John 3:16
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"In my wife Sharon’s words, 'The [antinomian] evangelicals have a very small Bible.' They 'lucky-dip' in the Old Testament, enlisting a few heartwarming psalms and messianic prophecies. Then they come to the New Testament and focus on John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13, and the most graphic and dramatic prophecies in Revelation. The rest of the Bible they do not consider especially relevant." - Andrew Sandlin
We Christians have names for everything, and often for each other. These lucky-dipping antinomians call theonomists legalists. The interesting thing is that we Reform theonomists call antinomians legalists too. In the broadest sense, legalism is any attempt to replace the gift of grace with works, to be justified by the law. But it is also the act of replacing God's Law with new laws of man. This is exactly what we see the modern Evangelical doing, whether by his 4 steps to salvation, 7 promises of a Promise Keeper, or the 12 steps in any recovery program. Don't drink, cuss, smoke, gamble, spit, or wear the wrong clothes if you want to go to heaven. What they don't understand is that, far from the Law of God being only for a previous dispensation, the Law through Christ is being obeyed perfectly right now. His words, if you recall, were "Be perfect, even as My Father in heaven is perfect." Some think the order of Moses consisted of strict rules, and we are now in an age of grace based on love and forgiveness. It's the false dichotomy they never fail to construct between the Old and New Testaments. On the contrary, Jesus raised the bar to an unattainable height. You've heard it said that you should not commit adultery, but He tells you that to lust after a woman in your heart is no different. The correct response on the part of the hearer is not perfectionism at one extreme or antinomianism at the other extreme, but a prostrate and contrite heart. And once you realize that the holy God has never removed the requirements of the Law, which Psalm 19 calls perfect, you will have matured to the stage at which the Bible may be apprehended in its entirety. Far from Satan being the ruler of this world, and far from there being an Antichrist from whom we must be rescued, and far from Christendom being a lost cause, our Lord is conquering this earth right now through us. The Holy Spirit renews our minds daily because of the sinless perfection of Christ imputed to us. While millions of ignorant Christians are waiting for Armageddon to begin, the battle is already over. His words, if you recall, were "It is finished." The depravity and malice both of man and of the devil, or the sins that arise therefrom, do not spring from nature, but rather from the corruption of nature. Let us not be ashamed to take pious delight in the works of God open and manifest in this most beautiful theater." - John Calvin, the anti-Gnostic
In today's world, Sciencism has taken over the common talk. More and more people are falling to it and staying ignorant. Some people like the title of "Christian" since they see that a lot of people still follow Christ's message. People who think they can follow Christianity and Sciencism in the same breath are really idiots. The two are an obvious contradiction when placed side by side.
So most of what Jesus said back about 2,000 years ago is being forgotten. You see the following passage on signs, tattoos, construction site posters, abortion clinics, RNC demonstrations....everywhere:
John 3
16 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.
When a "Christian" disagrees with my methods,
this is the FIRST and ONLY Bible verse they ever use, if they even use one at
all. Now do I disagree with this passage in it's full context? Of course not,
but it is over used and out of context unless you read the full chapter.
John 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto
him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born
when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be
born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be
born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can
these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a
master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we
do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe
not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he
that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life.
16 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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 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.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that
his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples
into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to
Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of
John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him,
Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold,
the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive
nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am
not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the
friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly
because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that
is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from
heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he
testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to
his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of
God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all
things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.
Notice how twice within the passage, Jesus tells Nicodemus that you have to be born again. He said it twice, so it is very important indeed. Just quoting John 3:16 cuts that out and basically means as long as you believe Jesus exists, you will go to Heaven. It's very ridiculous.
Think of it this way:
Timothy McVeigh believed in Jesus Christ. That is a known fact. Now then, let me quote John 3:16 again by itself, again:
John 3
16 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.
See what just happened? So according to John 3:16 by itself, Timmy-boy is free, and going to Heaven. He killed people, but these Bible ignoramuses keep shouting "John 3:16 buddy!" at you daily thinking they can sell people Christianity if you tell them God will automatically reward you and not damn you forever, the only catch is you believe in Him. That sounds very easy, right? Of course it does, and that's why "Christianity" is so big, but only an extreme small percentage of these self-labeled Christians actually FOLLOW the Bible beyond John 3:16.
I can also supply some more passages that tell you what ELSE you have to do to get everlasting life:
1 Corinthians 6
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Mind you, I can list probably a hundred more passages like this that CONSISTENTLY explain what you must do to get to Heaven. It is an outrage that people are stupid enough to buy into the John 3:16 nonsense. They will buy a Bible, and never read it! They will just say "Gee, you are a jerk, I'm a Christian, and oh yeah, John 3:16. I'm moral now" .
Why do people keep saying John 3:16 and never any other verses?
Look at it this way:
That's all most people care about. What sells? Whatever is the most popular thing of course. Satan knows this, and figured it would be smart to get money by turning Christians against God. It's all the wolf in sheep's clothing technique: basically lure the person into taking a shortcut, or an easier deal and then they have their money. Most people like things to be easier and someone else to do the thinking FOR them. The solution of the problem is to lie about God's message into something that is completely bogus and will send people to Hell AND give money to Satan.
Ever turn on TBN before? Do you really think those people are Christian or they are just saying "All you gotta do is believe in Jesus so we get ratings and you like this simple solution and give us money".
What do I do if I meet a John 3:16 fanatic?
There are several ways to deal with these idiots. I'll list some of my favorite ways.
1.) Ask them in response: "Okay, and by the way, what is the first commandment?". Nine times out of ten they will not know the answer. Point made.
2.) Restate what I stated before:
1 Corinthians 6
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God
This passage is a complete contradiction to John 3:16 when taken out of context (spoken by itself only). Most of the John 3:16 people will then say "Well that's in the Old Testament. Jesus changed everything when He died on the cross". You then smugly grin and say "No, that was the New Testament idiot". It's funny, but these John 3:16 idiots nearly ALWAYS will say they reject the Old Testament since it is more clear of God's Wrath. They think any verse that would obviously point out that John 3:16 was taken out of context is in the Old Testament, or the "Savage Law" as they "think".
3.) Point and laugh.
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Anything else?
Don't try to explain why John 3:16 is taken out of context since they already know it is (since they work for Satan), unless they come to you and ask about it. If someone asks about the validness of John 3:16 by itself, explain it to them since they are hearing mixed messages from both the righteous and unrighteous, so it's best to help sort things out for them.