GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...THAT HE SENT YOU!

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In my growth group tonight we were talking about outreach and I received a fresh revelation of John 3:16. I have never heard it preached, I have never thought of before, but I believe it is an accurate assessment of the truth. We need to begin to see ourselves as sons of God and therefore ambassadors of Christ.  (II Corinthians 5:18-21)
This is the way we all learned and perhaps memorized John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 Some evangelists have suggested that a person alter it by inserting the their own name in place of the The world to make it a more personal message. 
So lets take one more step and insert me and I instead of a first name. 
16 For God so loved (me) that He gave His only begotten Son, that if (I)  believe in Him (I) should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (me), but that (I) through Him might be saved. 
While both of these versions are good, just as they are... 

I felt the Spirit prompting me tonight to change my thoughts about this verse and take a fresh look at John 3:16 from the view point of the redeemed bride of Christ, who has become His ambassador to the World.  
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, (Insert your name) that whoever believes in Him* should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His son (Insert your name) into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him* might be saved.
 * all Hims refer to Jesus Christ/God
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Consider reciting this verse everyday this week and see if it doesn't 
call you up to your full potential in Christ Jesus. 
16 For God so loved the world that He gave (Me) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send (Me) into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through (Me) representing Him might be saved. 
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GOOD NEWS ALERT

 God did NOT send the Church into the world to condemn the world!
He did not send us to condemn their choices. 
He did not send us to condemn their actions.
He did not send us to condemn their life styles. 
He did send us into the world that the good news of God's love, expressed through His Church demonstrating His love, might reach the world, that they might be saved.

Someone said that Anger and Joy are both housed in the same area of the human brain, and they cannot peacefully co-exist there for very long.  

Either Anger will displace Joy, or Joy will displace Anger. 

How do we look, to the world that God our Father has sent us to? 

Do we look like the joyous winsome bride of Christ? 

or Do we look like the angry scribes and Pharisees? Perhaps without the long robes, but with the same pointing finger of condemnation? Isaiah 58. 
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 Can I be so bold as to suggest one more change to the way you declare this favorite scripture of the Church. 

Try reciting this as you pray for that friend or family member who you want to reach out to in love.
16 For God so loved (my friend's name) that He gave  (Me),  that (my friend's name) might believe in Him* and (my friend's name) should not perish but have everlasting life.  
17 For God did NOT send  (Me) into the world to condemn (my friend's name) , but that (my friend's name) might be saved through (Me) lovingly, joyously, accurately, representing Him*  

   * all Hims refer to Jesus Christ/God

 Our focus is on Heaven and our mandate is to bring heaven to the earth. 

 When we were reborn of the Spirit of God we were commissioned to 
Go therefore! into all the world, preach the gospel
15 And He said to them, (You) “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

 So He is sending us to the world, because He loves them so much. 

 He is not sending us to the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved by Him working through us. 

 You are the only Jesus they can see.
    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Peace... 
David

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 27, 2014 at 5:26:00 PM CDT

    I am sending this as an encouragement. Because of the word you had a few weeks ago about us not judging and because of what I have seen and heard this week. Today I read Jeremiah 44, Monday David P called me just burdened that people are not hearing sound doctrine, and then after reading Today's post from Steven with the passage he underlines near the end of his post, I am just excited about God. If none of this makes sense let me know and I will explain why it excites me. Mostly I sent this as a confirmation of the word you got and to encourage.
    Be blessed.
    A
    http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.net/daily-weblogs/2014/03-2014/jesus-instructions-to-the-seventy-apostles-part-3/

    ReplyDelete
  2. smittyNovember 7, 2016 at 1:16:00 PM CST

    This Sunday Glen Middleton came to Covenant Family Church in Mankato and shared on this theme so I thought i should repost this.

    ReplyDelete

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