The Ohio Independent Baptist, November 1972

1 xt by John Lineberry '/ or .1 <)(/ .. l<1ve<l t/1e H'<Jrl<I. tl1at 111. 1 g<1,·e His 011/.v /Je- ,1!0,re,1 <'Jll, rl1at lt1l1t).,c,ever l e/ie,,er/1 i,1 l/i111 slt<Jtlld not /Jer1\/1 , l 1,r l,a,·e 1. 1 verl<1sri,1,~ li/l''' (Joh11 J: 1()). \\' ht'rc 1, tl1c al1lc c j')t)sitor \vho I a l', t h i 11 k t h at 11 c c ,1 n I i t t a 11 t h c ri "}1c~ t14..1111 the trca,t1rc of tht ,von– l l' ul ver,c') urcJ,, adn1ittC(il). thi , er ,c c, er ,t c.1nd as a tO\\ cr1 ng !\1 t. l , crc,t of challenge to tho e ,vho are g1tlcd ,,ith l1on1il tical kill. - Rea11~\ at he t. can \Ve ever pick all the lt1 c1ot1 fruit from thi tree of truth·: This \er e e pre e in1ply and clearl, God' ineffable love whict1 i .. like a n1ight 1· ocean of abundance or like an enchanting garden of beat1tiful t1 ,, er \\'ith breath-taking aro111a. The belie, er i l)idden to troll thro11gh this garden for the sheer delight of heart and oul. In John 3: 16 we see the great heart of God moving out to rescue rebeJ– ltou inner with tender hands of re– demption. The poet said: "The hands of Christ seem very frail For they were broken by a nail ~ But onl}' they reach heaven at Ja t Whom those frail broken hands hold fast." Luther called John 3: l 6 "The Little Go pel ... Someone else referred to it a '"The Comfortable Word.' ' ow. let us look at this blessed \'erse in detail with hearts and minds )'ielded to the Holy Spirit so that we might glean from it some spiritual fruit \\'hich will strengthen us in the service of the Master. FOR Is a particle of affirmation and con– cius1on. denoting, "truly therefore. \'eril}. as the case sta11ds." This worcl opens the door of God,s redemptive mere)' . It ';!nables God to establish a beachhead upon the shores of hu– manitv. J GOD With the article, as here. refers to God the Father, the greatest Giver. from \vhose loving heart flow5 the might)' ri,,er of salvation. so . De.notes degree. manner. meaning. in this manner, thus. so. ~·s 0 · , is one of t~e biggest little words in ali the English language. This JittJe \\'Ord is 4 NOVEMBER, 1972 I 1k.e a pricele dian1ond for in it two letters are packed the far-reaching Jove of God. It i little wonder, then, that the young pa tor fledgling theolog, glancing at hi Bible College diploma on hi tudy wall, which almost eemed to a ure him that he could an wer any que tion on the Bible from any of hi people, was confounded when a ·ked by one of hi members, "Pastor, could yot1 give me the meaning of the word 'o· in John 3: 16' '? LOVED Is in a timeless ten e. Thi mean', that God's love is eternal, going back into the timelessness of eternity and yet as fresh as the morning dew. God's love is as bright and clear as a '"' now– capped mountain which sparkle in the morning sun. God's love doe , not cease at the end of the day but ahound through the night as well, so that His mercies are new each morning. A. T. Robertston said, "Thi s word for love' is the noble word so common in the Gospels for the highest form of love, God's love for man." THE WORLD Is not the world of trees and moun– tains, rivers and streams but of hu– manity, mankind-The whole cosmo of men , including Gentiles, the whole human race. The univer al aspect of God's Jove appears also in 2 Corinth – ians 5:19, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespas es unto them; and hath committed t1nto us the word of reconciliation. H Since mankind is made up of individuals individuals are the favored recipients of God's Jove. THAT Expresses consequense. result " 0 that." God put His love into a~tion. It was not 011ly a word of Jove but a deed of love as we)]. HE GAVE God d~d not withhold anythi ng from man. Tl11s word "gave,, speaks of the great heart of God. HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON T~ese words identify the gift. Ho\\ fool.rsh to make this the virgin birth of Chr1<;t. "Only begotten' ' attest ot1r I or,Ps ctcr11a l cl~1ty ( hri st is (1od' 1111il1t1' Son 1n a \Cnse an(f mcan1nJ cxcl tis i vc of a II others. l 'he worcl. ·'c)11l y l1cgottc11,'' arc J)rcciotts word indcc(I. It i~ wicked cli\honc~ty It translate, 0 o nl y on" (as doe c;; Gt><J< Nc1,·s f~<Jr M cJ<l ern Man , p . 2 J 7, or a lloc~ C,oodspeed, An A 111erican Tra, 1,\ l<1tion, p. 87). Jt is not "only" in th< lcxt ht1t "only begotten.,. There i nc honr t v.'ay of cutling "begotten., fron the ve rse. l 'he hurch Fathers ex pres cd the truth in thi s manner, sayi ng that the Son proceed from the Fathc, hy eternal generation in a birth tha1 never took place becau e it alway\ wa . The word , "only begotten,,. elo· (Continued on page 13) BIBLE LANDS and ATHENS TOUR February 12 - 21 , 1973 $729 ( For information and brochure Write-TOUR HOSTS Rev. & Mrs. Earl Umbaugh 2150 Marhofer Avenue Stow, Ohio 43224 Phone-(216) 688-3241 ATTENTION Your Bible can be repaired, re– bound and recovered. Don,t dis– card years of precious notes . Con– tact: Rev. John H. Green I l Water Street Arcanum, Ohio 453()4 EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH of West Shore Rev. Wesley Blis Pastor Moving or Traveling through the Harrisburg, Pa. area? Stop and vi it Emmanuel Bapti t Church at 468 I E. Trindle Road , Me– chanicsburg, Pa. , ju t five min. off the Penna . Tpk. Exit 17. Beautiful new building completed. Lo– cated in the center of Harrisburg's West Shore. MOVING or TRAVELING PLAN A VISIT Phones: (7 17) 737-1131 (7 17) 737-6529 f Harrisburg Area Now Has A Christian High School THE OfilO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST . •