For God Loved the World....

I'm sure some of you are familiar with this Bible text John 3:16 that says " For God loved the world so much that He gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." Sad to say very few fully understand nor appreciate the love that God gave us by sending his only-begotten son to pay for mankind's sin. Very few even try to learn or pay attention. But let's talk about why God sent His son Jesus Christ to save humankind? What would he save us for? And what should we do to enjoy the privilege and benefits of this provision? First, why did Jehovah God sent Jesus? It is because our first parents Adam and Eve disobeyed and lost the perfect life they possessed. From then on, the connection between God and men was cut and so as part of the Mosaic Law, in order to communicate with God, ancient Israelites were required to give burnt offering or sacrifice whenever they pray. And that is through burning the finest lamb they have. And so God sent his son Jesus to be the "once and for all" sacrifice. Since Adam lost the perfection, no human ever lived after them became equal to the perfection they lost. And so God let His son leave his glorious position in heaven and live humbly as a man on earth. And just like every man, Jesus suffered the hardships of the ordinary life. The only difference is...he's perfect. And one main purpose also is to preach the good news of his father's Kingdom to all inhabited earth and him as the appointed King. And because God loved the world so much, His purpose of eternal life in paradise for humankind stays the same. And that's why He sent Jesus, for us to have hope to live eternally in paradise on earth. Second, what would he save us for? Just like I have almost tackled in the first question, it is because of the disobedience of our first parents, we inherit their sin and resulted death to humankind.(Romans 5:12) Third, what should we do to enjoy the benefits of this grand provision? The second part of John 3:16 says, "....in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." So we must have faith in Jesus-Christ. And John 17:3 requires us to "take in knowledge from God and Jesus in able for us to have everlasting life". Because "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26) And to cultivate faith, we must have accurate knowledge. And through that knowledge, we will learn what God require of us to do to be able to have everlasting life and enjoy the perfect life in paradise that men cannot give. The "holy week" that Christendom celebrates has just passed. And I wonder how did they reflect over Christ's sacrifice? I wonder what do they think or even understand what does his death means? I particularly want to mention on how here in the Philippines celebrate the "holy week"..... It's a pity that they don't refer to the truth. They don't refer to the Bible on how it should be properly commemorated. The dominant religion in this country is Roman Catholic. I respect their belief, but I am sad because they practice more on "man-made traditions" rather than the Word of God, the Bible. Even to the point of hurting themselves. They imitate what Jesus experienced before his death. Hitting and whipping their bodies until it bleeds and worse, even impaling themselves to the cross. But, did Jesus told his disciples to do the same to show their faith? Does anyone among his apostles did that? Not a single one. Instead, what did Jesus tell his followers to do in commemoration of his death? Jesus and his apostles had the "last supper" the night before his death. And Luke 22:19 says that Jesus, after breaking the loaf into pieces, he said ..."keep doing this in remembrance of me." And that is the "only" thing that Jesus told his disciples to do, nothing else. Shouldn't we be thankful on how much Jehovah God loved us? No father can ever give his son as a sacrifice for many....only Him. And it's up to us on our part whether we appreciate this or not.....