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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Bible Question:
Hello! I'm confused! In John 3:16 we are told: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. So God(The FATHER as He gave His SON) LOVED the world, but we are NOT to love the world or the love of the FATHER is not in us! If we love the world that HE loved, that doesn't make sense to me?? I mean if we are to model our lives after God, especially Christ, who gave his very life in such a sacrificial way for those of the world... (and there was obviously plenty of evil in His day as well), then this confuses me. 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Any help would be appreciated. Also, I was a bit frightened by something I heard the other day from a telecast minister. He said that IF we cannot understand the bible, that the Holy Spirit is not within us because those whom the Holy Spirit indwells, He teaches and suddenly the bible will have meaning, that the bible itself becomes it's own best commentary. I know the Holy Spirit is within me, but am I somehow doing something wrong that I'm not able to understand many passages? (If the Holy Spirit should be enlightening me, perhaps somehow I am not being responsive??) If this is so, and you have any similar experience, I'd love some guidance. Thank you |
Bible Answer: Greetings Starfire, 1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. These are to be loved, as men, as fellow creatures and their good, both spiritual and temporal, is to be sought and good is to be done to them, as much as lies in our power, both with respect to soul and body, yet their company is not to be chosen and preferred to the saints, but to be shunned and avoided as being disagreeable and dangerous. Their evil conversations, and wicked communications, are not to be loved but abhorred and their works of darkness are to be reproved. Nor are their ways to be imitated, and their customs followed or their manners to be conformed to. Why? 1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. When one is saved and the Word of God is freshly implanted in our hearts, if we continue to pal around with the world, (see the parable of the sower: Mat 13:18-26), the association with that world can have a terrible affect on our lives: In the Old Testament, God warned His people not to take a spouse from other nations because those spouses would have an impact on the Israelites by bringing into their relationship some of the old customs and would pollute their relationship with the Lord. And sure enough, over a little time, the children of Israel started to worship some of the old gods of these spouses.(Judges 3:5-7) We are to love the men of the world, but not the world or the realm or the surroundings or the life-style they live in. And some of our old friends before our conversion will wag their heads and wonder why we don't pal around with them anymore.(1 Pet 4:4) I don't know the context that that TV preacher was talking about, not having the Holy Spirit in you if you don't understand the Scriptures, but your very question here, on this forum, proves you have the Spirit in you, else you would not have asked. Understanding the Scriptures is a life-long process. Paul says that some Christians are babes and this is because there is a growing process. The Scriptures are a living testament and we get daily strength from them and we grow. Paul also says that some Christians require milk, because the deeper things of God are not readily understood until we put aside some of the more basic carnal concerns.(1 Cor 3:2) It is good and a great sign that you had concerns for what that preacher said for it shows you that the Holy Spirit enlightened you that what he said was not quite right. For this is part of the working of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to discern these things. You wrote: "I know the Holy Spirit is within me, but am I somehow doing something wrong". This is a very good example of the way that the Tempter comes and tries to rob us of our faith, by planting the seed of doubt and turning our eyes on ourselves. Although it is good to search ourselves for any bad thing that we may still be holding onto from the world we once lived in. Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. In the verse: "he shall teach you all things", we didn't know how to use multiplication until we were taught how to add. Ask, and grow in the Spirit daily. Your brother, terrib |