SWORDS Bible Study: John 3:16

By Mari

 

(All caps for emphasis only)

(SWORDS: Strong Women Of Rightly Dividing Studies)

 

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

I would like to preface this short study with my belief that the WHOLE Bible is FOR us…but the whole Bible is not TO us.  This is the crux of rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Tim 2:15)

 

We are looking in this study for what is TO us…and with this kept in mind, we will see and understand why John 3:16 is a message for Israel and not to us at all!

 

It is a very clear message and it is my hope you will see it too! Once you do, you will be astounded and grateful to our God, for showing us how to rightly divide what is for us and what is for Israel!

 

It is really a shame that many religions teach that John 3:16 is the salvation verse for believers today. They use this verse unwittingly because they have not been taught to rightly divide the word of truth.  So, in their confusion, they use this verse for the body of Christ versus where it belongs, for Israel.

 

If you read the verse again (2Ti 2:15) you will see it is not rightly dividing between truth and a lie, but rightly dividing the word of truth.  What was truth for Israel, but is not the truth/message for us in this dispensation of grace.  It is my hope you will understand this as we go along.  Stick with me a bit!

 

Perhaps you would take a look with me to prove this true!

 

(1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.)

 

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

John 3:16 is NOT the gospel that saves our souls today.

Why? Why is it important to make this important distinction?

Because John 3:16 is a CONDITIONAL salvation given to Israel, and OUR salvation today is NOT conditional.

 

You see, in John 3:16 there is no cross, no taking on our sins and the punishment of sin for us, and no free gift of salvation, because as you can see, verses later, Jesus teaches the conditional and works based system for an Israel under the law!

 

It is seriously important to never mix up law and grace, so that you will not lose sight of your liberty in Christ by being brought back under bondage to the Law and works.

 

John 3:16 is a verse that was written by the Apostle John about and for the Jews. It is also conditional as one was required to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God AND to be baptized in water for the remission of sins.

Luk_3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

 

This believing AND being baptized in water to be saved was still being taught near the end of Mark’s epistle.

 

Mar 16:16a He that believeth AND is baptized shall be saved; 

 

This was taught even at Pentecost, AFTER the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ by the Apostle Peter to Israel. That water baptism for the remission of sins was NECESSARY for Israel to receive the Holy Ghost.

 

Act_2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Israel was REQUIRED to believe Jesus was the Son of God AND to follow that faith up with baptism in water as a REQUIRED work for their FUTURE salvation.  Just as Mark taught the same…that along with their belief/faith they must have the work of being baptized in water:

 

Mar 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

 

We also see that John the Baptist, baptized with water to make the Messiah known/manifest to ISRAEL.

Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

 

Just as the Apostle James taught Israel that THEIR faith MUST be accompanied by works or their faith was DEAD:

 

Jas_2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas_2:24 Ye see then how that by WORKS a man is justified, and NOT by faith only. (Caps used to emphasize for understanding)

 

We read the word of God and SEE that for ISRAEL, under the law, THEIR FAITH IS A DEAD FAITH without the WORK of water baptism along with the rest of Mosaic Law (of which water baptism cleansing ceremonies were a part).

 

Works followed their faith or their faith was DEAD to God.

 

BUT today, WE are NOT under the Law but under GRACE, and by grace are we saved through faith ALONE.

 

Salvation today is believing WITHOUT the works of the law; trusting in the sacrifice of Christ alone for our salvation, not in anything we can do, not in the traditions of men, because salvation today is a pure GIFT from God.

 

Eph_2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

There are NO works required of us today under grace to be saved. You see the TOTALLY different message given to the Apostle Paul by the RISEN Christ for us!

 

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Rom_11:6 And if by grace, then is it NO MORE of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (caps mine for emphasis)

 

Gal_2:16 Knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and NOT by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 

Today the gospel that saves us is from the RISEN Lord Jesus Christ given to the Apostle Paul to us who will believe, by faith alone in His work on the cross for us.

THIS is the gospel that saves today:

1Co 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Rather than reading into a verse what is NOT there, it is a much better practice to remember to study to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Tim 2:15) ….and read surrounding verses, to make sure we understand what is being said!

 

It is good to understand what is NOT in the verse (John 3:16).  What is NOT there is the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel by which WE are saved TODAY. There is nothing about the cross.  Nothing about His death, burial and resurrection.

 

When the verse says “whosoever believeth in him”…we find two verses later (John 3:18) that is it NOT about His death, burial and resurrection, but that they are to believe in His NAME…that Jesus was who He claimed to be: The Son of God, Israel’s promised Messiah.  Again, no gospel that saves today in that!

 

We too, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and we know that He died for us on the cross, shedding His precious blood and taking on our sins and the punishment of sin for us, that He was raised from the dead. When we believe this there is the free gift of salvation! We are accepted in the Beloved!

 

Eph_1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.