Non-denominational Bible Studies

Not very many church members are really well acquainted with John 3:1-13. However, most were taught John 3:16 at a very young age ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ... In this study, I hope to address several things that are very often over-looked or disregarded ....

*** 1) For God so loved the world, that HE GAVE

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 10:14-18 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Luke 12:1-5 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

John 15:14-15 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

*** 2) His only begotten Son,

Although Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.", there is ONLY one "begotten" Son. And, the Incarnate Christ was BOTH Spirit and flesh, God and man. He had a Divine nature AND a human nature. God, the "Spirit", begat the "flesh" when He "overshadowed" the virgin Mary and an unprecedented, supernatural conception occurred. Nothing like that had ever happened before. And, nothing like that has happened since. The "Incarnation" has no equal, nothing to compare it to. The closest we humans can come to understanding the Incarnation is a father/son scenario ... with the Father being the "Spirit" (God) and the "Son" being the flesh (the tabernacle in which God dwelled). Thus, the Spirit "begat" the flesh ... "sent" the flesh ... "dwelled" in the flesh ... etc. But, due to traditions and doctrines of man, many are being taught that the terms "Father" and "Son" denote "literal" distinctions of MORE than one "person" ... as in a literal father and son scenario being two different people altogether. However, that is NOT what the foot print followers of our Lord preached, practiced and taught. **IF** there is one Spirit for "God the Father" and one Spirit for "the Holy Ghost" (to form two separate "persons"), then the Holy Ghost would be the Father of Christ, and not God the Father, according to Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Those who oppose and withstand the Apostles One God Monotheistic Doctrine sometimes ask questions like, "Is Jesus His own Father?" and "Who did Jesus pray to?" Jesus existed prior to Bethlehem’s manger as Almighty God ... the Spirit ... NOT an inferior subordinate or a co-equal partner. Also, the Incarnate Christ said and did many things to set an example for us to follow. At any rate, people fail to understand the Incarnate Christ was unlike any one who has ever walked upon Planet Earth. He was BOTH God and man ... Lord and Christ ... Spirit and flesh. At times He functioned, spoke and acted as Almighty God. And, at other times, He functioned, spoke and acted as a mortal man. While not a perfect analogy, this is why I use the Clark Kent/Superman analogy as much as I do. Jesus almost always spoke of the Father as though He was someone else, in another location. When, in fact, the Father ... the Spirit ... dwelled inside that sinless body ...

John 14:7-11 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Actually, "Father" AND "Son" is metaphoric speech and terminology. There is absolutely no place in the entire King James Version of the Holy Bible TEXT where the following terms can be found 1) Trinity 2) God "the" Son, 3) God "the" Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) or 4) where God was ever referred to as "persons"

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

To "believe" in God means much more than to have "faith alone" or "faith without works" OR merely saying "I believe."

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Romans 10:13-17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

*** 4) should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There is a tremendous difference in "should" not AND "would" not ... or ... "shall" not.

Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 21:4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

**IF** I study for an exam I "should not" fail. However, because one studies for an exam does NOT mean they positively will make a passing grade. The angels who sinned lost their eternal paradise, didn’t they?