DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
The story is told of a 3rd grade Sunday school teacher who taught her class to pay attention in worship, especially during the sermon. During morning worship that day, one of her students who was seated near the front was chattering away with a friend. Irritated, the teacher instructed the boy sitting beside her, "Please go up and tell him that if he does not quit talking RIGHT NOW, I’ll personally escort him from the auditorium.” A few minutes later, the stunned preacher paused mid-sermon when the obedient boy walked up on stage and delivered the message….to him!
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Many of us can probably recall situations, some humorous, in which we misunderstood instructions. While selling door to door during college, I was told that eligible prospects had to be 18 and employed. I knocked nearly 50 doors before I finally encountered a person that was exactly 18 years old.
Sadly, many people misunderstand some of Jesus’ instructions because they fail to consult all pertinent passages. One example is John 3:16, “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.” Some boldly assert, “I stand on John 3:16 ALONE for my salvation!” To do so, however, they must disregard Luke 13:3 & 5, Matt. 10:32 and John 3:5, in which Jesus stresses the necessity of repentance, confession and being born of water and the Spirit – baptism.
In the bible, the verb “believe” usually represents “a state of absolute trust as EVIDENCED by compliance, observance or obedience.” Thus Jesus statement in John 3:16, “...whoever believes in Him...” implies submission to all His commands, including repentance, confession and baptism. Claiming to “stand on John 3:16 ALONE for…salvation” is tantamount to misunderstanding His message. True understanding of Jesus’ teachings only occurs when we examine all pertinent passages.
“Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you UNDERSTANDING in all things.” (2 Tim. 2:7)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
The story is told of a 3rd grade Sunday school teacher who taught her class to pay attention in worship, especially during the sermon. During morning worship that day, one of her students who was seated near the front was chattering away with a friend. Irritated, the teacher instructed the boy sitting beside her, "Please go up and tell him that if he does not quit talking RIGHT NOW, I’ll personally escort him from the auditorium.” A few minutes later, the stunned preacher paused mid-sermon when the obedient boy walked up on stage and delivered the message….to him!
*******************************************************************************************
Many of us can probably recall situations, some humorous, in which we misunderstood instructions. While selling door to door during college, I was told that eligible prospects had to be 18 and employed. I knocked nearly 50 doors before I finally encountered a person that was exactly 18 years old.
Sadly, many people misunderstand some of Jesus’ instructions because they fail to consult all pertinent passages. One example is John 3:16, “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.” Some boldly assert, “I stand on John 3:16 ALONE for my salvation!” To do so, however, they must disregard Luke 13:3 & 5, Matt. 10:32 and John 3:5, in which Jesus stresses the necessity of repentance, confession and being born of water and the Spirit – baptism.
In the bible, the verb “believe” usually represents “a state of absolute trust as EVIDENCED by compliance, observance or obedience.” Thus Jesus statement in John 3:16, “...whoever believes in Him...” implies submission to all His commands, including repentance, confession and baptism. Claiming to “stand on John 3:16 ALONE for…salvation” is tantamount to misunderstanding His message. True understanding of Jesus’ teachings only occurs when we examine all pertinent passages.
“Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you UNDERSTANDING in all things.” (2 Tim. 2:7)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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