3:16 in the WORD of GOD

When He had been baptized, JESUS came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the SPIRIT of GOD descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (Matthew 3:16)

Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; (Mark 3:16)

John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy SPIRIT and fire. (Luke 3:16)

For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16)

Destruction and misery are in their ways; (Romans 3:16)

Do you not know that you are the temple of GOD and that the SPIRIT of GOD dwells in you? (I Corinthians 3:16)

Nevertheless when one turns to the LORD, the veil is taken away. (II Corinthians 3:16)

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," Who is CHRIST. (Galatians 3:16)

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, (Ephesians 3:16)

Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. (Philippians 3:16)

Let the word of CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD. (Colossians 3:16)

Now may the LORD of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The LORD be with you all. (II Thessalonians 3:16)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifested in the flesh, justified in the SPIRIT, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. (I Timothy 3:16)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness... (II Timothy 3:16)

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? (Hebrews 3:16)

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16)

having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in CHRIST may be ashamed. (I Peter 3:16)

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (II Peter 3:16)

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (I John 3:16)

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

The Scriptures above are like pearls, strung together to create a necklace of wisdom to be worn close to the true believer's heart. To the genuine follower of CHRIST, the indwelling Holy SPIRIT of GOD causes the believer to understand the Word of GOD to a deeper level that is beyond the intellect. The Word of GOD is sharper than a two-edged sword, cutting through the believer's worldly muck of ingrained programming.

The Word of GOD is foolishness to those who don't believe in the Bible -- yet countless men of integrity and intelligence, with pedigrees to the yin-yang (scientists, university professors, physicists) join the faithful but ordinary man in believing GOD's Word as Truth. Genuine believers consider the Bible the highest form of learning -- true wisdom -- not just intellectual head candy, but as meat and potatoes for living life in the real world.

But to discern the supernatural wisdom contained in the Bible, the Word of the One True GOD, one must be supernaturally born again by spirit -- through repentance of sin, through believing in JESUS as the risen CHRIST who died for sinful mankind, and through receiving His forgiveness and LORDship of one's body, soul and spirit. Then the SPIRIT of GOD comes to live on the inside of the believer, regenerating him (or her) into that child of GOD He has always intended.

Without the Holy SPIRIT living on the inside, GOD's Word is indeed foolishness to those who don't believe in the divine Author.