The Gospel of John 3:16

INTRODUCTION Jesus Christ compared the conditions of the worlds of Noah and Lot to the those that would be prevailing at the time of His Second Coming. In other words, the world population, while going about its day-to-day activities, is going to be destroyed unexpectedly except for a minority of people who, like Noah and Lot did, believes the truth about God. Neither Noah nor Lot was a theologian, lawyer, doctor or scientist. They, like any follower of God's Word, simply believed the Gospel. What exactly is the Gospel, the reader may ask? This is the very question this book was written to answer. Bible advocates should remember the reason he/she should give credence to the Bible: It is because Acts 4:12 (speaking about Christ) declares that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Since the Bible also states that Christ is creator of all that is, all earthly inhabitants must follow His counsel or face the consequences (unless of course, any part of what Christ or His Bible states can be refuted!). When the gospel is accepted, however, the Christian (which simply means “follower of Christ”) has an obligation to tell others about it. Before receiving the direct commission from Christ in the New Testament, an Old Testament admonishment had already been given to warn others or their blood will be on their hands. Although this was not the motivation for the writing of this book, it does add impetus. There is one final introductory thought that needs repeating: Although God reveals Himself through such things as science, nature and even divine intervention, only the Holy Bible conveys that He is the Creator and that He “so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY Once an individual is converted to Christianity, his/her body actually becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared, “It is the Spirit who gives life. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” and “without me you can do nothing.” Incidentally, being that Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all life, no creature on earth can exist independent of Him, regardless of whether He is acknowledged by the creature or not—or whether one becomes a converted Christian or not. “If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust,” Job confirmed. Among His creatures, God gives mankind the freedom of choice (as alluded to above and as expounded on in Chapter 6), however the power to live and to work outside the will of God will eventually cease. Contrary to what some Christians think, the Bible acknowledges that the wicked can prosper and that there are pleasures in sin, howbeit, only “for a season.” If, however, “as the Holy Spirit says: ‘today, if you will hear (My) voice’” and “not harden your hearts” great rewards are in store for you—not only in the future, but, unlike many non-Christians think, now in this present life. Christ confirms, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” In turn, as affirmed earlier, the Holy Spirit bestows His gifts upon His followers. But many fail to realize the importance of the other roles of the Holy Spirit. Being the only true Vicar of Christ on earth, He “inspires,” “convicts,” “counsels,” “teaches,” “brings to remembrance,” “guides,” “converts,” “reproves,” “witnesses,” “comforts,” “transforms,” “sanctifies, “intercedes, “unifies,” “strives” and “strengthens.” These many attributes signify the personage of the Holy Spirit. In fact, this is the reason Christ, His Disciples and the Apostles all referred to Him (the Holy Spirit) as “Him.” The Bible’s portrayal of His tantamount position with God the Father and the Son, however, is the most significant testimony that He is a person as They are. Otherwise, He would not be equal with Them. Like Them, He has a “mind” with “knowledge” and a “will.” He “loves” and can be “grieved,” “holds communion,” and He can also be “insulted” and “lied to.” One cannot pretend to completely understand the personage of the Holy Spirit, or that of the other Members of the Godhead for that matter, because, after all, how could the created ever understand the Creator completely? However, His importance in today’s life of a Christian cannot be overemphasized! Romans 8:16 declares that “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Therefore, since a warning is given by Him that “in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” Christians should ever be careful about what He says and what is said about Him. This significance cannot be better articulated than what Luke stated in Chapter 12 of his book, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven” (verse 10). But if the Christian relies totally on Him, as is necessary, he/she has these promises from Him: “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” It is futile to think the finite can comprehend the infinite, but the Bible has given its readers enough knowledge about God in order to understand who He is and why we should follow Him. It gives myriads of reasons to follow God, but its simplest reason is because God said so.