John 3:14-18, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 3:16 is at the heart of every soulwinning preacher. I learned this Bible verse early on as a child. John 3:16 is the heart of the Word of God. John 3:16, “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.” There is no greater truth in all the universe than John 3:16. The Gospel of John is God's Gospel tract. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The purpose for which God authored the Gospel of John is to convince you, the reader, that Jesus is “THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD,” and that by simply believing with childlike faith, you will be instantly, irrevocably and forever saved.
“Now let me say this and I don’t want you to panic when I say it. Saving faith is an ADULT ISSUE. Saving faith is an ADULT EXPERIENCE. Salvation is an ADULT EXPERIENCE. Am I saying that a child cannot be saved? I’m saying that salvation is a conscious turning from sin to follow Jesus Christ with an understanding of something of the sinfulness of sin, its consequences and something of who Jesus Christ is, what He has provided and that I’m committing my life to Him. At what point can a child understand that?... I tell parents that salvation is an adult decision... There is no illustration in Scripture of childhood salvation. There is none. People want to throw the Philippian jailer and his household; well that’s talking about his servants so there is no reference there about his children. So there is no such thing as a childhood conversion.” —Dr. John MacArthur
Pastor MacArthur does err, not knowing either the power of God or the Scriptures. Salvation is not an adult experience, it is offered to all. Jesus said in Mark 10:14b, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” The Bible calls Mr. MacArthur a liar! Whereas John MacArthur says children cannot be saved, Jesus said such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Children CAN be saved.
Paul said that his friend Timothy was saved from childhood by the Scriptures. 2nd Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” In Mr. MacArthur's complicated plan of salvation, a child cannot be saved (nor an adult for that matter). In God's plan of salvation, anyone at any age can be saved by faith alone. You just need to see yourself as a needy sinner, and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, Who died on the cross, was buried and physically resurrected three days later. That is the Gospel, or Good News (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).
John 3:16 is very simple. John 3:16, “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.” If you believe oh sinner, you are saved!!!
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