What If John 3:16 Was Not True?

“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).

John 3:16 is one of the most well known verses in the New Testament. It is a favorite verse of children, and is often quoted to dying people. It has also become part of our popular culture. The phrase John 3:16 has been printed on T-shirts and billboards; it has been displayed on signs and banners at sporting events; and has been used as the title of several songs.

John 3:16 has been called the “Gospel in a nutshell,” because it condenses God’s entire plan of salvation from the beginning of time and throughout Scripture, into a tiny “nutshell” of a verse.

Think of it as the Gospel in miniature. It contains 25 words that summarize some of the most central doctrines, or principles, of the Christian faith – God loves … God gives … God’s Son … we believe … and … we live.

Now, I want to ask you a few questions:

What if this great verse were not true? What if God had not loved the world? What if God had not given His only begotten Son? What if God’s offer of salvation was not to the whosoevers? And, what if God’s offer of salvation was not based on faith alone?

Don't Look Back

"But his wife looked back from behind him,
and she became a pillar of salt."

Are you stuck living in the past? Do you miss the way things used to be so much that you can't seem to move on with your life?  Are you depressed because life did not turn out the way you thought it would?  Well, read on.  There is a way to jump start your life again.

Many of you may be familiar with the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. According to the Bible, God revealed to Abraham His intentions to destroy those two cities, because of the wickedness of the people who lived there. Abraham pleaded with God to spare the cities if ten righteous men could be found.

God sent two angels in the form of men to Sodom in order to find those ten righteous men. As they arrived, they met Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Lot insisted that the men stay the night with his family. That evening men from the city came to Lot's door demanding that Lot turn the strangers over to them. Lot refused, and just when it seemed like the door to Lot's house would be broken down, the angels caused every member of the mob to become blind.

At that moment the angels were convinced that ten righteous men could not be found in the city. They told Lot to collect his family and leave Sodom, because the city was going to be destroyed. Lot gathered his wife and two daughters together and they escaped the city.

Genesis 19:17 reads, "As soon as they had brought them out, one of them (the angels) said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"

The story continues that God rained down burning hot sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying both cities and all of the inhabitants. Unfortunately, it was at that moment that Lot's wife disobeyed the command of the angels and verse 26 informs us that "Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."

The subject of today's message is "Don't Look Back!"

What God Did For Me!

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

Last week I introduced a new blog titled “What God Did for Me!” (http://whatgoddidforme.blogspot.com). I created this new blog to give people a place to share their testimony about how good God has been to them. It is my hope that by reading their testimonies others will be inspired.

Testimony Service

"But santify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear ..." (1 Peter 3:15)

I don't know if any of you have ever witnessed or participated in a testimony service.  For those who do not know what a testimony service is, it is typically a special service where people have the opportunity to share with the congregation how good God has been to them ... how God blessed them ... helped them ... healed them ... saved them ...