Perish

Lesson #46

Today our lesson will cover the next word in our collection of eight words, the word perish. We are looking at the section made up of John 3:16 – 18, which contain the famous verse “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). What does it mean to perish? Before we consider that please listen to the audio bite 37:56 – 40:55.

In John 3:16 we understand that those who believe have eternal life and those who don’t believe, perish. The lack of eternal life in a person leaves that person in a state of perishing. John 3:18 provides a link between perish and condemned: “The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God” (ESV). We begin physical life already condemned and unless God intervenes in our life we will perish.

John 3:36 links another word with perish: “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him” (NET). To not believe is to reject the Son and the one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him. In addition to being already condemned at physical birth, we are born with God’s wrath on us. Therefore, to perish means one is condemned guilty of sin and is under the wrath of God. Without belief in the Son, who was given to provide for our need, that person will perish under the righteous eternal wrath of God.

Prayer

Father, thank you for sending your Son to provide me with salvation. Lord, thank you for coming and drinking from the cup of wrath and then dying in my place for my sin. Lord, thank you for taking upon you my sin and clothing me with your righteousness. Thank you for the gift of eternal life.