{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 131 - God's Love for the World","description":"You can find show notes for this episode at https:\/\/transformingmission.org\/131 Read John 3:16   Reflect For God so loved the world is a summary of John\u2019s understanding of God and of the Christian faith. Almost every word of the summary is important. Here a few keywords. So \u2013 The Greek word can mean \u201cso much,\u201d but its primary meaning is \u201cin this way\u201d or \u201cin this manner.\u201d  It is this meaning that is used throughout John\u2019s gospel.  While God\u2019s love is indescribably infinite, the point here is not how much God loves but how God loves.  God gave God\u2019s Son. World \u2013 While the world is often pictured in John as hostile to God, it is also God\u2019s creation.  God loves his enemies, those who have rebelled against him. These words give witness to God\u2019s model for Christian love. Gave his\u2026Son \u2013 This is not God sacrificing or punishing Jesus for the sins of humanity. It is important to remember that if you have seen Jesus you have seen God.  God and Jesus are one and the same. God does not punish Jesus but takes our sin into himself. Jesus giving himself is God\u2019s self-giving love. Only \u2013 Comes from the Greek word for \u201cunique\u201d or \u201conly one of its kind.\u201d It is not referring to the birth of Jesus but to the uniqueness of Jesus. Believes \u2013 Comes the Greek word for faith, which is translated as \u201ctrust.\u201d It is a dynamic word inferring action as opposed to a static word referring to what aspires to. Trust and obey, there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. Eternal life \u2013 Comes the Greek word for \u201cquality\u201d of life.  It does not refer to an extension of life as much as it refers to \u201ckind of life\u201d one lives in relationship to God as seen and experienced in Jesus  Respond Look for God\u2019s love today. As you go about your day, pay attention to where you see God\u2019s love for people, creation, and for you.  Return Where did you experience God\u2019s love for the world today?    Prayer O God, thank you for your love in and through Jesus. I am grateful for your love in my life and in the lives of the people around me. I am especially grateful that you are helping me become more loving. Help me focus my eyes more upon Jesus, so I may love you more deeply in the people I meet along the way. Amen. ","author_name":"Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas","author_url":"https:\/\/transformingmission.org\/","html":"