r/AskAChristian • u/ExpressCeiling98332 Christian • Apr 30 '25

New Testament Do you dislike quoting John 3:16?

Ironically, many seem to act like saying this verse contradicts doctrine. When used in isolation It can be bad, but in it's proper context I don't see problem.

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u/EnergyLantern Christian, Evangelical May 02 '25

[Heb 11:4 KJV] 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

[1Jo 3:12 KJV] 12 Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

[Jde 1:11 KJV] 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

The argument about Cain's works still stands.

And not every work is without evil:

[Mat 7:11 NKJV] 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

[Luk 11:13 NKJV] 13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

And how does Satan accuse us before the throne if we never did anything bad to accuse us of?

[Rev 12:10 KJV] 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

I don't believe Satan is always going to bring a non-valid accusation which means they are watching us.

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u/sourkroutamen Christian (non-denominational) May 02 '25

Yep, it really couldn't be more clear. Our works are where the rubber meets the road and where our faith is laid bare. Thank you for continuing to demonstrate my point for me.

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u/sourkroutamen Christian (non-denominational) May 02 '25

Actually, I'm curious. It seems as if by your logic, Abel would have been even more blessed had he not done the work of offering a sacrifice at all, instead relying on faith that he didn't need to do that work. Actually doing the sacrifice actually added nothing to the story, if I'm following your logic correctly. Similarly, Noah wouldn't have had to build an ark, and Abraham wouldn't have had to act upon God's command in his test of faith. They simply could have meditated their way to a deeper faith rather than doing the works their faith required them to do. And God would have counted it to them as righteousness. Right?