Sunday, September 18, 2011

100 Verse Challenge - Week 2

Robert J. Morgan tells us in his book 100 Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart, that by adding these two new verse to your scripture tank, you have complete the four corners of the gospel. These first four verses tell the story of the gospel.

I hope you have your first two "tent stakes" down having already memorized Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1, our "In the beginning verses."

This week's verses share the common theme of the "One and Only Son. And our first verse actually makes reference to pitching our tent, as you study the Greek, "taking up residence" in the verse refers to "pitching a tent."

"The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 CSB (Holman Christian Standard Version)

Morgan tells us this verse does a better job than any other in the Bible making known the incarnation of Christ. It's when Jesus came and pitched his tent to live among us, to make Himself and the Father known to us.

Our second verse is one familiar to all Christians. It's the crux of the gospel. I like the version that Morgan has chosen and I highly recommend not dismissing the verse as already in your "tank," but rather take the time and opportunity to memorize it in this version and dwell on the truth that it imparts.

Morgan shares a DL Moody hearing a sermon from a young man named Henry Moorhouse, a gambler, gang leader and thief who was converted during a revival. It was Moorhouse who Moody first heard the passage preached to relay the message, "God loves sinners. "

Morgan goes on to point out that in this verse the word GOSPEL is even spelled out. See for yourself:

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 CSB

Let God's Word dwell richly in your heart this week and change you.

It's not too late to join the Challenge! Click on the box at the top of the collumn on the right to RSVP today!

2 comments:

Jessica Renshaw said...

Thanks, Diana. I've posted the verses again and linked to this blog. What version did you say this is?

Diana said...

CSB (Holman Christian Standard Version)

I added the info in the link.

Much love!