As we continue in this Christmas season, maybe you’re ramping up on getting Christmas gifts and you’ve already been swept under the current of consumerism.
You know, as a parent, I can get swept into consumerism because I want to be able to buy my kids everything they want. I can become upset that I can’t get them this or that thing. And I can lead my children to believe Christmas really is about presents under a tree. But praise God for this past week’s fighter verse: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” There’s a greater weight than not being able to buy presents. A real weight of God’s just punishment on sinners. In John 3, we’re told Jesus came to set us free from God’s wrath. But how can we experience the cleansing? This verse tells us. It says through believing on the Son. But notice, John also says, “whoever does not obey the Son.” John seems to be using opposite phrases to speak the same truth. In other words, to not believe is to not obey. And to obey is to believe.
This is what I think Paul means when he talks about the obedience of faith. When someone comes to Christ for forgiveness and reconciliation with God – God counts that obedience and no longer is wrath on us! Oh Ventura, let’s ponder this today: Jesus came to live, die and rise again on the behalf of sinners so that we could rejoice in God forever! This is why Jesus came. Let’s praise his name!