The Bible Explains the Bible

 

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Boulder, Colorado

I looked in Wikimedia Commons for graphic with the Greek Alpha and Omega letters because of four  verses - and this one is my favorite:

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6)

I like the difference between "It is done," and "It is finished."

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)

Which word do you use when you've completed a significant part of a project, as opposed to when the entire project is complete? 

When Jesus died on the cross, several prophecies were fulfilled, but there was much more coming down the road. John outlined Jesus life and death on earth, then was given the task of showing the completion of God's plans for Earth, the entire planet and every soul who had ever been on it. 

It is impossible to put the whole story in one verse, though John 3:16 comes close:

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. (John 3:16)

It is important to have read the full discourse Jesus had with Nicodemus beginning with John 3:1 and running through John 3:21 to understand the outline of the discussion. Entire sermons have been written on John 3:16-18, and entire study cousrses on all 21 verses. No one gets it in one reading without finding out who Nicodemuis was and why this discussion was important.

Nicodemus is mentioned in other verses. He was a Pharisee. Pharisees are mentioned in many verses, and when you know them, you understand how different this discussion could be. Verses may appear to be important when they are quoted alone, but it is how they fit into the entire biblical story of God that we can see their importance.

Never allow your salvation - or any one else's - to stand on a single verse. Find where the subject or the person is through the entire Bible, being certain you get the full picture that you are shown.

The majority of people who have lived on Earth believed/believes in a deity. Some do not, but tend to "worship" something all of their lives. They have an earthly goal while not believing there is more to living. Christians are consistent - there is life after death. God, the name applied to the deity that created the seeable universe we live in, supplied the book that introduces Him to mankind. He also supplied all the information to reach Him and accept living with Him eternally. 

I've written of Pascal's Wager - most recently three years ago - and you can Google about it and find tons of information. Each one of us must determine what we will bet our lives upon. I have deliberately (see the freedom to do so in the middle of that decision?) chosen to put my faith in God's merciful love. Have you? If not, would you be kind enough to tell me why not? It can be done anonymously, right here.