John 3:16-21

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.”

— ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭21‬‬ 

There’s debate over where Jesus stops talking and John or the author begins explaining. I think v 16 is as good a guess as any but Jesus could go all the way through v 21. Or v 18…now this is the basis. Most of these verses certainly sound like something Jesus would say, but I’m sure scholars would nitpick exact wording here and there.

“In this way” is a huge translation issue in the verse, and this is correct. Versions that have “so loved” confuse people that this is about magnitude or quantity of love. God wasn’t filled with so much emotion that He had no choice…at least that’s not what John 3:16 is saying. It says God loved the world in this way: He gave His son. Similar to Romans 5:8. God demonstrates His love in that Christ died for us.

One and only.  Begotten is also mistranslation based on misunderstanding of Greek words and spelling. One and only is better but since believers are also children, I prefer the emphasis on Jesus as unique son. One of a kind. 

So that is purpose or result. Everyone who believes. Not the time for a predestination debate, and it wouldn’t really matter. Even in the most strict Calvinist belief system belief is necessary. So this is still true. Everyone who believes will gain life. (See more about the phrases that John equates with “believing” in my paper on John 6, 13, 15. Belief is definitely not a one time thing for John.)

Debate over the word perish. Annihilationists do have good arguments. I’m just not there, and I can’t base a belief system on what a word might mean. I would need to do more synchronic word studies for it and then look at how it’s used contextually. 

The real emphasis here is the good not the bad. Believers gain life and won’t perish. They won’t be condemned. It’s as if the assumption is these are what’s to be expected as standard. But believers are exempt and gain something else entirely.

World is also an odd word for John. The world should be saved. I can’t buy universalism either. Is this only the people on the earth or this more of the cosmos than we give John credit for? Maybe not since his other uses focus on people, and the chapter talks about belief, but the relationship between Jesus death being “for” all/the world and at the same time “applied” to believers has always been fuzzy to me.

What makes this more difficult is John’s apparent two uses of “world” even in this passage. God loved the world. But then the light came to the “world,” but “people” did not receive it. So world is not people here, just like “his own places” is not “his own people” in John 1:12. We have to be very careful and nuanced as we work through John because he loves double meanings, and he loves to use pronouns/adjectives where a noun would be helpful.

And since most people love to debate predestination and limited atonement and stuff like that (I’ve grown away from such passions), perhaps the best conclusion (if there is such a thing) is to take the author for what he says. So John emphasizes believing and personal choice throughout his gospel. People stand condemned (here) because they are not believing Jesus is God. But absolutely, once you dig into John, you find verses like “No one comes to the Father unless the Spirit draws him.” This is why I find no thrill in the debates anymore. Sovereignty wins the day for me, but people must still believe. Does that make it absolutely free will? Sure.

John consistently says the only criteria for judgment or life is belief in Jesus as son of God. Even his epistles will echo statements like this.

Good and evil deeds also sound like 1 John 3 or even 3 John where John is talking about supporting traveling teachers. I don’t think that example applies here but it’s similar language. The weird thing is that all we see in Jesus’ ministry is “sinners” coming to Jesus. I thought they hated the light. They got exposed time and time again.

John is known for that phrase “practicing good” and “practicing evil” from 1 John 3. Once confronted with truth, we have the choice to repent/confess and turn to “light” or we can continue to practice evil and hide. I’m guessing John’s themes are that those sinners in the gospels came to Jesus because they sought true healing.

But it’s deeper than that, perhaps because for John (again) he’s usually focused on one of two things: loving one another, or as we have already see in this passage, confessing Jesus as God. And both of these things lead to seeking “holiness.”

So doing good is probably related to understanding the truth about Jesus first. Then we can live in the community He has called us to.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8

“Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions. Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.”

“So remember your Creator in the days of your youth – before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain; when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim, and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint, and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up – because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets – before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern – and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it. “Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher, “All of these things are futile!””

‭‭ ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭12:8

Rejoice while you are young. Follow impulses of your heart. But know that God will bring you into judgment.

The point is not that following your impulses is necessarily bad. The point is that while doing whatever you want, realize that all you think and do will be evaluated by a holy and righteous God. There are boundaries and moral standards. 

Banish or remove vexation/emotional stress from your heart. Remove pain from your body. Youth/being young is a passing thing. Enjoy it while you can.

Remember God! Meaning obeying Him and acknowledging His Lordship.

Nerd moment: Verses 1-7 are one really long sentence. It’s actually that way in Hebrew, too. 

Difficult days probably refers to physical difficulty: injury, pain, suffering. He’s been talking about youth the whole time.

So many metaphors for old age in this passage: Clouds disappear after rain, because rain forms the clouds. We like clouds, they’re pretty. They make beautiful sunsets. But once “life” happens—the rain and the storms—there’s no more clouds. 

Those who used to be strong and bold. In old age, they become scared and timid. Strong men are now bent.

Grinders: Women who would go to the mill and grind corn or wheat into flour. So there are fewer of them. But what this is really talking about is teeth. The word also refers to molar that grind food and as those become fewer, less grinding takes place.

Those who look through windows: Failing eyesight. 

Awake by the sound of a bird and when the mill grows low. They can’t get a full night’s sleep because every little sound wakes them up.

All the daughters of song are brought low, really means “all their songs grow faint.” Musical songs during youth or even the ability to hear songs that are sung. Loss of hearing.

Don’t want to go outside

Almond blossoms go from pink to white when ripe: also a symbol of white hair

Grasshopper becomes its own burden

Desire fails—actually refers to a special berry, this has something to do with sexuality, but I didn’t do too much research here. 

Eternal home: Grave for the body; sheol for the soul. Place for dead souls. Now we know that when you die, if you have believed in Jesus, your soul is present with Him. You will get a new body at the final resurrection. Ecclesiastes isn’t concerned with that. All of that wasn’t revealed, yet. Everyone is going to die and decay, and that’s his point.

Dust returns to earth, and life’s breath returns to God who gave it. 

So what should we do? Remember God while you’re young. Enjoy your youth. 

vv. 13-14. Fear God and Keep his commandments. He will hold us accountable. He is the sovereign lawgiver. What’s the point of life? Is it to get rich? Is it to build an empire? Is it to work 80 hour work weeks? Is it to have 300 friends or followers or likes or shares on social media? 

If you think so, then reread this book. Go read Proverbs. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your youth. Because even that is vanity. It’s fading.

But there are things that you can do now that you won’t be able to do in the future. Will you do them? There are ideas and passions and dreams that you can do now that you’ll forget 10/15 years from now. How can you fulfill them? And I’m talking for God’s kingdom. Other stuff is fine, too, but I’m focused on this right now.

Remember your Creator in your youth.

Malachi 2:17-3:6

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion, and he delights in them,” or “Where is the God of justice?””

‭‭ ““I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the Lord who rules over all. Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering. The offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past. “I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the Lord who rules over all. “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.”

‭‭-Malachi 2:17-3:6

Do you ever get tired of people? (I know, silly question). Why or how often? Ok, so obviously tired is more of a synonym for angry or annoyed.

Here’s a question: Do you ever think God thinks the same way for any reason? Does God get tired of people? Now let’s just say, if I were God, and I sent a flood of water, I don’t think I could make that rainbow promise. “I may just have to wipe you all out again if this gets too crazy. Don’t be stupid.” But really, does God look at us as a society and just get tired of handling us?

There may be a couple places in the Bible where you may be able to see something like that going on, but there’s hundreds of places where you can point to His mercy and patience offering forgiveness or waiting for people to repent before He judges them. 

Malachi 2 is one of those places where we see a balance of these ideas (keep in mind throughout this that God is talking to Israel post-exile, and the Old Covenant is still in place.) Of course, this would be figurative language, but it carries a huge lesson for us, one that we need to hear regularly. 

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

This is not saying that Israel is labeling sins and bad things as good things, or that their sense of morality is changed, although if you read the previous passage and sections of Haggai and Zechariah, you would find that to be true. The phrase, “in the sight of the Lord” lets us know that Israel is claiming that those who do evil are seen as “good” to God or “ok” or even “pleasing” to God. 

This is confirmed in the follow up question, “Where is the God of justice?” There’s all these evil people running around, and they look like they’re doing just fine. Meanwhile, we the people of God have economic problems, political problems, social problems, we have more orphans and widows and poor people among us than others. We have fewer freedoms than others. We have less money and land than others. Flip over to Chapter 3, v. 14-15 really quickly. Here’s what they’re saying. “It is a vain thing to serve God…”. We might as well turn evil, because it works out better for them in the end. 

And this line of reasoning goes even one step further if you’re Israel. Not only have you now accused your God of blessing and prospering and accepting the sinner’s lifestyle. Not only have you attacked His character by doubting His attributes of justice and righteousness. But you have looked at your current situation, as dreary as it may be (now remember I’m talking Israel, here, not us, yet), and claimed yourself to be completely innocent, placing full blame on God as breaking His promises. They thought that they deserved blessings from God, so when they received rebuke and punishment, they complained of injustice, ignoring their sin and placing blame elsewhere. 

And so, yes, it “wearied” the Lord. It made Him tired. Now, it was not in a physical sense or an emotional sense as a result of running a marathon or dealing with stress of a crazy life or tragic situation. This word obviously can mean those things, but that’s not the sense here. It implies prolonged, unpleasant activity that is about to stop. It means that God’s patience and endurance of their rebellion is about to end. Their desire for justice is about to happen. They are finally going to receive what they wanted, and they may not like it.

3 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Be careful what you wish for. You may want justice in this world, but God always begins discipline of His children, first. And in this passage, we see it even begins with the leadership, which makes sense, since early sections of Malachi 2 hammer them pretty good. There are four predictions in these first six verses, all of which can be summarized as a messenger comes to announce the arrival of the Lord. And when the Lord comes, He comes to judge and purify the priests and then the people.

Now look at v. 2 again. This is so common an idea when God shows up in these judgment theophanies. Theophany means an appearance of God. The obvious answer to who can stand before the Lord is … Uh, no one. No one who has been complaining about all the bad people having a blessed life and all the good people being punished can withstand judgment because when God shows up in perfect justice and righteousness, guess what, Israel? You are not innocent. Even in Malachi, we see that they were leaving their wives, offering cheap sacrifices. Well, look at v. 5.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. 

Seems to me that whatever Israel’s complaints may have been, or whatever their situation was, and whatever judgment they receive when God does show up is warranted. This is an example of a people that throughout their entire history had a covenant with God that said obey me and I will bless you, and disobey me, and I will punish you. When they violated that covenant, God simply acted appropriately. Actually, you know what? God was unjust, in that He waited years and years to send them into exile. And here He continues to show them mercy and patience. 

I want to go back to the previous verses, though. The end of 2-4. Because God is tired of their false accusations. Their audacity of thinking He’s unjust and their guiltless. Because His patience is running out, justice is going to come. He is going to come and punish them, but to what end? Just purge them? Wipe them out like a miniature flood and start over? No, it’s going to be painful, but he’s going to be like a goldsmith, melting the gold and scraping the dross off. Then remelting it and scraping some more off. Then fuller’s soap—what’s that? It’s basically doing your laundry. Scrubbing with soap to get all their dirt off. Again, to what end? So that they can bring their offerings to the Lord again. And the offerings will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old. That’s what it’s all about, glorifying and honoring the one true God. He’s a very jealous God, but He’s not unjust or unrighteous or the cosmic bully we want to make Him out to be. V. 6 says so.

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

It’s true, Israel. I’m coming in judgment. And it’s going to stink. Starting from the top down, leaders and priests to the people, no one can stand when I come. No one can rightfully accuse me of being unjust. No one is innocent, and all must repent and turn toward righteousness. There will be punishment and judgment to endure. 

BUT!!! Unlike you who looks at a covenant made either a couple days ago and starts worshipping a golden calf or a couple thousand years ago and still can’t worship me properly, and unlike you who forgets the promises you make either to your spouse or your God or your neighbor, I am Yahweh, and I do not forget my promises. That’s the meaning of “I do not change.” 

I know what I said. I meant it. And I keep it. Therefore, you, are not consumed. You will not perish. This judgment will be intense. It will not be pleasant. You may even doubt me more, but you will not die, even though you probably deserve it. I will not wipe you out and start over. I will harness my anger, because I am faithful to my promises. I am faithful to my people. 

Did you notice how He defines the people, though? Children or sons of Jacob. Where have we seen Jacob before in Malachi? All the way at the beginning. Where God said, I loved Jacob and hated Esau. And what was the point of that lesson or the point of God saying that to Israel so early in the book?

The reason Israel was so flippant or negligent in their worship was that they doubted God’s love for them. But God uses their history of being one of two twins, with no merit of their own, to show His immense love and devotion to their nation. 

And that has been an incredible theme throughout the entire book so far. Until you realize how much God truly does love you, you will not be able to offer Him your best worship. Until you realize how much God loves you, you will not be able to serve the Lord in ministry. Until you understand that God loves you even during the difficulties you face, you will always question His faithfulness and whether those who do evil really have a better life. 

God loves you. The Almighty Holy Just, Faithful God loves you. Period. Do you believe me?

Most of you probably do. Others may have some thoughts a lot like Israel. I know He does, but He must love those drug dealers, or con men, or scheming lawyers (not the good ones haha), or the real jerks and bullies of the world a lot more. I mean, I have a lot more problems than they do.

Maybe so. But there are enough examples in the Bible to show me that asking God a question is ok. But making Him angry to where He shows up is terrifying. And making Him weary with questioning His faithfulness and justice is not something I want to do. 

And I have learned that not every situation is a direct result of sin in my life. I am not always being punished, but I am not completely innocent, either. 

Here’s what I know. This world is a horrible place of suffering, pain, evil, and I’m strictly talking because of the decisions of people, not natural disasters or diseases (that’s a separate post). I am also capable of making some very stupid mistakes. Therefore, the situation I find myself in is a result of all these daily decisions of people working together. In the middle of it all, God loves me and is orchestrating His plan for me. Somehow that includes making me holy and equipping me to lead others toward Jesus. By the way, that’s His plan for all of you, too. And He is going to be faithful to protect me from the evil one, be with me, help me, strengthen me, discipline me when I get side-tracked, forgive me, all the way from point A to point B (Christlikeness and glorification on new earth).

So do wealthy and prosperous pagans upset me? Yea. I get jealous. Does it confuse my theology? No, because God loves me, and perhaps just as important God is faithful—to what He said He would do. 

If I ever start getting too jealous or too upset with God, if I think I deserve more than my friends or even family members because they make worse decisions than I do, if I can’t get over the fact of how much God has forced me to endure—I have to go back and reflect on His love. 

Psalm 130

 “From the deep water I cry out to you, O Lord. O Lord, listen to me! Pay attention to my plea for mercy! If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you? But you are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored. I rely on the Lord, I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word. I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord, for the Lord exhibits loyal love, and is more than willing to deliver. He will deliver Israel from all the consequences of their sins.”

— ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130‬:‭1‬-‭8‬‬

Song of ascents most likely sung annually en route to Jerusalem during one of the feasts. Context of this one seems more like national forgiveness, and sounds like even post exile, though the individual element can’t be ignored. 

NET has a lot of “Hebrew” notes in here that make it sound like the original phrases are difficult to represent. The translation makes sense, though based on context and stylistic choices.

Point of Psalm is that God is merciful and without His forgiveness, the psalmist and the nation would be left in their (self-made) chaos “consequences of their sins”. 

Why? So He may be honored. Interesting. Paul will make the similar point later. What we think of as salvation is also for God’s glory.

Such a dichotomy of God being the just Judge and the merciful, eager to forgive One. “Who can stand before You” and “willing to forgive” “more than willing to deliver”. I didn’t put vs between those phrases, because God doesn’t contradict Himself. Maybe it’s our feeble minds that can’t hold those together. Maybe it’s our own experiences that don’t only comprehend God as we want to and not as He is.

Israel needed to hope in the Lord. As do I.

Matthew 6:14-15

 ““For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.”

— ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬‬

Really tough verses, and we like to water them down in certain schools of thought (particularly can’t ever lose salvation camp—that’s a different conversation than Matthew or Jesus is making here). See Matt 18 for more discussion of forgiveness, since Jesus taught on this more than once. 

If—third class condition—more probable future fulfillment. If condition is met, “then” clause is true. What bugs us is the future tense of God’s forgiveness, as if we are earning it. 

We become worried that someone on our death bed we may have one grudge we haven’t let go, or we have one ounce of anger toward someone long ago. Don’t think that’s the case.

Options:

A) This could be talking about general every day living, not the one final judgment. Our relationship with the Father will be calloused if we are bitter and resentful toward others.

B) It is speaking of the final judgment. If we have a lifestyle of grudges, bitterness, and anger, it is evidence that we have not received God’s love. The final verdict when we stand before Him will not be good. Matt 18 supports this: those who have been forgiven, forgive.

Who needs to be set free from our anger?

1 John 4:16-18

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.”

— ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬‬

By this: Goes back to v. 16 (Mutually residing in God)

So that: result of love being perfected—we have confidence on day of judgment. Day of judgment is key concept when understanding “punishment and fear” later on.

Perfect love drives out fear. Not really talking about all relationships/friendships, those with harsh pasts or reasons to have trust issues. John in both gospel and letters has grand dichotomy between his opponents/false teachers and the true believer. Number one way to demonstrate abiding in Christ or knowing God’s love: loving others. If someone did not share God’s love, in this 1st cent church, his/her doctrine would line up with heresy. John says they should fear judgment. But those who love display evidence of having received God’s love. No need to fear. 

Per NET notes: For John, opposite of perfect love isn’t imperfect love. Opposite of perfect love is hate. He deals in absolutes. 

This is serious business and the modern church would do well to take note.