Thought I would post this..

[RichardT]

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16-25&version=31#fen-NIV-26127a)] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[b (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16-25&version=31#fen-NIV-26129b)] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."[c (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16-25&version=31#fen-NIV-26132c)]

I want to discuss this bible verse with you guys, I was wondering what you guys thought of the passages that followed John 3:16..

The reason why people don't come to christ is because they love darkness... Do you have any oppinions on these verses or on my statement ?

[Vicissa]

I agree with your statement Richard. :thumbsup: That personally is a very convicting scripture for me because it described me very well before I really had Jesus in my heart and began walking through life with Him instead of just calling on Him when I needed something. I was happy with my life the way it was, and to accept what the bible said was to say the way I was living was wrong. It seemed like a great big burden, and that I would live a boring life if I ever decided to become one of those "bible-thumpers" who read their bible everyday and lived a life I saw as blah.

[Advent Christian]

Hello Richard :wave:
The reason why people don't come to Christ is because they love darkness... Do you have any opinions on these verses or on my statement ?
I certainly agree one of the most prominent reasons people do not accept Christ is indeed because the nature of man is that of sin. As we all know man was not created sinful but instead opted for that choice and thus it became the nature of man.
Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: So long as the natural state of man, that of his sinful nature, can over shadow the desire of man for fellowship with God then man is lost and condemned.
Man is not condemned by God but instead we are condemned by our very earthly nature and desires. Our wonderful and merciful God reached out in effort to bring us back home. Now as we know it is up to us, all we have to do is accept the way praise God.

Hello Vicissa; :wave:
I was happy with my life the way it was,
I certainly can not speak for you Vicissa, but I can say for myself I too thought I was happy prior to Jesus becoming my Savior and Friend. It was only after I accepted Jesus that the true peace of God came into my life and I began to, in a limited manner; understand the presence of the peace of God.
This is another of the reasons people resist coming to Christ. People are of the opinion their life is good and they do not want to “rock the boat”. This too however is part of the nature passed on to mankind through the fist sin of man, that of self-centered thinking. Only once a person comes to know and accept Christ can they began to have the veil lifted so they see the truth. The only way for man to have true happiness and peace is through the grace of God.

As always my love to all and May God Bless:prayer:

[knownbeforetime]

Humbling...

It says we are condemned already but that it is Jesus who clears the verdict.

[vincejohn]

people do not want to change their lives and when you read the bible you actually see yourself and what you are. The light of Jesus reveals the darkness and evil present in our lives. A spirit pure in Holy Jesus in all facets will live forever but a wild spirit against the teachings of Holy Jesus brings destruction and death. I have personally seen the effects of a wild spirit against God and His son in my life over the past few weeks which was brought upon me by my inability to accept my life and what the world throws at me. A feeling of abandonment. Playing with darkness will give you a few minutes of a fake euphoria but afterwards it will be many days of grief and pain and fear. I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to come into me and keep me and thankyou all for your prayers also. I am back on track and walking again with Holy Yeshua Jesus.

[WAB]

people do not want to change their lives and when you read the bible you actually see yourself and what you are. The light of Jesus reveals the darkness and evil present in our lives. A spirit pure in Holy Jesus in all facets will live forever but a wild spirit against the teachings of Holy Jesus brings destruction and death. I have personally seen the effects of a wild spirit against God and His son in my life over the past few weeks which was brought upon me by my inability to accept my life and what the world throws at me. A feeling of abandonment. Playing with darkness will give you a few minutes of a fake euphoria but afterwards it will be many days of grief and pain and fear. I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to come into me and keep me and thankyou all for your prayers also. I am back on track and walking again with Holy Yeshua Jesus.

Glad to hear you are walking with the Lord... Please know that what follows is out of love...

You say that you "...have been praying for the Holy Spirit to come into me..."

Perhaps this is just a mis-understanding of His ministry in the life of the genuine believer. Allow me to quote Hebrews 13:5,6 from Wuest's Expanded Translation...

"Let your manner of life be without love of money, being satisfied with your present circumstances. For He Himself has said, and the statement is on record, 'I will not, I will not cease to sustain and up hold you. I will not, I will not, I will not let you down.' So that, being of good courage, we are saying, The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What shall man do to me?"

Of course translations like the NKJV say "...I will never leave you..." The word "never" is the strongest negative in Greek, and that is why Wuest words it like he does, and why I quoted that translation.

But whatever translation you use, the meaning is the same... once the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the innermost being of the believer... He never leaves.

We may quench His work in us, but for that sin as for every other sin we may commit either in ignorance or deliberately, the remedy is the same... 1 John 1:9.

Hope this helps....

[bakerdad32]

I think most people will not come to christ they don't wan't the (lord) part meaning master they wan't to be in full control no one to tell them no