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The Church Speaks f zII w Sponsored by the WHITBY MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION "For God so loved..'..." By THE REV. DR. RONALD E. BAXTER Pastor Faith Baptiat Church In a children's meeting I asked, "What is your favourite Bible verse?"1 A dozen or more hands shot up, and with the impatienceof cbildhood cried out in achorus before I could select one to answer, "John chapter 3and verse161!" badr she lay lna hospital room. The operation hdbeen serious, and the after effects were taking their toil. 1"What is your favourite Scripture verse?" Iasked prior to commendlng ber to the Lord in pae.A smile that was the light of heaven crossed ber troubled face and she wbispered, "John chapter 3,ves16 I was visiting in a reformatory. The young man As I was leavlng, I spoke to him briefly about John 3:16, and through bostility hardened eyes, there began to trickle love softened tears. What is John 3:16? Why is it such a favourite, to sucli a cross-section of society? Most of these and other questions are answered by simply reading the Bible text. Here it is: "For God su loved the world, that He gave Ris only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Hlma should flot perish, but have everlasting life." This is a favourite Bible verse, because it speaks Did you notice what it says about this old world of our? I-sas,"For God so loved the wor:". eay Hwwonderful, when the world is s0 filled with hteselfishness and sin, God loves the world!1 He love youandme as citizens of that world. wogy1Most parental care is toward cbildren leanin todothe riglit things. From birth we are in rblinagainst God!1 Thsi opronounced that by the tinie we have reahedtheage of reason and accountabiity, we hav beomeoutriglit enemies" (Romans 5: 10) of Go.Teenage outrage, adult hypocrisy and general uncocernfor the right, make us enemies of Hlm wh srighteousness. "BtGod commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Cbrist died for us." Romans 5:8 Despite al, tbe Bible tells us God loves us!1 He bates our si, but He loves us. His love for us is as big as God Hlmaself, without the smailness of humanity! This verse is weil loved, because it tells us that God is for us, He loves us. He loves you! Again, John 3:16 is a favourite Bible verse, because it speaks of : GOD'S SON You see, God's love took a very particular turn in its presentation to this rebellious world of ours. Ris Son is the ultixnate expression of Ris love. Read it with me, "For God s0 loved the world that be gave His only begotten Son." This la how much God loved his enemies, enougb to give Ris "only begotten Son" to us. The Bible speaks of this in su many places. For in- stances Galatians 4:4 tells it this way: "But wben the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth Ris Son, made of a woman, made under the law" Or wemight readlit in IJohnl4:9 atz '«In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent Ris only begotten Son into the world, that we miglit live through Hhn. " But nu matter where we read it, it ail adds up to the same tbing, God's love for us was 50 great that He went so far as to send "Ris only begotten Son" to When Jesus was boni, therefore, almost 2,000 years ago, He was God in the flesb. Mis was the M.d1of God,-He was Revel-Ain is_ 1were -%ýthe ye s0 simply, "God 50 loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son", is a favourite of 80 many' How dearly God lias loved us, to send us His Son!1 Then John 3:16 is a favourite Bible verse because it speaks of: GOD'S PURPOSE This is given as simpiy as ail else. "God 80 loved the world that He gave His only begotten Sin that whosoever believeth on Him should flot perish, but have everlasting life. " This is God's purpose in sen- ding His Son tous. Someone lias said that each one of us is born to die. In a special sense this is true of the baby born of Mary and laid in a manager in Bethlehem. He came to bring us forgiveness of our sins, by dying on the Cross of Calvary, bearing the punishment that should have been ours. The Angel has said, "Thou shait eaUl His name Jesus: for He shail save His people from their sins. " (Matthew 1: 21). This was no piaus platitude, for we read, God "bath made Him to be sini for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him". (II Corinthians 5:21). You see, the fact is, "God was i Christ, recon- cililng the world unto Hlmself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. (Il Cor. 5:19). Christ eame to bear away our sins, and bring final and everlasting, friendship between God and believing men. Glod's offer now la, "wbosoever believeth in Hlm <iLe. believes that Christ died in bis place and has flnallzed the payment for bis personal sin), but have everlastlng l'. You can have 1"everlasting life!" God offers it to you today. Cast your own works aside. Cast yourself upon Hlm i complete dependency that He bas done al necessary for your salvation. Ask Hlm to forgive your in and corne to live in your life. Do it now and you will have "everlasting life" . WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1984, PAGE 1l Bjlue Jay ticket winners The Whitby Fire Department bas an- nounced the second set of winners in their Toronto. Blue Jays basebaîl card/fire prevention program. These six young people have won two tickets to see the BuIi Jays in action on July 30: Thomas J. Kearns of Whitby; Joe Steinhorst of Oshawa; Justin Wills of Whitby; Ian Clarke of Bowmanville; Christo- pher Harper of Oshawa; and, Michael Creed of Whltby. Ail this week, the third set of Fire Safety Cards wilI be available from the main fire station on Brock St. S. Featured this week will be catchers Ernie Whitt and Buck Martmnez as weil as outfielders Lloyd Moseby and infielders Garth Iorg and Kelly Gruber. ~C.F. MESHER 0 J EWELLER I S15% off' ( w1th this coupon 1 668-2872 S109 Dundas St.r Whitby e r À DON'T LET ÀOQUR WEEIKENDS GO UP y~ d'Ti g~m r"% 'ri" à LUK)MI Propane is a wonder- fully convenient fuel IIN àM for cottagers, campers and backyard barbecuers. les cdean, quick and efficient for cookin& refrigeration and lighting. But, like ail flammable materials, propane must be used with care. Did you know, for instance, that: o Propane barbecues should neyer be used in an enclosed area. o Propane cylinders must be stored outdoors and checked for safety every 10 years. o A propane cylinder should always be moved or stored in an upright position. o Propane cylinders must be located outside recreational vehicles or in a compartment that is gas-tight to the vehicle interior and ventilated directly to the outdoors. ci It is strongly recommended that propane- fuelled refrigerators be cleaned and adjusted every year. You'11 find these safety facts and more in our free bookiet. Mail the coupon today and get your copy. Ies a great reference gide, and it will ensure that propane is always a h1mate rather than a hazard to you and your family. The Ontario Govenment-Working to Help People. Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations ®Ontario Robert Elgie M.D., Minister William Davis, Premier 1 Tel. 683-1968 1