For God so loved the world

John 3:16

Over the years I have acquired many Christian books. Some of them are from my college days, some I purchased online, while others were gifts from friends and family. On my shelf I have books on theology and doctrine, commentaries, both Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, concordances and grammar guides, as well as a large number of books on miscellaneous Christian topics. This is my desire, and has been throughout the years; that I might some day have a better understanding of the love of God, and that I might live in it more fully. And while some would think that with all the books, along with the years of study, that I would have unfolded the greatest of mysteries of our faith, in contrast, however, I have found the exact opposite. Instead of finding more answers, I have found more questions. Instead of finding simplicity, I found complexity. With every page, the mysteries I so eagerly hoped to unfold became ever increasingly illusive. Even as I sit here today, expressing my pseudo-intellectual and limited point of views, I realize that I have a lesser understanding of that love than I did the moment I first bent my knee in confession of faith. I realize, as well, that I am no less guilty than any other man who has ever over complicated God's free gift. That is our nature, we have a need to know, a need to define, and that inevitably leads us to a need to over complicate; and complicate we have. The mere mention of the subject of God's love and salvation can result in a barrage of three to five syllable words that could leave the most educated of people scratching their heads in wonder. In the subject, we can find such terms and concepts as Grace, Faith, Redemption (both limited and unlimited), Atonement, Reconciliation, Propitiation, Justification, Sanctification, Adoption, Glorification, Election, Predestination, Foreknowledge, Repentance, Forbearance, Substitution, Sovereignty, Free will, Imputation, Regeneration, Supra-, Infra-, and Sub-lapsarianism, Deliverance, Foreordination, Conviction, Forgiveness, and Preservation. Beyond this I would not be surprised if there are a dozen or so other words and concepts ending in –tion that I haven’t even heard of yet. In saying this, I in no way intend to suggest that these words have little value in the subject of faith and salvation; on the contrary, these words are invaluable. I do suggest, however, that the love of God is in no way thwarted or limited by ones understanding of these words. These words, and others like them, are nothing more than man's inept attempt at explaining that which we are not wise enough to understand in full. Are you like me? Do you desire to unfold the greatest mysteries of God's love? Are you drawn to sharing that love with a world lost in sin? Then here is the mystery you have for so long sought. The power of God's grace is found in the simplicity of faith. We don't need to be scholars, we don't need to be theologians, and we don't need to know anything more complicated than "For 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 (John 3:16)." Nothing in this verse is difficult; nothing requires years of learning; "God so loved the world." That is the greatest mystery of all, and may I be so blessed as to never have an understanding more complicated than that.  [mp]

Copyright © 2005
Michael D'Urbano
All rights reserved
www.modernpapyrus.org