Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Actual Possession or Conditional Possibility?


Hello Mark,

Hello, I stumbled upon your nice web site. I read this statement that stirs a question in my mind,
"Our vision is to help people understand the will of God in their life through knowing the heart of God and His love for them in His word found in the Bible. (John 3:16 is the scripture that illuminates our vision)"

If John 3:16 is the Scripture that illuminates your vision, then you would have a firm grasp of truth of this passage. In that light, I would ask something on John 3:16.

In your understanding, is 'whosoever believes.... have everlasting life' in John 3:16:
i. A statement of truth declaring that whosoever believes DOES SO because he HAS everlasting life? (This would presuppose that only one whom God have given everlasting life is capable to believe, spiritual life is prerequisite of spiritual activity like believing. Life must precede the activities of that life.)

or

ii. A statement of condition offering eternal life to whosoever will believe? (A statement of condition would have to read as, "whosoever will believe... shall have everlasting life.")
(This would require that those who are without everlasting life is capable of performing spiritual activities like believing in order to obtain everlasting life.)

Let me illustrate with a similar statement saying 'whosoever breathes... have life.'

Is this making a statement of truth that declares whosoever breathes does so because he has life?
(This is stating the obvious truth... a person who breathes POSSESSES life that animates the breathing.)

Or

Is it making a statement of condition that offers life to whosoever will breathe?
(This would require that the offer of life is made to a person who is not breathing and is dead, thus requiring him to meet the condition of breathing, in order to be given life.)

What do you think?

This question on John 3:16 strikes me because in my English class we were taught to distinguish statements that declare certain facts from statements that make certain conditional offers.

I would be most grateful if you could share your understanding of John 3:16.
I genuinely wish to understand how teachers of God's word differ or agree on this popular passage. Please help me to understand better. Thanks.
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