Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
With a new look
“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die,” (John 3:16 Contemporary English Version).
Now, as instructed, I’m going to take that piece by piece and explain something to you about that verse, something that you may not have seen before. But don’t knock yourself on the head for missing it, many have missed it, I just got it myself.
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First, “God loved the people of this world.” These are the very people who ridiculed, mistreated, maligned, spat on, hated in every respect and believed against God and His gift. How could anyone love people that much that he would forgive all of that hatred toward him? But, God did. Think about it and dwell on it for a little while, then dry your tears because He forgave you. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Not just have done, but do.
“And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me,’” (Matthew 25:40 Holman Christian Standard Bible). I submit to you that Jesus was not just talking about other believers or other Jews, but the people of the world, whom God loved.
Second part, “that He gave His only Son.” A person who gives his son is giving himself. Now, who would actually do something like thing, give himself for someone who hates him and actually believes against him? But, God did. From Romans 5:8, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” But, there is a plan; He does want something from us, from and for us. Ya see, we were sinners when he died for us. Now, when we make the change, we through of the old sinner nature and receive the righteousness nature.
“Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new,” (2 Corinthians 5:17 The Passion Translation).
The sinful nature, the old sinner that you were, has to do with the old order and it has vanished. You might still sin but you know to repent, a sinner doesn’t. Besides that, a sinner is a sinner because Christ isn’t there. So, if you haven’t yet made the change and been born again, do it now.
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Third part, and this is what you must do, “so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” Having faith in the Son means to totally trust Him to have your back, do what He says because He is dependable, talk about Him because He is a joy to you. In Roman 10:9 what Paul was saying is that if you have strong faith in Jesus you will confess Him as Lord, and in verse 10 he was saying that you are confessing what you believe.
“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!” (John 14:12 The Passion Translation).
In saying that, Jesus equated believing with doing. And don’t consider the greater works as for the church and not what He did. Before you are doing what Jesus did there is nothing greater. Think of it this way, greater than what?
I’m sure that you have all read John 3:16, many of you probably were told to memorize it. Well, there may be something that you missed in it, so, first let me quote it.