Sunday Preaching: John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Why does it say "only" son?

How did whoever wrote that (John?) know it was God's "only" son?

And why is it so important for people to believe that was God's "only" son?

Could God only have one son?  How come God could only have one son?  Why didn't God want to have more than one son?

If the world (world not people?) benefitted from one son of God would it not benefit from two sons of God?

Who desperately needs to believe that a sense of perfection or perfecting is unattainable? Who would profess you are not perfect so don't even try to be?

So God gave us his only son and then what happened to that God that gave us his only son?

Because you are not to believe anything unless it is interpreted to you by a priest?  And what does it mean to believe in him?  And here you have great contradictions?  

There are those of us who read the Bible and what Jesus said and did and we think to ourselves being like that is believing in him.  And Jesus himself affirmed that version, by telling us you will suffer for being that way.  Then there is the shorthand belief and lesser sell, which states all you have to do is declare he is your savior.  That in essence means you should not strive to emulate his teachings or actions.  It's pointless you are flawed and incapable of it.  Pretty discouraging, dismal isn't it?  In effect to the point that it is anti religion or even antichrist.

And it really can't be both ways because they are dichotomous contradictions.

Do you know what the short sell version is one that lessens the belief in God and that is a big no, no per the Bible!  The short sale version is deception.  And Satan is the deceiver.

(By short sale I mean a short sales pitch designed to work on those who have no concept or study of the Bible.  And indeed it lessens the belief in God of those who studied religion, and that is a big no, no.)

Okay one thing that they taught in Catholic School is substantially meaningful, "God is not powerless over Satan."

So if you are on hard times remember that.  A believe in God, in your own goodness, might help get you out of "it.". Whatever it is.  Satan has many weaknesses.  Weaknesses you might not be aware of.

© Copyright 2025 Thomas Paul Murphy 

The reason you would be motivated to lessen the Catholic belief system is that it played a big part in defeating Rome and other corrupt Governments throughout history?  Because do you know what it amounts to, the belief in that the good self.

I also believe there are other elements or religious traditions that detract from the true Catholic belief system.  Where they put in place to ultimately defeat it?