“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. … He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16,18
It is indeed true that God loves the people of this world. We see that love in the gift of His own dear Son, Jesus Christ, who was born into this world a true man to fulfill the demands of God’s law in our place and then to bear the full and just punishment for our sins — indeed the sins of all — that we might repent of our sinful and rebellious ways and look to Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness and be spared the condemnation of hell. But Jesus also says in no uncertain terms that those who do not repent and turn to Him in faith stand condemned already and will suffer the eternal torments of hell.
Have mercy upon me, O Christ. Forgive my sinful thoughts, desires, words, and deeds for the sake of Your blood, shed on the cross for the sins of the world. And keep me in the true and saving faith that I might be spared the eternal torments of hell and live for You forever in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.
“My little children, I am writing these things to you, so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2
How can a holy God forgive us when we repent and confess our sins? It is because of Jesus Christ, who lived a righteous and holy life in our stead and then suffered and died on the cross to atone for our sins and the sins of the whole world. The risen and ascended Lord Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. He pleads for us with His holy and precious blood.
Forgive my sins, O Lord, and cleanse my heart for the sake of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of all. Amen.
“You alone are the LORD. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships You.” Nehemiah 9:6
This prayer of the Levites, recorded by Nehemiah, confesses the truth that the LORD, the one true God — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — created the heavens, the earth, the seas, and all that is in them, and He still preserves them all. The stars and the universe glorify His holy name, showing His infinite wisdom and power in creating and preserving all things by the power of His word.
I, too, worship You, O LORD, and glorify Your name for creating this vast universe and yet loving me enough to send Your Son to suffer my punishment, die in my stead, and redeem me that I might look to You in faith, receive Your mercy and forgiveness, and praise Your holy name. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7
To walk in the light is to walk in the truth and allow the light of God’s Word to shine into our hearts and upon our lives, revealing our sins and failures under God’s law but also revealing to us the redemption God provided for us through the blood of His Son which was shed on the cross to atone for our sins and the sins of the world.
O God, grant that I not hide from the light but allow the light to expose my sin and point me to Christ Jesus, who shed His blood on the cross to atone for my sins and restore me to fellowship with You. Amen.
“By faith we understand that the ages were set by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3
The ages, which include the universe and the world in which we live, were created and established by the Word of God at God’s command. He said, “Let there be …” and “there was” (Gen. 1). What we see and know today in this world and the universe was created from nothing and exists solely by God’s command and decree.
O Creator of all, grant us faith to believe Your Word and to trust in Your wisdom and power to create and preserve all things by Your command. In the name of Christ Jesus, the eternal Word made flesh to redeem us, we pray. Amen.
