Dear Members, Friends and Guests of Our Saviour's
We see this image expanded in John 3, where salvation comes not from a bronze snake, but from Christ Jesus. John 3:16 teaches this way of salvation by teaching, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will be saved." That verse is the one many of us learned when we were very young.
Some years ago you may have been in your reclining chair, munching on snacks, while watching your favorite NFL team. During the game you may have seen a person in the stands with a placard sporing the name John followed by the numbers 3:16. This text is one of the most famous in Scripture and it is the reason why some try to get the message of God's love on national TV. I don't know how many people have come to believe in Jesus, but I give those who hold up this message credit for their enthusiasm.
Sometimes I believe we need more of an enthusiastic spirit when practicing our faith. We need to be willing to share the message of God's love for us. But too often we are too timid to share this message.
I love another passage from Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are you saved through faith, and not from yourselves, it is a gift from God, not by works, so that no one can boast." We need to focus upon God's grace for us. For God loves us without condition. He, in fact, loved us so much that Jesus died upon the cross in payment for our sins.
In a few days, we will focus upon the death of Jesus for us. May we be motivated to share this message with neighbors, friends and family.
Have a blessed Holy Week!
Pastor Brad Homan
