them was to turn away from wrong when they sinned, unto God.
However, non-Jews-the Gentiles-had nothing to turn away from because they were never under the Law, which in itself was their condemnation. The Bible says, “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13).
But then, the Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This includes both Jews and Gentiles. If the Gentiles didn’t break the Law because it wasn’t given to them, where then was their sin?
We learn in the book of Genesis that when God created Adam and Eve, they were in the presence of a holy God. They lived in His glory. But they were cut off from that glory when Adam sinned against God.
Romans 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Through one man’s offense, all men fell short of the glory, but now, in Christ, the glory is restored: “…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Hallelujah!
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
This is why your approach of the Gospel shouldn’t begin with the issue of sin; rather, it should begin with the message of love. That’s the key, that’s how Jesus puts it in our opening scripture. Love was His motivation.
Notice in that verse that He said nothing about sin. That’s the Gospel of Christ. It’s a message of love and a message of life-the life and nature of God-that His death, burial and resurrection has made possible and available to everyone who believes.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for your love that’s expressed, unveiled, and embraced as many all around the world hear and receive the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the resultant gift of righteousness. Today, they experience your steadfast and everlasting love and the glory of your grace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 3:16 AMPC
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 19:17-42 & 1 Chronicles 17-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 15:1-14 & Deuteronomy 3
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – Begin with the Message of Love – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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