In this enlightening episode of the International Gospel Hour, we delve into the profound insights of John 3:13-17, exploring Christ’s mission on earth. Jeff Archie guides us through an understanding of the pivotal role Jesus plays in God’s plan, embodying obedience to the Father’s will and bringing salvation to mankind. This episode offers a heartfelt examination of divine purpose, providing perspectives that enrich the spiritual journey of every believer.
For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Oh, thank you, Lord, for coming. And now let us come together for this study. Today from the International Gospel Hour, stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web. Greetings and hello everyone. Great having you with us once again for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. You know, Psalm 119, 105 tells us, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. So today let us be led with the word of God as we study together. Our lesson text is quite familiar and it’s a favorite of many. We begin with John chapter 3 and verse 13, and we’ll read through verse 17 that says, No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Now, friends, when we look at God-giving, God-sending, you know, in the chronological order of the Bible, this text expresses the first words of Christ as to why he came to this earth. He came down and would be lifted up on the cross, John 12, 32. He came down to save the world, sent from the Father, as stated earlier, not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him, John 6, verse 38. You know, friends, there are a number of texts and reasons to study of why God sent Jesus. I’m reminded of a wonderful book, Why Did My Savior Come to Earth, penned by my good brother and friend, Jim Fawn, and where Jim lists 13 chapters and why Jesus came to earth, and of course there are much more. Today, time will allow us to just consider a couple, and we’ll do that in a moment, but first, I’ll be back in about 30 seconds. Here’s a word about our social media.
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SPEAKER 01 :
And friends, not only thank you for following us on social media, but feel free to share or repost the things that we place out there and share them with your friends who may not see them otherwise. Again, follow International Gospel Hour on social media. Let’s now continue our study from John 3, 13-17 of God sending His Son. We note from verse 17 that God sent His Son to do His will. Again, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. And in John 6.38, as we noted earlier, For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. God saw we needed a Savior, and in His eternal purpose before the world was even created, God had that plan through Christ. In Philippians 2, 7 and 8, the Bible speaks of Christ but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Oh, friends, how our Lord prayed for that cup of suffering to be removed when He was praying in the garden. But remember His words, Nevertheless not my will, but thine or your will be done. In his prayer to the Father, he prayed that God’s will be done, and indeed, God’s will needed to be done, as we note here from Luke 22, 42, that God sent his Son that he would die for us. That is our lesson text. How thankful we are for the Lord coming and doing his Father’s will, and the will of the Father with such great patience that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3, 9. Again, friends, He came and is doing the Father’s will that we might be saved. Now, friends, can I ask you a question? Are you saved? And are you sure you’re saved? Will you allow God’s will through Christ to be your way? Maybe to study things you haven’t studied before or something you may study in Scripture you’ve never seen before. And we’d like for you to see more of what God has done for man with our following study. We have been delighted to share from time to time the study called God and Man. It’s one booklet. It covers a lot of great material. As a matter of fact, our J-Web, it’s going to take a little time to tell you how you can get that book. Fans, over 3,000 people have been baptized, obeyed the gospel of Christ due to their studies of this wonderful material. And we’d love to share it with you, and it’s free. But here’s Jay to tell you how you can receive God and man.
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An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. The study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. another Bible study that is free from IGH, and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
And now, friends, let’s consider God sending His Son. and sent his son to establish his kingdom. Now, what was Jesus preaching at this time in John 3? Well, the kingdom he speaks of to Nicodemus. And even earlier in his teaching, Matthew 4, 17, repent, for the kingdom is at hand. And this kingdom was at hand. At hand meaning it approaches, it draws nigh. Jesus says, I want you to see the kingdom. Now, in John 18, 36-38, Jesus, in teaching about his kingdom, reminds us that his kingdom is not of this world. He says, If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here. Well, this was in his conversation with Pilate, who therefore said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Now note, friends, what did Jesus say, verse 38, for this cause? Christ had the message of salvation brought at the right time. We note that from Galatians 4 and verse 4. And friends, we do continue to read and see the kingdom was set up in the first century. Friend, let no one deceive you that the kingdom is to come. That we are in the church age. Actually, we’re in the kingdom age. And as we note, the kingdom and the church are one and the same. The kingdom is here. I mean, in Acts 8 and verse 12 says, But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. They understood the kingdom then. The church at Colossae, they were added to the kingdom then. Colossians 1, 13 and 14, He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Friends, if we have redemption, we have forgiveness, we’re in His kingdom. Why, even John, in Revelation 1 and verse 9, I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. He says, I’m your companion in the kingdom. What about 1 Peter 2, 9? But you are a chosen generation. A royal priesthood. See, there’s the idea of kingship. A holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. But oh, what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, 24. Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom of God to God the Father, when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. He’s going to deliver the kingdom one day. Friends, you can’t deliver something you don’t have. And when Jesus comes back, he is going to deliver the kingdom to God. Friends, the kingdom is not coming down. The kingdom is going up. And he is now the king of kings, the Lord of lords, 1 Timothy 6 and verse 15. And all this comes together with the affirmation of Jesus’ promise to build his church in Matthew 16, 18, and 19. And then when he promised to build his church, he told Peter, I’ll give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Peter, you’re going to preach what God intends you to preach, what is bound and what is loosed. You’re going to preach that. And friends, I submit to you, the church is in existence today as the kingdom of God. You know, God sent His Son, His only begotten Son, and these are but two of a number of other reasons God sent Jesus. Friends, I’m thankful for these two and how we had time to study, and there are a number of others, Lord willing, that we’ll study at another time. What a joy when we think about God sending Jesus to this earth to just pause and to praise Him and to be thankful that God, through Jesus, that Jesus did God’s will. and in so doing allowed us to follow God’s will. To God be the glory, and we praise the Christ. And friends, we’ll continue our studies together at another time. But for today, thank you for joining me here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
