John 3:16 (NKJV): For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Let’s take a look at the Greek for this text:
Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
(as Found on the Online Greek Bible www.greekbible.com, 03/21/2018)
I want us to focus in on the word κόσμον (Transliterated kosmon). This particular word has significant meaning.
κόσμος,n \{kos’-mos}
1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
2) ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, ‘the heavenly hosts’, as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3
3) the world, the universe
4) the circle of the earth, the earth
5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family
6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
7) world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly 7a) the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ
8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort 8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc) 8b) of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19
(https://greekbible.com/l.php?ko/smos_n—–asm-_ , 03/21/2018)
Now, let us focus in on a particular part of the definition found here:
5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family
6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
The Word kosmon, which is taken from the root kosmos, means the world. As we learn here, this particular word is referring to all men, or mankind. This means that if we were to translate this verse using this idea, it might sound something like this:
Because God loves all of mankind, which He created, and have sinned against Him, thus separating themselves from His righteousness and therefore keeping them from being part of His Family, He, God, sent His Son, so that any and all that believe in Him, The Son, they will be part of His, God’s Family again.
I know that this sounds simple. I know that many will say that there is more. And many may say that we are all children of God. Not necessarily true. I will bring in a couple of more verses to help clarify something.
John 1:6-13 (NKJV): There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own,[c] and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
- To be a child of God, you The Son
- That your belief is not just believing but trusting and telling others. Said in a different way, developing your Relationship with Him, The Son.
What does all of this mean?
- God loves all of us. He does not love our actions, He loves us. He loves us enough to send the perfect sacrifice to take out place for what we have done.
- We are not saved unless we have a Relationship with Jesus.
- We need to tell others.
- We need to stop keeping ourselves from experiencing what God wants for us.
- No one can keep us from this happening. No matter what anyone tells you, no matter what your past is, God provided a way for us to come to Him.
Here is my question to you, what are you going to do with this knowledge? Have you slipped away and think you cannot return? He gave us the opportunity to return even if we did mess that up.
1 John 2:1-11 (NKJV): My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
It starts with Our Relationship with Jesus. If you don’t have a Relationship with Him or you need to rekindle that Relationship, do it now. Call out to Him and seek his Love and Forgiveness. It really is as hard or easy as you make it.
We should look to Him daily to seek a relationship with Him. I want to encourage you to seek Him today, if you haven’t already. If you need help, have questions or need direction in this regard, please, feel free to let me know.
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Any scripture referenced here is taken from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted