Summer, 2000

Whosoever
by Staff Writer Teri Underwood

It is likely the first passage of Scripture you ever memorized.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

We’ve heard sermons based on this one verse; we’ve recited this verse; we’ve personalized this verse; we’ve sung this verse; and the foundation of our faith is based upon this one verse. But do we ever really stop to consider what this verse really says? There is a call in this verse upon our lives ~ one that is so deep, and in many ways so difficult, that we may often choose not to recognize it. It is far simpler to rejoice in the promise of eternal life than to accept that this very promise compels us to something more.

There’s one word in this verse that requires that we change. WHOSOEVER. Have you ever stopped to consider that word? Likely many of you, like me, have heard that we should insert our name into that slot in the verse and make it a personal promise from God to us for eternity. I’ve done it – even written it in my Bible. But recently as I read those precious words the Lord opened my eyes to something new. He showed me that simply knowing I am part of whosoever isn’t enough – I must DO something and BE something different because I am a part of whosoever.

You see whosoever is an objective word in our subjective world. By that I mean that we in Christendom have a tendency to view the world and its inhabitants and rank the sins and determine ourselves with whom the Good News should be shared. We rank by our own comfort level with sharing, by the receptiveness of the person with whom we may share, and perhaps most tragic of all, we often rank by who we think "needs" to hear the most. But whosoever doesn’t rank. It simply tells us that everyone, every single person in this world, every person with whom we come into contact, every person we know, everyone needs to hear the promise of God’s love.

Whosoever requires something of us as believers. I believe it requires three specific attitudes. First, it requires an attitude of sharing Christ. Second, we must have an attitude of love. And finally, whosoever requires that we have an attitude that leads to action.

Jesus told us clearly in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 that we are to GO and TELL! And He was clear about to whom we were to share – those closest to us, those we know, those we don’t know and even those who are our enemies. An understanding of
whosoever must move us to share the precious words of salvation with others. As scary as it may be for some, we must be willing to tell anyone at any time about the love of Christ and the salvation He brings. The apostle Paul shares in his second letter to Timothy two of the reasons we can have confidence in sharing Christ’s gospel. The first is that we have power (2 Timothy 1:7) and the second is that we can be sure of what the Bible says (2 Timothy 3:16). God Himself gives us the confidence and power to share His salvation with others and He breathed the words of our Scriptures and makes those words real in our lives and in the lives of others. We must share the gospel of Christ with everyone!!

Whosoever also requires that our hearts be filled with love. Jesus tells us over and over that we are to love others. John 13:34-35 and John 15:13 are two examples of that command. We are to love our brethren and our enemies. We are to pursue love (1 Corinthians 14:1, Galatians 5:22). John, the beloved, writes in his first epistle that we are duty bound to love (1 John 4:21). And Paul tells us that all we do should founded in love (1 Corinthians 16:4). When we love each other, the world sees Christ in us. We show our love to the world by loving unconditionally, honestly, and faithfully – by loving whosoever!!

Finally, whosoever calls us to action!! When we begin to realize the urgency of sharing the gospel of Christ and we begin to experience love as Christ loved, we WILL be moved to action. What kinds of action? The scriptures give us several examples of attitudes and behaviors we should model.

We will be humble (Matthew 23:12).
We will be willing servants (Matthew 26:35-40).
We will live in praise of the Lord knowing that if we don’t the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40).
We will accept one another (Romans 15:7).
We will be faithful (1 Corinthians 15:58).
We will bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
We will be forgiving (Ephesians 4:32).
We will accept suffering (1 Peter 3:14).

John 3:16 is such a precious verse! With just these few words we can share the gospel of Christ, see the promise of God, recognize God’s grace, feel Christ’s mercy and love. And when we begin to grasp these things – we also begin to feel stirred into a deeper love relationship with our Lord. That deeper love helps us to love others – regardless. That deeper love reveals to us the depth of whosoever.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your sacrifice.

Thank you for your love.

Help us love with your love.

Help us see others and ourselves as you see.

And with that sight, give us confidence

Give us boldness

Let us proclaim your love

Without fear, without compromise

And with boldness

To whosoever!!
Amen

e-mail

Graphics, Design & Hosting by Web4Christ Ministries

Home | Webzine | Archives | Resources
Free Graphics | Our Mission | Membership
  Submission Guidelines | E-Mail Fellowship

Author: Iona Hoeppner
Copyright © 2000 ionanet. All rights reserved.
Revised: April 20, 2006.