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16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
We’re all familiar with the famous passage in the Bible, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…” It is a beautiful passage filled with the hope and joy that the Gospel brings us. But I’ve always been fascinated by the verse that follows it. Verse 17 is just as important, as it clarifies a problem we all have - feelings of guilt and shame, of condemnation.
Sometimes I meet a person who doesn’t really know and understand God’s character very well. When they hear “God so loved the world” they will often respond with: “but God can’t love me.” Somehow, in their mind, God’s love is only for “good people”, and they aren’t good enough. Are you one of those people?
It is easy to live under the weight of guilt, believing God is just waiting for us to make a mistake. Maybe you feel like you’ve committed an unforgiveable sin. That’s what the devil would like you to think. But in John 3:17 we are given a promise, a profound reassurance: Jesus’ mission was not for condemnation, but for salvation. Jesus didn’t come to make us feel guilty, He came to rescue us.
Jesus really didn’t come for the “good people” – the self-righteous who think God (wrongly) owes them salvation. Sorry, no one is “good enough”, only God is good! Rather, Jesus came for the broken, the lost, and the sinful—the tax collectors, prostitutes, brokenhearted, and the hurting. It’s when we feel unworthy the most (confession) that His grace is the greatest, and we can be made whole again (absolution, forgiveness). We don’t come to church on Sunday to get a pat on the back, we come to humbly confess our sins and be forgiven.
When we look honestly at our heart, our desires, our evil thoughts and deeds, we should feel condemned! Especially when compared to God’s expectations (i.e.the 10 Commandments). The good news is that God doesn’t want to leave us to despair in our failures, rather, God loved us first, despite our sin, and sent Jesus to bring salvation as described in verse 16.
That’s why when I read verse 16, I love to continue on to say verse 17. It reminds me that in Christ, I are forgiven, loved, and safe. Jesus removes all that guilt and shame, the fear of condemnation. He is our savior, not our judge.
LLENTEN SER
LENT: Next Wednesday, March 4th, join us for a soup supper at 6:00 p.m. and a study at 6:30 p.m.
Experience the story of Jesus healing a Woman with a flow of blood, and Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead as artist Paul Oman brings these dramatic events to life on canvas, layer upon layer, scene after scene. The narration is from the first-person point of view of Jairus. Music and sound effects accompany the storyline.
Come discover how this miracle demonstrates Jesus’ role as both God and Messiah, and teaches us to trust Him with what little we have, rather than focusing on the limitations of our resources.
We will see you Sunday for worship and Wednesday for the Soup and Study!
In Christ;
Pastor Dan
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family and friends of Cyndy Sellari. Cyndy went to be with the Lord on Valentine’s Day, and her funeral service was held at church on Monday, February 23rd.
- Join us for our weekly Lenten study this Wednesday, with a soup supper beginning at 6:00 p.m. and study starts at 6:30 p.m. This week’s topic is “Jesus Heals a Woman and Raises Jairus’ Daughter” in Mark 5:21-43.
- Mark your calendars! Join us for a beautiful evening concert with the Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony Band on Thursday, March 5th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door.
- The Church Choir will rehearse after worship next Sunday, with First Church Council meeting after that in the Fellowship Hall.
- Everyone is invited to come to the annual Passover Seder held by Holy Cross and Tikvah Israel Churches on Wednesday,April 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There is a sign-up sheet and costs $15.00/person. Come learn the meaning behind the Seder meal!
