John 3:16.5: The Rest of the Story: A Practical Guide into Reading the Bible and Understanding Christianity

By Wally Gonzalez

Truth

I remember first searching for truth in the nineties. My mind was captivated into the introductory Left Behind series of books, which were about the apocalypse and the Rapture. While fictitious, the grave thoughts stirred a deep desire in me to better understand Christianity and salvation.

The next best-selling book that captured my mind was the book of Scientology. The book was intriguing into the deep study of engrams, which for me was a good crosswalk back into Christianity. My next natural outlook was into other Christian-denomination establishments, focuses, and teachings. As we closed in on Y2K, Cora and I joined in our church's first home Bible studies (Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama).

It was a small Bible study group, but it was a good and diversified group, three married couples figuring it out as we went. A lawyer (Doug), a religious studied person (Dennis), and Cora (she has always been my smarter half), myself, and the other two wives. (I loved this group; the spreads and snacks we would bring together! Thank you, Ginger and Robin, Cora! We did it!) It's been a long, tested journey for Cora and I (more than thirty years). Never give up! God waits for us all, and he has time.

According to an article from Catholic Daily Meditation (July 27, 2022), "The Pearl of Great Price," "The truth is that the more we come to know God, the more we seek Him, and the more we seek Him, the more we realize we do not fully know Him. But this revelation draws us ever more deeply into the life of God and the acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven."

May you be blessed!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887514512

Book preview

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John 3:16.5

The Rest of the Story: A Practical Guide into Reading the Bible and Understanding Christianity

Wally Gonzalez Jr.

ISBN 979-8-88751-450-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-451-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Wally Gonzalez Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

1

Crucify Him, Crucify Him

Crucify Him, Crucify Him (The book starts with the end. Jesus is crucified for our sins. Why? To answer this question, we have to go back to the Bible and the beginning.)

The Sentence of Death

Luke 23:20–21

Again, Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him!

The Crucifixion

Luke 23:33–43 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God. Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine, they called out, If you are King of the Jews, save yourself. Above him there was an inscription that read, This is the King of the Jews. Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us. The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus replied to him, Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

The Death of Jesus

Luke 23:44–49 It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit; and when he had said this, he breathed his last breath. (I feel at this exact moment in time, every time we read this scripture in Mass, or when we read it as we’re doing now, it is appropriate to at least stop, kneel (if you feel compelled to do it), contemplate the moment and give thanks for what Jesus just completed for us (salvation, the New Covenant is official). The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, This man was innocent beyond doubt. When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

The Veils

Exodus 26:31–33 You shall make a veil woven of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen twined, with cherubim embroidered on it. It is to be hung on four gold-plated columns of acacia wood, which shall have gold hooks and shall rest on four silver pedestals. Hang the veil from clasps. The ark of the covenant you shall bring inside, behind this veil which divides the holy place from the holy of holies.

What does the tearing of the veil represent? In short, when the veil was torn, God is revealing his New Covenant that no longer is hidden behind a veil. He is unveiling or transitioning from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant where His Son is given to us for our sins.

So why would a God even care? Because he cares for his total united body/creation. We are many parts, yet one body.

1 Corinthians 12:20

But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The question still resounds or reverberates, why would God care?

God’s Love and Christian Life

1 John 4:7–11 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.

1 John 4:12–16 No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

1 John 4:16

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

1 John 4:17–19 In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:20–21 If anyone says, I love God, but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Matthew 5:20–26

Jesus said to his disciples: For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Commentary

Christ’s crucifixion (his death) was the clang like a fallen pan heard around the world.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Through his death we heard of the tearing of the veil. The veil opens God from a prior hidden or reserved God (reserved to only the priest that would go behind the veil in the Old Testament, or the prophets in the case of the Word) to an open God that we are able to see and receive at mass weekly, thanks to the New Testament/Covenant delivery (Bible). The New Testament