“For God so loved the world that whoever should not perish but have eternal life”
-John 3:16, Liberal Standard Version
Liberal theologians do not like to be looked at as people that believe others are going to hell. Nowadays, equal rights for everyone is a social calling, so some have let this effect the truth about Jesus. It is easy and happy to believe that God loves everyone so much that they will all live forever.
In this verse, I have first removed “…that he gave his only son…” from John 3:16. A liberal theologian may not see this as a necessary step in allowing the world to have eternal life. God can do whatever he pleases, so why not just allow the entire world to have eternal life in His kingdom? The truth however, is that sin, anything against God, must be paid for. If there was no payment, and God allowed everyone to have eternal life, God would be weak- something He cannot be by nature. Payment for sin started with Adam and Eve’s banishment from His presence, continued through the law given to the Isrealites and then all the way until today. If God were not just, he would simply allow sin to occur and not require any atonement for it. If God was not as good as he is, he would just let everyone perish. Fortunately, God is both just and good- and because He loves the world, he gave his only Son as atonement for the sins of the world. A necessary requirement for God to uphold the laws he set forth.
Acknowledgement of His payment for our sins is also a requirement in John 3:16. In this verse I have removed it. Liberal thought would see God’s fairness as an excuse for those that do not believe in Him: “Since God is fair, He will give everyone eternal life.” God’s justice says otherwise- the acknowledgement and belief is the acceptance of Christ’s blood as payment for the sins that we’re responsible for.
Mercy
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
-Hebrews 13:8
It is clear that the New Testament is a story of God’s greatest mercy- where He gave his only Son for us. This undoubtedly is the greatest act of mercy that God has done. However, this is really just God acting as himself. This mercy has always been a part of the being of God, not simply in the New Testament. Sure, the Old Testament has stories of smiting, wars and an angry God- but it has just as many stories of God’s merciful character.
One example is David. God appointed him as king over Israel, but David sinned against God with Bathsheba. If God were this typical view of an “Old Testament God,” wouldn’t He have just sent lightning bolts down to smite Him? Instead, we see later the righteousness of David is still being remembered and pointed out to God by Solomon: “O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love for David your servant” (2 Chronicles 6:42). So here it is clear that God is full of mercy, whether you examine Him in the Old Testament or the new.
Matt,
ReplyDelete1. Okay. Good points. Few post modern Christians understand how they subconciously alter John 3:16, allegedly their famous verse, by harboring liberal theology.
2. Your argument is true enough here, but I would have also strengthened the New Testament case for justice. Revelation talks about the wrath of the Lamb, a counterintuitive thought for sure!