3:16 The Love of God: A Bible Study and Daily Application Study Guide of the Word of God

By Jesse Brown

3:16: The Love of God is a Bible study, a study guide, and an easy to apply devotional. The book is a study of the different third chapters and sixteenth verses in the Bible. Inspired by the John 3:16 verse, the book is deeply rooted in Scripture and teaches you principles that you can apply daily as you grow in your relationship with God. There are forty-nine of the sixty-six books in the Bible that have a 3:16, and this book takes you through the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. The book will take you to scriptures and chapters in the Bible that many people may not have read regularly. The book can be used as a personal devotional for an individual or by a group for Bible study. Whatever timeline best fits the needs of whoever is reading the book determines whether you use it daily or weekly. The study guide in the book includes three daily application principles, a prayer, and seven discussion questions in each chapter. The book also contains over three thousand verses of scripture references because nothing can teach the Word of God better than the Word of God. This book is very easy to read and comprehend. The principles are easy to teach, understand, and most importantly, can be applied immediately in your life. The content of the book has no demographic limitations and can be a resource that can be used by men, women, and children worldwide. Whether you don't know Jesus personally or are a new believer in Christ, this book is for you. If you have been following and serving God for a longer period of time in your life, this book is for you. This book meets you wherever you currently are in your walk with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888327418

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3:16 The Love of God

A Bible Study and Daily Application Study Guide of the Word of God

Jesse Brown

ISBN 979-8-88832-740-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-741-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Jesse Brown

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

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Old Testament

Genesis: God Created and Redeemed His People

Exodus: God Gives His People Freedom from Captivity

Leviticus: God Appoints Leadership for His People

Numbers: God Holds Leadership Responsible for His People

Deuteronomy: God Provides for His People

Joshua: God Provides Counsel for His People

Judges: God Creates His People with Precision

Ruth: God Willingly Adds People to His Kingdom

1 Samuel: God Calls All of His People to Minister

2 Samuel: God Will Not Break His Covenant with His People

1 Kings: God Is the Source of Wisdom for His People

2 Kings: God Executes Miracles for His People

1 Chronicles: God Gives His People an Example of How to Live

2 Chronicles: God Dwells in the Sanctuary with His People

Nehemiah: God Restores Things That Are Broken for His People

Job: God Provides Light to Bring His People Out of Darkness

Proverbs: God Understands His People

Ecclesiastes: God Will Execute Judgment on His People

Isaiah: God Desires Humility in His People

Jeremiah: God Provides Refuge for His People

Lamentations: God Provides Hope for His People

Ezekiel: God Provides Prophecy for His People

Daniel: God Responds to His People Who Have Faith

Joel: God Is Holy and Sin Can't Exist in His Presence

Nahum: God Multiplies Things for His People

Habakkuk: God Will Go to War for His People

Zephaniah: God Provides Strength for His People

Malachi: God Wants His People to Remember What He's Done

New Testament

Matthew: Followers of Jesus Will Be Baptized in Water

Mark: Followers of Jesus Will Get a New Identity

Luke: Followers of Jesus Will Be Baptized in the Holy Spirit

John: Followers of Jesus Will Receive Salvation

Acts: Followers of Jesus Will Live by Faith

Romans: Followers of Jesus Will Reject the Desires of the Flesh

1 Corinthians: Followers of Jesus Are a House for the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians: Followers of Jesus Will See the Things of God

Galatians: Followers of Jesus Receive the Promises of God

Ephesians: Followers of Jesus Will Receive Grace from God

Philippians: Followers of Jesus Will Move in One Accord

Colossians: Followers of Jesus Will Worship the Lord

2 Thessalonians: Followers of Jesus Will Receive Peace

1 Timothy: Followers of Jesus Will Share the Gospel

2 Timothy: Followers of Jesus Will Live by the Word of God

Hebrews: Followers of Jesus Will Not Live in Rebellion

James: Followers of Jesus Will Oppose the Army of Darkness

1 Peter: Followers of Jesus Will Suffer for Christ

2 Peter: Followers of Jesus Will Not Manipulate the Word of God

1 John: Followers of Jesus Will Love Everyone

Revelation: Followers of Jesus Will Not Be Lukewarm

About the Author

Preface

Thank You, God, that You have a plan for my life and the life of everyone who gets the opportunity to encounter these words. Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice and for dying so that we may live. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your guidance throughout this process. You have been my teacher, counselor, and helper. Holy Spirit, there is no way to accomplish the work of God apart from You, and Your patience with me during this process has made it all possible. Lord Jesus, I pray that all eyes that see and ears that hear these words are strengthened in the faith. That these words You have shared with me help to edify the body of Christ and to bring understanding to Your people. God, I am so thankful that of all of Your creation by Your Holy Spirit, I was chosen to bring forth this work to Your creation. I know that it is Your desire, God, that none shall be lost and none shall perish. I ask You to open the hearts of my brothers and sisters in Christ to receive these words that are shared as a seed of life. Lord Jesus, I pray that You soften hearts so this seed is planted on good soil and reaps a harvest thirty-, sixty-, and hundredfold according to Your will. I ask that any one of Your people who encounter this work accept and receive the promises that You have made to them. I ask that as followers of Jesus Christ, we learn to operate with expectancy because You are faithful. No person who farms tills the ground in preparation, plants and sows seed, waters and feeds the land without expectation of a harvest.

Thank You for my spiritual fathers and the leadership You placed in my life. For those who shared Your Word and with their instruction have helped me come to know You in a greater way: Paul Jacinth, Al Rowlett, Pastor Perry Kallevig, and Pastor Mark Gunther. Thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are too numerous to list that have prayed for me through the valleys and times of famine. Thank You, Lord, that when I walked away from Your will and chose my own path, You left the ninety-nine to come and find me when I was lost. I thank You, Lord, for Your mercy that allowed me to be forgiven and cleansed of my sins. Lord Jesus, I am eternally grateful for Your grace that empowered me to overcome those very same sins. Holy Spirit, I thank You that You convicted me of those sins and brought illumination to the dark parts of my heart so that I could walk in light. Holy Spirit, You convinced me that I no longer had to hold on to any guilt or shame. Holy Spirit, thank You for helping me to accept that I am completely forgiven and that I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, I am eternally grateful that I am allowed to be accounted by the Father as righteous because of my faith in Your work on the cross. You paid my debts in full, and despite how undeserving I may feel, Lord, You said I am worth the price that was paid. More importantly, Lord Jesus, You proved to me I am worth the cost You paid because You died so that I may live. My righteousness comes from You, my Lord. I accept it, I'm grateful for it, and I love You, Lord Jesus, because You first loved me.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

—Psalm 19:14

Part 1

Old Testament

Chapter 1

Genesis: God Created and Redeemed His People

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head and you will strike his heel. To the woman he said, I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you. To Adam he said, Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, You must not eat from it, Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:15–17)

God created and redeemed His people. The original sin of Adam and Eve forever altered both their and your relationship with God. The sin of Adam and Eve did not alter the love God had for them, the requirement that they continue to work for Him, or the plan that He had for their redemption. What was altered and ultimately revealed by the original sin were the sources of the sin, additional labor, and subsequent pain that resulted from the sin. Adam and Eve were born into paradise, where living in the Garden of Eden was like living in heaven. All of their needs were provided for, and it was close to perfection (Genesis 1:31; 2:8–22). They existed to love God, love one another, and to work for God. Because of the original sin, we aren't born into paradise like Adam and Eve. All of us now have to arrive by faith at the place of God's ultimate provision and perfection. As the offspring of Adam and Eve, God is letting us know that His will for us will be under constant attack from our enemy (2 Timothy 2:26). This scripture tells us we will deal with (temptation) the attacks of the serpent (Satan) against our heels. We will also have to deal with demons (the offspring of Satan) and their demonic presence against us. Our lives will be a constant battle against our enemy who desires that we seek our own will and not God's will for us (Genesis 3:2–6). The fracture that sin caused in their relationship with God is a part of the difficult work that comes with being a believer in Christ (Jeremiah 22:21–23). God is allowing you to count the cost of being a believer and telling you the requirements (Luke 14:28). God is letting you know that there will be opposition and the work will not always be easy. You will experience temptation, so you know what is to be expected. God is also letting you know of your own sinful nature, and that when you sin it comes with a cost (Romans 6:23). Adam and Eve were born into paradise where everything they knew was good. The serpent (Satan) understood that the nature of man and woman was to be selfish and seek (that which is outside of the will of God) evil. He enticed them to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Everything Adam and Eve ever knew in Eden with God was good, it was earthly perfection living in paradise in the presence of God. When they chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they sought to gain knowledge of what was evil. They used their free will and chose to find out what existed outside of the presence of God (Romans 2:8–9). That's what our sin is, seeking the things that exist outside of the will and presence of God. As a consequence for their sin, Adam and Eve brought death to a place where there was abundant life, and they were removed from paradise (Genesis 3:22–23). We are all confronted with the same choices and temptation. Adam and Eve had a free will and made the choice to sin despite the temptation that was presented to them by Satan. Their sin caused them to be removed from paradise, and it made their lives a lot harder. Because of that free will to choose, our sin can cause us to lose things that we will not necessarily get back. They tried to cover their nakedness (sin). They hid from God and blamed each other for the sin they committed. Eve blamed the serpent; Adam placed the blame on Eve as if they had no choice or free will (Genesis 3:7–13). God created us for relationships so that we're not alone. We are created in the image of a God who chooses to love us (1 Corinthians 11:7). Adam and Eve committed sin because God gives us a choice in what we do, who we choose to love, who we choose to obey, and how we choose to have relationships with others. We have all had sin in our lives because we're given a free will to choose (Romans 3:23). The sinful nature of the original man and woman is a part of our flesh. We are all flawed, and the flaw and imperfection in the way we are designed is our will to choose. This is why Adam, Eve, and we all are in need of Jesus Christ our Savior (Romans 5:8–11). Immediately after they committed sin, Adam and Eve tried to hide their sin from God. In response to the shame and guilt, they felt God covered their nakedness (sin) (Genesis 3:21). All of us need something to help us to maintain the right relationship with God who is holy (1 Timothy 2:5). A relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is necessary for us to overcome attacks and temptation from the enemy (Matthew 6:13). Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are necessary to help us overcome our own will and its sinful nature (Romans 8:5–11). Accepting Jesus Christ as your savior realigns you with the will of God, and the Holy Spirit gives you the power that helps you in your weakness (Psalm 106:8). Jesus and the Holy Spirit help you to reflect your original design which is created in the image of God. The image of God that you're created in where you only seek what is good. The image of God which helps you to have a righteous relationship with God and to continually exist in His presence. The image of God that reflects the love of God to everyone you encounter. The image where you obey God, work for God, work with others, and you love your helpmate (John 15:9–15). The image of God that will remain victorious over the serpent and his offspring. That will crush the head of the enemy when he tries to attack your heels (Luke 10:19). Satan attacks your heels because God placed him beneath you. God favored you over him and that jealousy is why the enemy will always oppose and try to destroy you. The love of God and the blood of Jesus Christ will always have victory over the enemy. Your work for God is to put the love of God on display to others and to allow the Holy Spirit to help you remain obedient to the will of God. Your work is in the harvest field of souls and to crush the head of the enemy when he tries to attack and bring temptation into your life. Your work for God is to have all of your faith in Jesus (John 6:29).

Daily Application

Our sinful nature is to seek evil.

Our sin causes us to feel naked and ashamed.

Satan will always be below us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help me to be led by the will of God and not my own will and desires. Help me to desire that which is good and to pray and intercede for others when God exposes their sin to me. Jesus, help me against every attack of the enemy who is Satan and to overcome the world with love as You have. Help me to remember that I will be victorious against the attack of the enemy against my heels. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What is temptation?

Why do we (sin) seek what is outside of the will of God?

What purpose does sin serve in our lives?

What causes us to hide our (nakedness) sin from those we love?

Why do we blame others when we commit sin?

How does Satan try to impact our relationship with God?

Why will we always be above Satan?

Chapter 2

Exodus: God Gives His People Freedom from Captivity

Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.' Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and of Jacob appeared to me saying, "I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perezzites, and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to the land flowing with milk and honey.' (Exodus 3:15–17)

God gives His people freedom from captivity. It is not the will of God that we be captive or enslaved to anything (Zechariah 9:11–12). God did not desire that we be captive or enslaved to Him; that's why we were given a free will and a right to choose. Jesus Christ has always been the perfect plan for freeing the people of God (Luke 4:18). The sin of Adam and Eve created the path for the liberty we get from Jesus. God is always watching over you and has a plan to redeem and free you from any bondage (Luke 1:68). The Israelites during the time of Moses were directly experiencing the painful labor that being separated from God caused (Exodus 1:8–14). The Israelites were working very hard, and they were not working for God. The people of promise and descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were doing slave labor to build idols for the Egyptians. This was clearly not the will of God for His people (Leviticus 19:4). God knew that His people needed not only a path, but they needed a place to find rest, peace, and freedom. God can free you from whatever bondage or affliction you're facing right where you are. God tests your faith and freedom requires a journey from where you are to where God wants you to be (2 Corinthians 5:7). The path to liberty is paved by Jesus, who is always present and was there with God since the beginning of creation (John 1:1). The death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins is how we receive freedom and arrive at our place of rest (John 14:6). After the sin of Adam and Eve, the place of liberty is accessed differently. To get to the place of rest that God set aside for the Israelites required a journey by them where faith and trust in God are the only way to arrive (John 14:1–4). Before God established Abraham as the father of Israel, Abraham was asked to journey from where he was born and arrive by faith in God to the places he was asked to go. The journey that God had for Abraham was not free from difficulty and obstacles, and God was with Abraham every step of the journey. Abraham was asked by God to have faith and trust that what God had for him was better than the life that Abraham had already established for himself (Genesis 12:1–9). God always has a plan to help you arrive at the place of freedom and provision that He has set aside for you (Proverbs 16:9). Abraham and his family were blessed so greatly by God that it caused his nephew, Lot, to move away because there was not enough room in the region for all of the possessions that God had blessed them with (Genesis 13:1–6). Some of the people among the Israelites who left Egypt died in the wilderness, and they never made it to the promised land. Though many people don't always make it to the place of provision, it will always be there for us. The land of milk and honey that God promised the Israelites existed whether they were able to make the journey or not. When God sees you afflicted or in captivity, He has a desire that you are free (Galatians 5:1). If you don't experience freedom, then you aren't using the very free will to choose that God gave you when He created you. The path to the provision God has set aside for you will come with obstacles and opposition (1 Peter 4:12). That's why you have to have faith and trust in God (Mark 11:22). God will provide everything that is necessary for you to complete the journey and arrive at provision as long as you're willing to go and remain faithful to God along the way. God doesn't promise a quick or an easy journey without obstacles. God does promise your arrival at the place that is set aside for you if you're obedient (Psalm 37:23). When you are not obedient to God, it can lengthen your journey or it can cause you to not arrive at the provision God has set aside for you (Num 14:22–23). When we are not thankful for what God has already done, He may allow us to wander and never arrive at the place of provision and freedom (Numbers 32:13). God promises all of His people a place where they are free from bondage and captivity. When God supplies for your needs, there is more than enough provision to meet your needs and the needs of all of His creation. God has more than enough resources to supply for all of your needs (Matthew 6:31–33). Jesus paid the debt on the cross to remove all heavy burdens from your shoulders and to give you an easier path than the one you're on (Matthew 11:30). God wants you to be completely free and to receive deliverance from any demonic influence that is afflicting you or holding you captive.

Daily Application

We were created to be free.

We arrive to God's provision by faith.

Obstacles and opposition mean you're on the right path to provision.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help me to be free from any bondage or captivity. I pray that I can remain in Your presence during the journey as You help me along the way. Lord Jesus, teach me to pray my way through challenges and obstacles and to seek Your strength when the journey is hard. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions

Why does God desire that we be free?

What role does Jesus play in our freedom?

What is the impact of working outside of the will of God?

What is God's will for your life?

How do we arrive at the place of provision God has set aside for us?

What are the obstacles to the path God has for our lives?

Do obstacles and opposition mean we are outside of the will of God?

Chapter 3

Leviticus: God Appoints Leadership for His People

The two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord's. This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood. (Leviticus 3:15–17)

God appoints leadership for His people. Please pray for all the people who work in ministry. Apostles, teachers, preachers, pastors, priests, evangelists, and missionaries are all in constant need of prayers and support from the body of Christ. The