“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
How can we be forgiven and righteous before God? How can we have eternal life? Through faith in Jesus Christ — Period. Those who trust in Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross have God’s pardon and forgiveness. Those who do not believe stand condemned already because, apart from faith in Christ, there is no forgiveness, and there is no eternal life!
O gracious God, grant me faith in Christ Jesus that I might have Your pardon, forgiveness, and life eternal. Amen.
[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17
God sent His Son into the world as a man, not to condemn mankind but to make atonement for the sins of all by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross so that we might look to Him in faith and be spared when He returns in judgment on the Last Day. We, too, bear witness to Christ Jesus, not to condemn the people of this world but to point all to Christ and His cross so that they might be saved.
O gracious God, thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us. Grant that we believe and take comfort in the Gospel so that we might be saved and have life without end. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Because of our sinful nature, we don’t know and understand our real needs — what is good for us and what is not. How comforting it is to know that the Spirit of God, who dwells in the hearts of God’s children (cf. Gal. 3:26-27), is interceding for them in accord with the will of God — asking for those things which are for our eternal well-being!
O Holy Spirit, thank you for interceding on my behalf and asking for and seeking those things that are for my eternal good. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“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
God’s love for the world, His love for each and every one of us, is demonstrated in this: He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die on the cross and bear the full punishment for our sins, with the desire and intent that we would repent of our sinful ways and place our faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross and not be condemned to the eternal fires of hell but receive God’s mercy, forgiveness, and life everlasting!
O gracious and loving God, grant me faith to trust in Christ Jesus for pardon, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
In the same way as Moses, in the wilderness, lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole and those bitten by the fiery serpents could look in faith and live rather than die (Numbers 21), so sinners who look in faith to Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross will not be condemned to eternal death for their sins but be pardoned, forgiven and have everlasting life.
Grant, dear Jesus, that I look to You and Your cross in faith for forgiveness and life eternal. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
