(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column, “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
By PASTOR JIM RENNIE
First Baptist Church
Most of us are familiar with Valentines Day which, apart from Christmas, is probably the most commercial time of year, when people buy more flowers, chocolates and cards to express their love for one another.
You may have heard the saying, “Jesus loves you,” but never had a personal experience of that fact.
Some of you may also be familiar with the bible verse (John 3:16), even if you only saw it written on a card behind the goal at an NFL football game.
But what this verse tells us is what Jesus is still saying to you and me: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
When Jesus uses the word “world,” He’s not meaning planet earth, but every human being on planet earth.
God is love, and God loves all people everywhere, so much so that He gave His only Son Jesus to die as our substitute, so we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for the sins we commit. By receiving God’s Son as our personal Savior, we can obtain everlasting life.
“He who has the Son has life, He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” We’re talking about spiritual life, freely given by God as a love gift to all mankind.
You may or may not know that there are various commandments in the bible, from the Old Testament into the New Testament.
And Jesus said that the greatest commandment in the Old Testament was to, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a] and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
He later goes on to say in (John 15:12), “But a new commandment I give you: that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
But how can we love one another the way Jesus loved? Only by receiving that love that only God could give!
Remember what John (3:16) said, that “God gave His only begotten Son.”
There’s the answer — the answer is Jesus!
He said in (John 14:6) “I am the way, the truth and the LIFE and no man comes to the Father but by Me.” That’s a bold statement He made, and those of us who believe what He said know it to be the truth. Jesus said that He was the truth, so He either told the truth or He didn’t.
What do you think? Are you will willing to believe Him, and receive Him as your own personal Savior? or will you reject Him?
If someone who loves you dearly and offers you a gift on Valentine’s Day and you reject it, how would that person feel?
Remember God’s gift to you is His Son, Jesus, because God loves YOU!
I’ll close with another bible verse recorded again from the the lips of Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
The gospel message is simple: Jesus died, He was buried, and He rose again from the dead.
The question is, Do you believe it, and will you receive God’s love gift to you?
About First Baptist Church of Colrain
The Rev. Jim Rennie is pastor of the First Baptist Church at 79 Foundry Village Road, Colrain. The church offers Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship Service begins at 11 a.m. There is a Prayer Meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. A free Community Clothes Closet is open each Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. A free Men’s Breakfast happens on the second Saturday each month. You can hear more messages from Pastor Jim on their website: firstbaptistchurch.podbean.com
Pastor Jim also has a radio program on WLPV 107.9 FM every Monday at 11 a.m.
For more information, call 413-624-9616. Everybody is welcome and Rev. Rennie says, “We’d love to have you come and visit us.”