Intro
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, KJV)
From this very famous verse in all languages and all time, I want us to see God's Wantok System expressed clearly and openly here.
The first one is the statement "For God so loved the world..." The cause of the action taken by God, of sending "His only begotten Son" is that "God so loved the world". There is no more than this open acknowledgement in God's word. Nothing that the world has ever done that owed God to react by sending His only begotten Son. The only reason is "love", His love to the world.
This is pure Wantok System. God is the Creator of all. He created human beings. He placed human beings in the garden of Eden. But human beings fell into sin by eating the forbidden fruit. And as a consequence, Adam and Eve were sent out from the Garden.
Since then, human beings were lost in their own world. They did nothing but sinned against the purpose and will of God.
But
Where is the Merit System?
Furthermore, even after being saved, there is nothing that human beings or Christians can do to increase or decrease the total salvation given to believers.
And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:50 (ESV)
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 (NIV)
For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20 (RSV)
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5 (NIV)
1. Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
Where is the Merit System?
The one and only thing human beings should do is, "to believe God". The act of "believing God" is carried out by (1) faith in God's word and salvation by God in Jesus Christ, and then (2) accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour.
This will bring everlasting life.
