what does john 3:36 mean

A cash balance plan is an excellent choice for owners and employees when considering how to provide cost-effective retirement benefits. With regard to John 3:31-36, the question arises as to who was the speaker. Shall never enter heaven.The wrath of God - The anger of God for sin. Jesus explains: "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Matthew Poole's Commentary He that, hearing the proposition of the gospel, so agreeth to it, as with his heart he receiveth him as his Saviour, and trusteth and hopeth in him, hath everlasting life; that is, a certain and just title to it, nay, in the first fruits; being actually delivered from condemnation, Romans 8:1, to which, without faith, he is exposed: he already liveth a spiritual life, Galatians 2:20; and having Christ in him, hath the hope of glory, into the possession of which he shall most certainly come. This is the same idea explained in Scriptures such as John 3:18-19, Romans 1:20, and Romans 3:11. But He, being God, was manifesting and, on the contrary, maintaining the divine glory here below. Romans 2:8; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; Revelation 19:15) is not the fierceness of passion, nor is it the expression of fixed hatred. The disciples of John dispute with a Jew about purification; but John himself renders a bright witness to the glory of the Lord Jesus. Pharisaic jealousy had wrought; and Jesus, wearied, sat thus at the fountain of Jacob's well in Sychar. John pointed people to the Lord Jesus, for Christ Himself was sent to bear heavenly witness of the invisible God Who "loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.". But how precious the grace, in presence of their hatred and proud self-complacency! It was sabbath-day. No doubt there are intervening applications; but such is the ultimate result of His work as the Lamb of God. It is the divine allergy to moral evil, the reaction of righteousness to unrighteousness." (Tenney) . "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." Life eternal is to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. The Christian here has a foretaste of the world of glory, and enjoys the same kind of felicity, though not the same degree, that he will there.Shall not see life - Shall neither enjoy true life or happiness here nor in the world to come. "The law was given by Moses." After this we have, suitably to this gospel, John's connection with the Lord Jesus. Thus solemnly does the meek Lord Jesus unfold these two truths. His exaltation there is not without notice in the gospel, but exceptionally. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him. Obedience, however, includes faith. The rejection of Christ is the contempt of God Himself, in that of which He is most jealous, the honour of the Saviour, His Son. Indeed, He was the great Prophet, as He was the great King, and as He is now the great Priest on high. If He spoke the truth, they were blasphemers. As this chapter sets forth the Lord Jesus with singular fulness of glory, on the side both of His Godhead and of His manhood, so it closes with the most varied and remarkable testimonies God has given to us, that there may be no excuse. Here He is not portrayed as the Son of man who must be lifted up, but as the Son of God who was given. Here was One on earth who knew all secrets. The person of the Son was there the object of divine and overflowing joy even then, although, of course, in the full sense of the word, the Holy Ghost might not be given to be the power of it for some time later; but still the object of worship was there revealing the Father; butJohn 7:1-53; John 7:1-53 supposes Him to be gone up to heaven, before He from heaven communicates the Holy Ghost, who should be (not here, as Israel had a rock with water to drink of in the wilderness outside themselves, nor even as a fountain springing up within the believer, but) as rivers flowing out. (See Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 13:11-13) Again, let me just remark in passing, that although, no doubt, we may in a general way speak of those who partake of the new nature as having that life, yet the Holy Ghost refrains from predicating of any saints the full character of eternal life as a present thing until we have the cross of Christ laid (at least doctrinally) as the ground of it. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. Nay, the Father has given all judgment to the Son. (SeePsalms 2:1-12; Psalms 2:1-12) But the Lord tells him of greater things he, should see, and says to him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, henceforth (not "hereafter," but henceforth) ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man. One needs no more than to read, as believers, these wonderful expressions of the Holy Ghost, where we cannot but feel that we are on ground wholly different from that of the other gospels. The one who comes from heaven is above all. John 7:37) It is not a question of eating the bread of God, or, when Christ died, of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He tells Philip to follow Him. I pray that I might live for Him. God never left Himself without witness; He did not even among the Gentiles, surely yet less in Israel. It is not a question of the law, but of hearing Christ's word, and believing Him who sent Christ: he that does so has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life. This, of course, supposes the setting aside of Jerusalem, its people and house, as they now are, and is justified by the great fact of Christ's death and resurrection, which is the key to all, though not yet intelligible even to the disciples. (not ) also appears in the phrase the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:16, etc.). And worship is viewed both in moral nature and in the joy of communion doubly. In Him was life for this scene of death; and it is of faith that it might be by grace. But here it was not God's purpose to record it. If, on the contrary, a soul has been taught of God the glory of the person of Him who was made flesh, he receives in all simplicity, and rejoices in, the glorious truth, that He who was made flesh was not made flesh only to this end, but rather as a step toward another and deeper work the glorifying God, and becoming our food, in death. Heavenly things, therefore, could not but be natural to Him, if one may so say. The Light, on coming into the world, lightens every man with the fulness of evidence which was in Him, and at once discovers the true state as truly as it will be revealed in the last day when He judges all, as we find it intimated in the gospel afterwards. (VersesJohn 6:1-21; John 6:1-21). "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God . Such is the miserable condition of the sinner! Note.How flatly does this contradict the teaching of many in our day, that there neither was, nor is, anything in God against sinners which needed to be removed by Christ, but only in men against God! Jesus, therefore, answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. And he saith, I am not. The man could not tell the Jews the name of his benefactor. This leads Philip to Nathanael, in whose case, when he comes to Jesus, we see not divine power alone in sounding the souls of men, but over creation. It is not denunciation, but the most solemn sentence in the calmest manner. It is here we learn in what condition of His person God was to be revealed and the work done; not what He was in nature, but what He became. They are a fitting and honorable . It implies, also, that it will continue to remain on him. Apparently these Christians haven't bothered to read what comes before and after John 3:16-18. Now, it is the Holy Ghost in the power that gives rivers of living water flowing out, and this bound up with, and consequent on, His being man in glory. But this is not the question of grace: not what she was, but what He is who was there to win and bless her, manifesting God and the Father withal, practically and in detail. Such is the miserable condition of the sinner! John 3 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity One of the peculiarities of our gospel is, that we see the Lord from time to time (and, indeed, chiefly) in or near Jerusalem. and the two disciples leave John for Jesus. "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. The word, which occurs only here in the Gospels, is not the same as that at the beginning of the verse, and shows that the faith there intended is the subjection of the will . John 3 ESV - You Must Be Born Again - Now there was - Bible Gateway Now, it is no longer a question of nature, but of relationship; and hence it is not said simply the Word, but the Son, and the Son in the highest possible character, the only-begotten Son, distinguishing Him thus from any other who might, in a subordinate sense, be son of God "the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father." The ignorance of the world has been proved, the rejection of Israel is complete: then only is it that we hear of this new place of children. Rather, he refers to the fame and influence of Christ. But John was not merely an earthly witness pointing us to Christ. Alas! The third chapter of John contains two related stories. This the Lord refuses, and goes up the mountain to pray, His disciples being meanwhile exposed to a storm on the lake, and straining after the desired haven till He rejoins them, when immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The Syriac and Arabic versions render it, "shall abide upon him"; so some copies. It was not so. His corporeal presence was not necessary; His word was enough. Many people think that believing in the Son means believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that Jesus' way is the way of everlasting life. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. Nicodemus, not understanding in the least such a want for himself, expresses his wonder, and hears our Lord increasing in the strength of the requirement. What does John 3:36 mean in the bible? - Quora There is difference of manner for the world and His own ignorance and rejection. They should have understood more about Him those that were specially favoured. of At least, so say many Christians. Here, then, we have a remarkable display of that which preceded His Galilean ministry, or public manifestation. The distinctiveness of such a testimony to the Saviour's glory need hardly be pointed out. The first thing to look at is the verse itself. Shine The Light. John Leslie LinkedIn: What Does a Cash Balance Plan Mean for You Let them learn, then, that as Son of man (for which nature they despised Him, and denied His essential personal glory) He will judge; and this judgment will be no passing visitation, such as God has accomplished by angels or men in times past. 0. what does john 3:36 mean. 1923: What Does the Season 1 Finale Mean for Yellowstone Family Tree 2. John was to bear witness that Jesus Christ came from heaven as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. This language is said of both, but most strongly of the latter. Verse 36. Doesn't John 3:16 mean that anyone can freely believe? Hence it is that here the Son, according to the grace of God the Father, gives the Holy Ghost eternal life in the power of the Spirit. For this, therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill Him; because He added the greater offence of making Himself equal with God, by saying that God was His own Father. The same God who did not leave Himself without witness among the heathen, doing good, and giving from heaven rain and fruitful seasons, did not fail, in the low estate of the Jews, to work by providential power at intervals; and, by the troubled waters of Bethesda, invited the sick, and healed the first who stepped in of whatever disease he had. Man, dead in sins, was the object of His grace; but then man's state was such, that it would have been derogatory to God had that life been communicated without the cross of Christ: the Son of man lifted up on it was the One in whom God dealt judicially with the evil estate of man, for the, full consequences of which He made Himself responsible. New believers also get familiar with this special truth in their relationship with God. The wrath of God - The anger of God for sin. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Shall not see life - Shall neither enjoy true life or happiness here nor in the world to come. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL Abideth on him. "He came unto his own [things], and his own [people] received him not. How striking the omission! The one, like the other, contributes to this great end, whether the Son of man necessarily lifted up, or the only begotten Son of God given in His love. Very remarkable are the following words of the Jews (b) concerning the Messiah, whom they call the latter Redeemer: "whosoever believes in him "shall" live; but he that believes not in him shall go to the nations of the world, and they shall kill him.'' I do not mean by this all individuals, but creation; for nothing can be more certain, than that those who do not receive the Son of God are so much the worse for having heard the gospel. Just as distinct and beyond comparison is His testimony who, coming from heaven and above all, testifies what He saw and heard, however it might be rejected. For were it not God Himself in the person of Jesus, it had been no glory to God, but a wrong and a rival. But the Spirit would not confine His operations to such bounds, but go out freely like the wind. John 3:16 gives us the glorious hope of eternal life in heaven through the love of God and death of Jesus Christ. (John 3:36 KJV), He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Had it been meant, it was no wonder that Nicodemus did not know how these things could be. The unbelieving and disobedient, instead of having eternal life, shall not have life: shall not even see it (compare see the kingdom of God, John 3:3). The first four chapters of John precede in point of time the notices of His ministry in the other gospels. Nothing in the slightest degree detracted from His own personal glory, and from the infinitely near relationship which He had had with the Father from all eternity. To Him be all praise and glory forever and ever, AMEN. In a certain sense, the principle of John 4:1-54 was made true in the woman of Samaria, and in others who received Christ then. {n} He that believeth Heb 2:4; Joh 3:15,16, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). (Verses John 7:3-5) The Lord intimates the impossibility of anticipating the time of God; but then He does it as connected with His own personal glory. It is a present possession. He will have all honour the Son, even as Himself. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. There is no more powerful way to deliver this message than to let John 3:16 speak for itself. God does not here condescend to call it His, though, of course, it was His and holy, just, and good, both in itself and in its use, if used lawfully. It is a golden verse that is often first introduced to young children when growing up. John 1:20-25) John does not even speak of Him as one who, on His rejection as Messiah, would step into a larger glory. . How were they not enjoyed in despised Samaria those two days with the Son of God among them! It is there that we found the Lord, in the other synoptic gospels, fulfilling His ordinary ministry. This closes the various aspects of the Lord Jesus, completely blotting out Judaism, viewed as resting in a system of law and ordinances, as looking to a Messiah with present ease, and as hoping for the display of Messianic glory then in the world. His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next. The original Greek word, apeithn, means "rejecting belief," "refusing obedience," or "refusing to be convinced.". Here the unlimited scene is in view; not Israel, but the world. This was necessary for the kingdom of God; not for some special place of glory, but for any and every part of God's kingdom. How, indeed, could it be stayed within narrow limits? This implies that he is now under the wrath of God, or under condemnation. God cannot require for justification (whether initial or "final") both a faith that works and a faith that does not work or is apart from works. 42). There is the nicest care to maintain His personal glory, no matter what the subject may be. What Does John 3:16 Mean - Lord's Guidance The evangelist has used this encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus to bring forth some important points. Yet thousands choose to remain in this state, and to encounter alone all that is terrible in the wrath of Almighty God, rather than come to Jesus, who has borne their sins in his own body on the tree, and who is willing to bless them with the peace, and purity, and joy of immortal life. Observe, it is not (as is often very erroneously said or sung) a question of sins, but of the "sin" of the world. For the astonishing thought is, not merely that Jesus receives the Holy Ghost without measure, but that God gives the Spirit also, and not by measure, through Him to others. So in the baptism with the Holy Ghost, who would pretend to such a power? (ver. Indeed, it is the total eclipse, not merely of law and remedial mercies, but even of promised Messianic glory, by everlasting life and resurrection at the last day. This brings all to a point; for the woman says, "I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things." The incarnate Word was here full of grace and truth. (VersesJohn 7:33-36; John 7:33-36) Jesus was returning to Him that sent Him, and the Holy Ghost would be given. (c) Shall not enjoy. Matthew, Mark, and Luke start, as far as regards the public labours of the Lord, with John cast into prison. His life "is hid with Christ in God." It seemed natural: He had fed the poor with bread, and why should not He take His place on the throne? John the Baptist's work complete (John 3:22-36)While Jesus and his disciples were preaching and baptizing in Judea, John the Baptist was spending the closing days of his ministry preaching and baptizing further north, in the region of the Jordan Valley (John 3:22-24).Some of John's disciples were becoming jealous of Jesus' popularity, and John had to . Quite the contrary! This is confirmed further by John the Baptist's statement in John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not (apeitheo) the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." The word "apeitheo" is understood by all good translators and commentators to mean obedience. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. If a man looks at the Lord Jesus as One who entered the world in a general way, and calls this the incarnation, he will surely stumble over the cross. Except one were born of water and of the Spirit, he could not enter the kingdom of God. He who owns the reality of Christ's incarnation, receives most thankfully and adoringly from God the truth of redemption; he, on the contrary, who stumbles at redemption, has not really taken in the incarnation according to God's mind. He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections. Coming after John as to date, He is necessarily preferred before him in dignity; for He was ( ) [not come into being ( )] before Him. Therefore, it seems to me, He adds verse 24. John 4:1-54 presents the Lord Jesus outside Jerusalem outside the people of promise among Samaritans, with whom Jews had no intercourse. hath everlasting life; he has it in Christ his head, in whom he believes; he has a right unto it through the justifying righteousness of Christ, and a meetness for it by his grace; he has it in faith and hope; he has the beginning of it in the knowledge of Christ, and communion with him; he has some foretastes of it in his present experience; and he has the earnest and pledge of it in his heart, even the blessed Spirit, who works him up for this selfsame thing: and he that believeth not the Son; that does not believe Christ to be the Son of God, or Jesus to be the Messiah; or rejects him as the Saviour; who lives and dies in a state of impenitence and unbelief: shall not see life; eternal life; he shall not enter into it, and enjoy it; he shall die the second death. There is for him a present possession, which shall also remain. It will abide or dwell there as its appropriate habitation. The Meaning of John 3:16 KJV & NIV This is the essence of Christianity and the most quoted scriptures in the bible. The judgment, all of it, whether for quick or dead, is consigned to Him, because He is Son of man. Thus in one way or the other all must honour the Son. (See on [1777]Joh 3:18 and [1778]Joh 5:24).shall not see lifeThe contrast here is striking: The one has already a life that will endure for everthe other not only has it not now, but shall never have itnever see it.abideth on himIt was on Him before, and not being removed in the only possible way, by "believing on the Son," it necessarily remaineth on him! Footnotes. Verse of the Day , God, My Praise (Study In God - All I Need-19). Since God is the one who grants that we believe (Phil. Gospel of John of the New Testament, Chapter 3, Verse 16 Accordingly, if the law raised the question of righteousness in man, the cross of the Lord Jesus, typifying Him made sin, is the answer; and there has all been settled to the glory of God, the Lord Jesus having suffered all the inevitable consequences. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that disobeys the Son, in the sense of not being subject to His person, "shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" Such is the issue of the Son of God present in this world an everlasting one for every man, flowing from the glory of His person, the character of His testimony, and the Father's counsels respecting Him. If He put forth His power, it was not only beyond man's measure, but unequivocally divine, however also the humblest and most dependent of men. A greater work was in hand; and this, as the rest of the chapter shows us, not a Messiah lifted up, but the true bread given He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world; a dying, not a reigning, Son of man. There was purpose in it. John 3:28-30 On this basisJohn 7:1-53; John 7:1-53 proceeds. If His time was not yet come, their time was always ready. "And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Life out of death was wanted by man, such as he is; and this the Father is giving in the Son. First, Jesus is visited at night by a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who is curious about His teachings. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. John is not saying that Christ in himself is not already as great intrinsically as he could possibly be. Such is God's vindication of His outraged rights; and the judgment will be proportionate to the glory that has been set at nought. What is there in God more truly divine than grace and truth? It is no question here of every man, but of such as believe. The Jews, with all their privileges, were strangers here.