God´s Almost-Forgotten Plan
Rod Smith
November 30, 2008
It has been shelved by too many Christian churches and it shouldn´t be. God´s plan for humanity is in a familiar Bible verse: "For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It´s as well-known to Christians as the morning coffee pot. Those words in John 3:16 are very important.
Therein lies God´s plan for the human race. "For God so loved the world…" To whom does that refer? Everyone in the world: no exceptions.
Notice it doesn´t say: "For God so loved only the Christians..." In His grace, mercy, and generosity, Jesus says there is a mansion waiting in heaven for everyone who will repent and believe. The "No Vacancy" sign will never be posted: there is unlimited room for all in heaven.
John 3:16 inspires many fine sermons, but little public evangelism. It´s a mistake for those who have salvation to be self-centred. By this writer's observation, Christians in general today are smug, self-satisfied; content to sit and wait for heaven; obsessed with the blessings; never thinking of the masses for whom Jesus came to this planet.
People will only be in heaven if they hear about it. Then they accept or reject. Good news has to be read or heard to be received and understood.
There is a warning in the second part of John 3:16 that people need to know: "…that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Therefore those who do not believe will
Therein lies God´s plan for the human race. "For God so loved the world…" To whom does that refer? Everyone in the world: no exceptions.
Notice it doesn´t say: "For God so loved only the Christians..." In His grace, mercy, and generosity, Jesus says there is a mansion waiting in heaven for everyone who will repent and believe. The "No Vacancy" sign will never be posted: there is unlimited room for all in heaven.
John 3:16 inspires many fine sermons, but little public evangelism. It´s a mistake for those who have salvation to be self-centred. By this writer's observation, Christians in general today are smug, self-satisfied; content to sit and wait for heaven; obsessed with the blessings; never thinking of the masses for whom Jesus came to this planet.
People will only be in heaven if they hear about it. Then they accept or reject. Good news has to be read or heard to be received and understood.
There is a warning in the second part of John 3:16 that people need to know: "…that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Therefore those who do not believe will
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