John 3:35,36 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand

"The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

 

The main elements of these two verses find strong correlation to the declaration and instructions of the second Psalm.  Here the Son is presented as the heir of God; and the inhabitants of earth are cautioned to honor and trust in the Son so that they might not come under His wrath.

 

"I will declare the decree:

The Lord has said to Me,

"You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.

Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron;

You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"

Now therefore, be wise, O kings;

Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,

And you perish in the way,

When His wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. - Psalms 2:7-12

 

 

(35) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  The love of the Father for the Son was spoken from heaven in the words, "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."  It should be noted that the Father has always loved the Son.  When the second Psalm speaks of "today" it refers to that day on which the Son was conceived by Mary so that He might enter the world.  But the Father and Son have existed forever.  The Son has always been the object of the Father's favor and affection; and the Son has always honored and pleased the Father.  Thus, even before the creation of heaven and earth, "God is love." - 1st John 4:8,16

 

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus stepped into to our place and received the punishment for our sin upon the cross, so that we might enter into to the love of God, as His adopted children.  This is a great and glorious mystery - described briefly by the following verses: 

•  As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. - John 15:9
• Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! -1st John 3:1
• Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” - John 17:24-26
• The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. - Romans 8:16,17  But also note: Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. - Roman 8:9b

 (36a) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life   Eternal life is a blessing afforded by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  God has chosen to exalt His Son, and to reward faith.  "He who" believes has everlasting life.  Everlasting life was lost because of sin.  Those who believe have been ransomed from death by the redemption of Christ's death on the cross. 

 

(36b) and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.  Those who do not believe have not availed themselves of Christ's ransom.  The ransom has, nevertheless, been provided.  He who does not believe has chosen to remain separated and un-reconciled to his Creator.  Failure to receive the love of God which He has manifested through the mission of His Son expresses a hostility in the heart by a desire to remain alienated from God.  Therefore, God's righteous judgment against sin is retained by the unbeliever.

 

God has chosen the way of salvation.  Man must obey the gospel to be saved.  Neither faith in some other savior, nor faith in one's own good deeds, nor faith in the wholesomeness of one's own nature can bring about the forgiveness of sins and the redemption of the soul.  Christ has been offered - and Christ must be received.  And so, faithful to the gospel, Christ's followers through the centuries continue to offer Christ to the world as the only hope for salvation.

 

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2nd Corinthians 5:18-21