John 3:34-36 (WEL) “For he whom God sent speaks the words of God because God gives him the Spirit without measure. 35 “The Father loves the Son and has given everything into his hand. 36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, but he who refuses to believe the Son will not see life; on the contrary, the fierce anger of God remains on him.”
V34 “For he whom God sent speaks the words of God because God gives him the Spirit without measure.
God the Father sent His Son, Jesus (God the Son) to earth to be the Messiah. This was a plan decided on before creation. Jesus is a willing volunteer (came), qualified (sinless and God the Son), and 100% human (John 1:14 and Philippians 2:7), thus He is the only perfect Lamb of God (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Jesus:
- The only, perfect substitute, the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7 and Ephesians 5:2).
- A volunteer (1 John 4:10, Galatians 1:4, 1 Timothy 2:6, and 1 Timothy 2:14).
- Sinless (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22, and 2 Corinthians 5:21).
- God (in order to die yet live)—John 1:1, John 5:17-18, and Hebrews 1:8-10).
- Human (Hebrews 2:17, Matthew 1:25 (born of Mary), Philippians 2:6-8).
- Must be sacrificed for the shedding of blood (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:14, and 1 John 2:2).
Jesus speaks the words of God because 1) He is God (John 1:1-18) and 2) He was taught by His Father (John 5:17-20 and John 8:28).
God gives gifts for service but different types, different amounts, and different effects (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Jesus has an overflowing amount of types and effects (Isaiah 11:2 and Colossians 1:19).
V35 “The Father loves the Son and has given everything into his hand.
Compare Luke 3:22. The Son obeyed perfectly in thoughts, words, desires, and deeds. We show love towards God when we obey Him (John 14:15). Jesus also is heir of everything the Father has.
Pett: “Jesus receives the Spirit without measure because He is ‘the Son’ and ‘the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands’. This is the first mention of Jesus as ‘the Son’ in this Gospel, but the first of many such mentions. It is a frequent title in John’s Gospel. The title stresses His total uniqueness. He is not one of many but the only One, with a unique relationship to ‘the Father’ above that of the angels. Indeed it is a ‘family’ relationship. He is of the same essence. Compare Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22; Mark 13:32. This is why all things without exception are given into His hand.”
(Holman Commentary) “The intimacy between the Father and the Son guarantees Jesus’ complete authority for universal reign. He speaks the words of God, this time not logos but rhema—a message offered by a living voice. The Bible is the Word inscripturated; Jesus is the Word incarnate.”
V36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, but he who refuses to believe the Son will not see life; on the contrary, the fierce anger of God remains on him.”
Our personal faith in Jesus by believing and trusting Him and His message is the condition for salvation as first taught clearly in Genesis 15:6.
Faith in the Son is the only condition God has given for salvation; thus, rituals, sacraments, priests, holy people, baptism, church, works, etc., are not needed for salvation.
This new creation life (2 Corinthians 5:17) never ends.
Refusing to believe reveals a person’s personal faith is not in Jesus Christ. That person rejects Jesus Christ. They do not want to believe because 1) pride (I’m a good person, good enough, have more than enough good works, I’ve not sinned), 2) love of sinful pleasures, and/or 3) believe someone’s lies.
God’s anger isn’t just, “You naughty boy or girl.” His anger is separation from God and anything good eternally. There is conscious torment in the Lake of Fire, a torment that never, ever ends.
We learn:
- The importance of Jesus Christ.
- The importance of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Questions:
- Who is Jesus?
- Do you believe in Jesus or are you trying to do something to earn salvation?