The Gift Of God

Written by: Janmig Niebres

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

  “The strongest thematic message in the Bible, which contains the Word of God, is God's love. Everything revolves around God's love. God, who created the universe by His Word, is the source of love, which is love in its truest, purest and perfect form.”

  Many religious sects in the Philippines interpret the Bible in many ways. They differ in their interpretations of the way to salvation. There are those who claim that only by good works can men find salvation. There are those who say that faith alone, even without manifestation of good works or love, results in salvation. There are those who say that only those who work miracles by the Holy Spirit are truly saved.

  For this, be warned. Not all men who preach the Word of God, no matter how eloquent they may sound, or do miracles beyond logical comprehension have found salvation. Neither wisdom nor power to cast out demons is an assurance of salvation.

  Only those who love truly are assured of salvation. Unless a man loves God and the people around him, he is not saved. How can anyone proclaim himself saved if he does not love his brother?

  In the love of God, let us come to an understanding of His Word. When asked what the Bible is about, many people could not readily respond. What is the Bible about? The Bible is about God's love. While it is true that the Bible speaks about sin and forgiveness or death and salvation, this is because of one Biblical truth: God's love.

  By His love, He sent Jesus Christ to the world. God brought a true expression and demonstration of His love into the world by the offering of His Son. Jesus Christ came to awaken humanity out of its sleep of death. He came to bring life and righteousness; He came to put an end to Adam's unregenerate humanity by being the firstborn of a new humanity. By faith in Jesus Christ we are born again - not into the material world, but into the spiritual realm of Christ's rule and dominion! We receive Christ's pure mind that wants to do the will of God. We receive His love!

  God's love does NOT rejoice with the behavior and unbelief of Adam's generation. God is passionately against all unrighteousness. His love wants the best for us, and His best is His thinking and His nature! That is why we are exhorted to put off the old man, and to put on the new. As Christ was in this world, so we are to be in this world. We are to walk in the Spirit, that is, to walk in Christ's divine nature. Our walk includes our everyday life experiences, our business dealings, our friendships, our pleasures, and all our interactions with people. All have to come under the control of the Holy Spirit.