Loved but Lost.

Thanks Ant, for the wonderful email. I do believe that many need to read this.

Loved, but Lost

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READ | JOHN 3:15-18

Probably the most cherished and comforting of all God’s characteristics is His love. However, the fact that He loves us does not determine our eternal destiny; we can still be separated from Him in our lost condition.

Because the Father cares so much for mankind, He made provision to rescue us from our doomed state of alienation from Him. This offer of salvation is extended to everyone, but in order to benefit, a person must accept it. By the death of Christ on our behalf, the Lord opened the door for us to be saved, but He does not push anyone through.

Imagine that you’ve fallen into a rushing river and are about to drown. I jump in to save you, but you refuse my help. Did my diving in save you? No, you did not accept my offer of rescue. In the same way, God made every provision for your salvation, but you must respond to His offer.

Just as a swimmer stretches out a hand to accept rescue, so each of us must reach out in faith, believing that Jesus died for us. Accepting His forgiveness for our sins is not just an intellectual belief. A drowning man will not be saved if he merely knows that a swimmer can save him. He has to put his life in the hands of the rescuer and depend totally on him.

Simply relying on God’s love to save you is not enough. Our heavenly Father desires that everyone be saved, but many will remain lost because they fail to accept His offer. The next move is yours. Choose to believe in Christ, and surrender your life to the One who is willing and able to save you.
John 3:15-18 (New American Standard Bible)

15so that whoever [a]believes will (A)in Him have eternal life.

16"For God so (B)loved the world, that He (C)gave His (D)only begotten Son, that whoever (E)believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17"For God (F)did not send the Son into the world (G)to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18"(H)He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of (I)the only begotten Son of God.
Footnotes:

1. John 3:15 Or believes in Him will have eternal life

Cross references:

1. John 3:15 : John 20:31; 1 John 5:11-13
2. John 3:16 : Rom 5:8; Eph 2:4; 2 Thess 2:16; 1 John 4:10; Rev 1:5
3. John 3:16 : Rom 8:32; 1 John 4:9
4. John 3:16 : John 1:18; 3:18; 1 John 4:9
5. John 3:16 : John 3:36; 6:40; 11:25
6. John 3:17 : John 3:34; 5:36, 38; 6:29, 38, 57; 7:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25; 20:21
7. John 3:17 : Luke 19:10; John 8:15; 12:47; 1 John 4:14
8. John 3:18 : Mark 16:16; John 5:24
9. John 3:18 : John 1:18; 1 John 4:9



- CHRIST I A N - Without Christ I Am Nothing One of my favorite acronyms given by our Pastor!

2 Chronicles 7:14 (New King James Version)

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.


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