DIG for Sunday the 27th of March…..He will draw all judgement, not all men…..John 12 v 32

In the DIG a couple of days ago I mentioned the need to know the Greek or Hebrew meanings of words.

It is also important to know what italicised words means; in my Bible some words are in italics and that means that they were not in the original manuscripts and were added “for clarity” by the translators.

Take for example John 12 v 32, which says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”.

The word “men” is in italics and means that it was not in the original manuscripts.

By looking round the world today, I can clearly see that not all men have been drawn to Jesus, many are unbelievers and want nothing to do with Him.

So can this verse mean something else?

The verse before is talking about judgement, and it is in this context that Jesus is talking.

Being lifted up from the earth is a clear picture of the cross, so there is another interpretation for verse 32.

When Jesus is crucified, when He is on the cross, he will draw all judgement upon Himself; that is what I believe this verse is saying.

Sin had come between man and God and sin had to be dealt with (or judged), so when Jesus died on the cross for our sin (as we all believe) He took all the required judgement upon Himself, He drew it all upon Himself.

Removing the word “men” from John 12 v 32 (remember it was not there in the original manuscripts) gives this verse a whole new meaning, especially when read in the context of judgement.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus Christ and thank you that all judgement for sin has already been placed upon Him”.

John 12 v 32…..And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me

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DIG for Monday the 4th of January…..sin is NOT an issue for God…..1 John 2 v 2

I wrote about forgiveness yesterday, saying many people still insist on asking God for forgiveness.

This is not because they have an issue with forgiveness, but it is because they have an issue with sin.

The church today has an unnatural interest in sin.

Contrary to what most people in the church thinks, God does not have a problem with sin any more.

Sin was an issue however Jesus came and paid (or was made the propitiation) for sin.

In 1 John 1 v 2 we see how much sin Jesus paid for; He paid for ALL the sin of the whole world.

Everything has been paid for so sin is no longer an issue for God.

There is nothing left for God to forgive.

When Jesus paid for sin He completed His mission and finished His work i.e. He paid for all sin and everything, yes everything, has been forgiven.

If you insist of asking for forgiveness you are saying that Jesus’ work was not quite finished as you are saying there is some of your sin that still needs to be dealt with.

Now this is not an excuse to go out and sin, as sin will have earthly consequences for you and those around you, but it will not affect God and how He relates to you.

Jesus’ work was enough and with regards to sin Father God looks at what Jesus has done and not at what you have done, are doing or are going to do.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you lord that Jesus’ work is finished and He has paid for ALL my sin”.

1 John 2 v 2….And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world

DIG for Tuesday the 4th of August…..we boast of His love, not our love…..1 John 4 v 10

I put a picture up on my Facebook page recently that went like this, “The man of law boasts of his love for God, the man of grace boasts of God’s love for him” (Dave Feldman).

Reading 1 John 4 this afternoon I was reminded of this quote from that man of God.

Reading verse 10 reminded me that what God has done is far more important than what we have done or do.

Through Jesus Christ all our sins were paid for and dealt with, even before we were born (1 John 4 v 10 and 1 John 2 v 2)

This was done because God wanted to come back into covenant relationship with man.

And He wanted to do this for us, as He loved us.

He has always loved us, no matter what we have done or are doing as a group (mankind) or as individuals.

His love for us was never based on our performance, His love for use was and is based upon His character and His nature; He is love (1 John 4 v 16).

He cannot do anything but love you, and our love for Him comes form this and from a realisation of what He has done for us through Jesus Christ.

You see, even our love comes out of His love.

Our love is nothing to boast of, it is only His love that is worthy of boasting about.

Jesus and His finished work in dealing with our sin is what we should be boasting about.

His performance was amazing and perfect, so that our performance did not have to count.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you loved us first, and thank you for the wonderful finished work of Jesus Christ”.

1 John 4 v 10…..Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins