THE DANGEX OF GOD'S LOVE - John 3:16-21
IN THE LITERATUR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THE FOUR GOSP4L5 STAND OUT AS THU FOUNDA
TION OF CUR FAITH. BUT SVEN IN TISSE FOUR THERE ARE GREAT DIEFERENCHS IN THE APPROACH

TO AND ANNOUNCEMANT OF THE CHRISTIAN NaSSAGH, MATTH'wW, MARK AND LUKS AR CALLED THE

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SYNOPTIGGOSP4LS: THAT IS THs THREX GIVE SYNOPSIS OK oo RiViEW OF THe LIF AND

THACHING OF OUR LORD, GENERALLY SPHAKING THEY AGREs ON ALL MAJOR POINTS, THY TLL THs

SAM STORY AND DIERIR GREATLY ONLY IN STYLe AWD HE!

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ASSIS.) JTHH FOURTH GOSPEL, HowaVek,

IS DIVFPSRENT. IF LOOKED AT AS A BIOGRAPHY OX A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF JaSUS' MINGSSTRY

ITS INADEQUACI®S ARE APPARGNT. / 8 ARS INSTANCES Wilinwu IT STANDS IN OUTRIGHT

CONTRADICTION TO THis SYNOPTIC GOSPALS, IT WAS WRITTEN MUICH LATHER THAN THE OTHaR
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THREE, PROBABLY AROUND THE YHAR 110 sof full eighty years after JeSUS! wnaseat /

WHAT MAKES IT 30 VishR¥ IMPORTANT TO US AND TO ALL OF CHATSTIANITY I5 ITS EDITORT AL

NOTHS. TH WRITS? DID NOT INTEND TO «RITE A BIOGRAPHY, HE WAN'T SATTSriav WITH THs
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BLUNT FACTS | He WAS SO MOVZ) BY HIS TAS THAT Hi FOUND HWIMS&LF COMPELLAD TO ADD HIS

INTERPRETA TL ais,| HIS EDITORIALS TO THA TEXAT/AND Wit ARS THs BATTHR FOR THAb / IT 15

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THS THI) CHAPTE OF JOHN YAGINS WITH AN ACCOUNT Or NICODSMUS TALKING wITH

JESUS, A STORY THAT MAY BE FOUND Iv ALL THE GOSPELS. NICODUNUS WAS A PHaitiSos, Al
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BOUCATED ANDOEVCUT LEADER OF THS JEwIsH CoM ovr. fas A TRACHI§t AND A Mas bin OF THE
——————— ——

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THS INTSLLIGENTIA HE PELT IT HIS RESPONSILILITY TO AT LeAsT TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE

exyises

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THLMKING OF THIS STRANGER FROM GALILEA. HIS INQUIRIES WERE NOT THE RESULT OF ONE

WHO CAME IN HUMTLITY BUT MERELY A CRULOUS INTLLECTUAL, WHO DESIRe&D THs FURTHSR
UNDERSTANDING OF A Nv THOUGHT SY¥5 Tas,

TO HIS QUESTIONS JESUS EXPLAINS THAT HIS GOSPEL DEHALDS A REBIRTH, A RENEWAL
OF THE SPIRIT, BUT THIS NICODEWUS CANNOT cornea. | ni CAN THIS ner Hi ASKS.

WHETHBR HS ZVER UNJERSTOOD, WHETHER HE BECAME A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST OR R:TURNED TO

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HIS HOME UNAFFECTED WE ARB NOE TOLD.* FOR AT VERSE 15 THE STORY #NDS AND THi EDITORIAL
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BEGINS.

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THE WRITER C ANNO IN HIMSELF ANY LONGER. TI) 2 Ate SIBLE NICODMUS, LIK 50

MANY, HAS FATLED TO GRASP THS MOST IMPORTANT OF AL. OONGEPTS, TOXERAS THE LOVE O1 Goo.

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THE WRITER STOPS AND REFLECTS AND THEN (HEEEES A PASSAGE THAT IS HASILY OWN. OF THE

MOST INSPIRING IN THE WHOLE NEW TESTAMA&NT.
"FOR GO.) SO LOVED TH2 WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HLS ONLY BON, THAT wHOAVSR BLL AV aS

IN HU SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAV® STSRNAL LIFE" AND SO GN THROUGH VERSE 21.

MARTIN LUTHSR CALLED THIS ONS VERSE THS "GOSPEL IN MINATURK" AND THAT 1T TRULY

Is. IN OM@ SENTENCE WE FIND THE LOV# OF GOD, REDEEMPTIUN IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST,

AND THE POSSIBILETY OF ETERNAL LIFS. IF WE HAD TO BOIL IT DOwN I THINK We COULD DO

NO RSTTER THAN JOHN 3716.

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BUT THIS Iv2A THaT GOD LOVES TH! WORLD IS NOT WITHOUT PXObLMHS, AS BASIC AS IT

MAY BE. FOR CENTURTISS 1uiN HAVE WONDERED HOw POSSIBLY COULD GO) LOVE THER? is if He
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Pa WHY DIJNIT HS MAKE IT A LITTLE CLEARER? “THe APOSTLE) PAUL WAS QVERWHELMED BY THE

THOUGHT, HAQRE MORE THAN ANY OTHHit HE WAS AWARE OF MAN Ip SIN AND DEPRAVITY, OF

MAN'S INABILITY TO Do oon fas HE RAALTZED THAT THROUGH IT ALL GOU STILL LOVES IT
WAS A PROPOUND INSIGHT,*AN INSIGHT TO WHICH He DEVOTED HiS LIFE.

MARTIN LUTHER TOO WAS PUZZLED WITH GOv'S FAITHFUL AND PATI“NT LOVE THAT wxTanveD

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TO uVaN THE MOST Mi SERATLS SINNER, TO QUOTE Him AGAIN HE ONCE sano LW AS

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OUR LOR) Gov, AND THESE PHOPLS AS DISOREDIUNT AS THey NOW BE, I WOULD KNOCA THs

WORLD TO Pluss." :
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THe MOR’ Wit THiNK ABOUT IT THE MOR., PERPEEXING IT BECON#S. wi LOOK AT TH \s vk ah |

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WORLD, AND THE MGSS OF VARS AND HATRED THAT BEM HAVE CRaA TID: Wi Taka A LOOK AT

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OURS *IVS3 HOW SSLPLSH AND Petty wi CAN BE, ALD WH WONDER, = HOW Can IT Bie THAT GOD

LOVES Mg?" HOw CAN He LOVE THIS MESS wE HAVE MAD# OF MANKinu AND HIS woro2/' JUST
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SBMS IMPOSSIZLE THAT A LOVE SO PATIENT AlD LONG SUPFERING CAN SxIsT.

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—— OF THY OTHER HAND WH CAN ASK TH! QUESTION, IF Gov LOV 5.3 US WHY DOBSN'T HE PROVE IT?
-——~ WHY DOSSN'T GOD MAK THIS LIPS A PSACHPUL,” JOY FILLED © saucy. IF Hi Is ALL POwEREUL
“Ft d oy } < i a
AND AL LOVING WHY HAS Hs ALLO TS) Veo ee ey) SO MUCH SUFFERING IN OUR MIDST?

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OF COURS WE POINT TO THS CROSS AS OUR PROOF OF A HEAVENLY rATH&R'S LOVE. ~ BUT

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WHAT DOES A CROSS MEAN TO A SKSPTIC, OR TO US, WHEN Wi DEMAND CONCRET, CONTEHPORARY

PR@OF THAT Wis ARI cme! HERSIN LIES THE BEAUTY OF OUR FAITH, AND Tis TRUE SIGAIM*

ANCHE OF WHAT HAPPEISD OF casas GOD DID HOT SEM) A CONJUBROR TO MNFORCE THE

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KINGDO:! OF HGAVEN, HE DID NOT AND DOES NOT SEND A DANY OF AN. BLS TO BE OUR LEGSILATORS,

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WOLX OREM NOTXKEN XX MAAR GRAN SEEKER AAU HE DONS NOT CIs HIS POWER TO MAKE

QUR LIVES BLISSFUL AND HAPPY. INST#A0 HE GAVE US A SON i A MAN WHO LIVED AMONG Mih:
sees ais ed

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A MAN WHO SHARWD IN ALL THE ASPSCTS OF OUR LI “| pos SON OF GOD, JESUS Cokist, ANEW

GRIP AND rag H’ WAS HAPPY AND SAD] HE was JOYPUL AND PISAPPOINTED HE Was IN

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COMPLST2 COMMUNION WITH THIS LIYS, SHARING ALL ITS FACWTS, SUFFERING ALL ITS GLOWS, rei

EVEN ITS TisMINATL on. f 480 IN AND THROUGH IT ALL HE POINTED TH wWAY.- IN HIS LIFE "7

WE HAVE SEEN THAT WS CAN DO 28TTER, IN HIS TEACHINGS we HAVE LEARNED WHAT GOD WILLS
i edbecadt elle tabi Hirt (Ad

FOR US TO DO. THERS TS NOTHING EIR ACULOUS OR ITMPOSoIL. Li ABUUT IT BECAUSE HE Too 0. a ny
ar
WAS 4 MAN. THIS IS A lOVs THK TIS FAR DEEPER THAN A LOVs THAT GIVBS US EVERYTHING
‘cinta ied | SR are ee
WE DESIRE, THIS IS A LOV# THAT CAR ONLY SPRING FROM GOD.
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DURL NG THE SECOND WORLD WAR A NawSPAPahR COLUMINST 9 Saé8D TO GAPTURS THa SFISLT

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OF J sacetstcraL LOY iN AN ARTI cu x VBNT LIKE THIS, 7¥IN A DAY OF TH WORLD'S

DRSPMRATION PEOPLE GIVE THEIR MuANS, THEIR TIME, THeIR STRENGTH, EVEN THEIR BOY ON

Be
WHOM THEIR HOPSS AR# CENTERED, MAXING NO LFFORT TO HOLD HIM BACK, PREPARED TO RUN
VEN THAT RISK:. FESLING THAT FOR THE SHANCIPATION OF THS, HULTITUWES SnSLAVED OR
THREATENED, AND FOR THE UPHOLUING oF TOTTSRING HUMAN LISERTIES, “VEN THAT PRICE IS

NOT TOO VAST. ALL THAT THSY PAY DOWN, UNFLINCHINGLY, AnD HAVING PALD,IT, SIT NOw

IW AN SHPTISD HOka." |

TIS 1S PERHAPS Tis 3 ST HUMAN ANA CLKES TO TH PASTG TENENT OF JOHN 3:16, (won

GOD SC LOVED THS WORLD THAT H# GAVE HIS ONLY SON." )

ONS OF THES BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCKS IN OUR UNJERSTANDI 'G OF GOD'S LOvil IS OUR IDEA

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ABOUT Tits WILL OF Gon, | If IS HARD TO TiaGINs GOv LOVING MANKIND IF Ha wILLS TH.T
~ 4 '

W% SHOUL) BE AFFLICTED WITH WARs, DIStass AND | IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CUMPRIE*

HEND A LOVING GOW JHO ALLOWS -TLLIONS Ob DBATHS IN GLOBAL CONFLICT. FOR CENTURISS AND
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DECADES CHRIGE AN THINKERS HAVE ALLOWED THE CONCEPT OF PREDESTINATION TO LOUD
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THSIk THEORISS. [resin D TO ITS LOGICAL BND PREDESTINAUTION MSANS THAT ALL THINGS ARs

FOR-CRDAINSD, PLANNED AS A PART/ OW TITS UPHRATING DIVING WILL. THIS INCLUDES WARS AHS,

——

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SUFFERING, JEATH, sasnasef Tf MANS HAPPINSSS FOR SMe AND MIS Gay FOR OTHERS / KE

MENNS THAT LF YOU OR I WSRS TO WALK INTO THs PATHS! OF A SPERUING CARAT T WAS GOv'S
Th means afl K 49°47
tli ALT THIS KIND OF THINKING IT IS NO WOkUMR wH HAVE TROUBLS COMPRSHER DING

GOD'S woie.| ZVEN TODAY THERE ARE MANY whO FIND TLS CUNTRA: JICTORY BELIEF MSANINGIUL.

6.

IN SOMS CIRCLES IN HY OWN OBNOMINATLON, PSSp¥TEITAN, THE DELI“? THAT THEME Ans

anid
WO CLASSES OF PEOPDE STILL PERSISTS. THERE ARE THE SLeR, /THE ONMS GOD H«S CHOSEN

FOR SALVATION, wHO CAN DO %B NOTHING TO CHANG: {15 MIND: AND ON THE OTHER HAND
e tem of Dere<
THE® ARS THE DAMN GD WHO BY GOD'S GHOO SIT ARE IMLUNE PROM SALVATION AND ALTHOUGH

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T4=Y MAY LEAD THE LIPS OF A SAINT THEY CAN Ih Wh EAEIGL PATE IN THE KINGDOM

OF GD. / PROM HERS THE CONCEPT OF GOD'S WLLL DETERIORATES BVH POSTED TO _ AF

T HAVE IN MIND AN ILLUSTRATLON THAT I CANNOT RESIST USING. ABBR Pert’ GO
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LReeserven Ty THE TALL A GIFT SLLSCREPTEON-TO"A WEEKLY PUBLICATION -# ROM wHoATON
ey, ean

LEMOES-GH-MM"THE SNORD OF THE L-RD. IN EACH ISSUH THERE ARE ACCOUNTS OF THE WILL

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, ys OF Gov IN OPERATION pre puistavcaf A TAVERN OWNER IS SHOT DOWN IN A RUBBERY ATTSuPT —
v A f, THAT WAS GOD'S aato,/ OR TH! RUCHNT DEATH_OF PURDUZ'S GYLDEN GIRL, A 22 YeAR OLJ
se/k pightovs Giragare. - Le -fincdaneePe ( Dery bee

AU ALL OUT_O-FENSTVS-AGAENS?- Tissier RIGHTEOUS nna I MakTION THuSi BAAMPLES,
Sa

HOWSVGR, ONLY TO ILLUSTR ATS HOw VERY FAR WE HAV STRAYZD FROM THE IDMA OF A GOD
tal

4HO S O LOVED THE WORLD THAT Hi GAVE HIS 50
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MEN YAY ALWAYS TRLED TO SES THE WILL OF Gov IN JARS AND GREAT POLITICAL UPH#AVALS.

TT IS AMUSING TO READ THs EDITORIALS OF A "HIDJLS OF THE ROAD" BERLIN NeWwSPAPER FROM

eel = = ————
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IT WELCOMED TH TREATY OF VERSATLLUS AS THE DUE PUNLSHMENT Por THE OLD
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PRUSSIAN MILITARISH/SUIMLY THE HAND OF Gov IN aCTLON. IN 1938 AFTER THE NAZI RIsi
Teen ——

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TO POWER IT SAW IN ADOLF HITLER GOO AUC GHTY PURGING THE NATLON AND ALL OF EUROPE

FOR ITS INIQUITY. / IN 19% THE PAP#2 CALLAD THE ALLIES GOD SENT NSSSANGERS OF

PSACR, LIPERATING Il! THa NAMS OF CHRISTIAN JUUTICH. / x TODAY, IN THa RUSSIAN SwCTOR,

THS PAPER ASSURWS ITS READERS THAT GOD'S OWN_WILL IS IN OPSRATION CHasTISLNG THs

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THINK THEY ARS DUETOUS ON TH GROUNDS THAT IF THE LORD GoD HaS POLITICAL Vimws I AM

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SURB HE ISN'T THAT FICaii,

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THE POINT IS THAT MANKIND HAS TRIAD TO S£e GOD'S WiLL AS AN SXPLANATION POR
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ALL OF LIFS'S PROSLEMS ANU IN SO DOING HAS MADE IT NIGh jLHPOSUT BLE TO #COGHI 4 TH

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BASIC CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF GOD AS LOVE. [

7) UNOMRS SAND WS MUS GO BACK TO TH DAGINNING, TO GOD'S CREATION OF HAN. GOD

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CREATZO BICAUSS HS LOVED / AND Hi GREATS) A BEING WITH DEGAILTY. HE DID NOT FaASHLON

MAN SO THAT HB COULD HAVE RAMOPE CONTROL TOYS THAT DID ONLY HIS somal ON THE

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MAN IS ENDOWBD WITH FREE WILL, THE ANLLITY To Maka HIS OWN cxorca/t0 wHLGH Aiud

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TIS FRESDOM IS THE MOST WONDERFUL AND AT THE SAw# TIME THE 10ST DANGEROUS

OF ALL OF GOD'S GIFTS TO MAN, BECAUSS OF IT WE AR R SPONSIBLS FOR OUR LIVES, NOT Gui,
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BHCAUSS OF IT Wi ARK RESPONSISL's POR WHAT HAPP#NS IN Tig WOltw.
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A PROMINGNT THIOLCGIAN (N. BERDYAEYY HAS PUT IT BLUNTLY WHEN He SAID, IF Ha

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SO PLSASUS MAN 15 FRE TO CHUS# Hil..."

GOD 50 LOVED THaT HS CR&AT@D MAN WITH FResvOK OF BeNOR GOD SO LOVeD TH wORLD

—

THAT H2 GAVE HIS SON. THS FREEDOM Is STLLL THauk, THS RESPONGIB LITY 15 ENTIneLY

ous,/ WB AR: } COMPLETELY FREES TO ACCEPT THIS GIFT, OR LIKES NIGODEMUS PROBABLY DID

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We CAN TURN OUR BACKS AND RETURN MOM#@ MAKING NO_SiNSE OF THIS GALILSAN.

THIS IS R#AL DANGE’, AND WHEN wa CON THMPLATS THE GRAIG WUUDS OF TH+ GOSPEL

Of JOHN Wi MUST NOT FORGET IT.

GOD LOV#) US ENOUGH TO GIVS US FR&s “DOI. TO TO CHOOSE. [HE LOVE) US H.OUGH TU_OFTER

ETURNAL LL’ IN JESUS GHAIST. HE Has GIVEN HIS AuL, H1g LOVS HaS BaTin J) TO THE

YePTHS OF HANCINO./ ITIS OUR RESPONSLPLLITY TH SteRCISB oli PRosbG. AND TU MAKa THe

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