3:16: Even If…

 

Series Summary

In this series, called 3:16, we will be exploring several significant passages in the Bible that are located at the 3:16 chapter and verse marker in their respective books. These passages cover a wide range of variety, from a variety of authors, covering a variety of topics, through a variety of time periods of Israel’s and the church’s history. The only common denominator in this series is where each of those passages is located in the Bible, at a 3:16 mile marker. You likely already know that all Scripture is inspired by God. That fact is stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, which is one of the 3:16’s we’ll look at in this series. But while all Scripture is inspired, the chapter and verse designators are not. Those came later – the Old Testament around the 13th century, and the New Testament a little later. They were added to help make it easier to find a particular passage, especially when someone was trying to manipulate a bulky, awkward scroll instead of a book. But, even though the verse numbers aren’t inspired, it’s curious that so many weighty passages are found at the 3:16 mile marker. Maybe God knew that we needed some things to be easy to remember. In this series, we will be looking at several different passages that are found at 3:16, in different books of the Bible. In some cases, we may only look at the verse, or maybe two or three. For others, we may need a good portion of the chapter in order to understand it completely. But all of them are found at the 3:16 point. Among the 3:16's we'll examine are John, Genesis,  Proverbs, Colossians, Daniel, Ephesians, 1 Peter, 2 Timothy, and more. It'll be unique. It’ll be enlightening. And we hope you’ll join us as we examine the 3:16’s of the Bible!

Sermon Summary

Daniel 3 contains the interesting account of three Hebrew men who were cast into a fiery furnace for standing up against the idolatrous practice of a pagan king. In this account, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with a choice: either they could conform, along with everyone else, and bow to the golden idol that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected, or they could face execution by resisting. Their response to the King reveals the trust they had in God's power. They believed he could save them. But even if he did not, they would not bow. That is an incredible statement, and one that we would do well to listen to. Even if God does not step in and do the things we would like him to do, even if God does not protect us from the evil things that occur in this world, even if God does not act according to our own desires and wishes ... he is still God, and he is still in control. These three men provide an example that we can follow, and stand fast, knowing that even if... he is still in control!