Words for The Wise, John 3:12-18 ESv, For God So Loved

John 3:12-18English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.^[a] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^[b]

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[c] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

New International Application Commentary.

The statement that God loves the world is surprising on two counts (3:16). (1) Judaism rarely (or never) spoke of God’s loving the world outside of Israel. God desires to reach this world through Israel, his child. It is a uniquely Christian idea to say that God’s love extends beyond the limits of race and nation. (2) John tells his readers elsewhere that they are not to love the world (1 John 2:15–17) because it is a place of disbelief and hostility (cf. John 15:18–19; 16:8). Carson comments effectively, “There is no contradiction between this prohibition and the fact that God does love it [the world]. Christians are not to love the world with the selfish love of participation; God loves the world with the selfless, costly love of redemption.”

Reformation Study Bible

3:16 God so loved the world. Some have insisted that God sent Jesus to die for the purpose of bringing salvation to everyone without exception, but only as a possibility. However, Jesus makes clear that the salvation of those whom the Father “gives me,” and only those, is not a mere possibility but an absolute certainty; “will come to me” (6:37–40; 10:14–18; 17:9). The point made by “the world” is that Christ’s saving work is not limited to one time or place but applies to the elect from all over the world. Those who do not receive the remedy God has provided in Christ will perish. It remains true that anyone who believes will not die (be separated from God) but live in God’s presence forever. See “God Is Love: Divine Goodness and Faithfulness” at Ps. 136:1.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

2324 Jesus Christ, as Saviour

God’s work of salvation is accomplished supremely through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through faith, the believer is able to share in all the saving benefits won by Jesus Christ through his obedience to God.

Jesus Christ is the Saviour

Jesus Christ is called Saviour Tit 1:4 See also Lk 2:11; Tit 3:6; 2Pe 1:1; 2Pe 3:2,18

Jesus Christ is the promised Saviour Ac 13:23 See also Lk 1:69-75; Lk 2:28-30

Jesus Christ’s purpose is to save Lk 19:10 See also Mt 1:21; 1Ti 1:15

Jesus Christ’s qualities as Saviour

Jesus Christ is the unique Saviour Ac 4:12 See also Jn 6:68-69; Jn 10:9; Jn 14:6; Ac 10:42-43

Jesus Christ is the complete Saviour Heb 7:25 See also Jn 19:30; Php 3:21; Col 1:19-20; Heb 5:9; Heb 9:26-28; 1Jn 1:9; Jude 24

Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world Jn 4:42 See also Lk 2:30-32; 1Ti 2:5-6; 1Ti 4:10; 1Jn 4:14

Thought for Today

J. Hudson Taylor, "We are a supernatural people; born again by a supernatural birth; we wage a supernatural fight and are taught by a supernatural teacher; led by a supernatural captain to assured victory.

Nissan e-NV200 Combi review | Auto Express

Nissan e-NV200 Combi review | Auto Express

Nissan e-NV200 Combi is based on an electric van, and offers huge amounts of space with an electric motor

Verdict

3

Nissan should be commended for producing the first electric van, and the Combi version is easily the most practical electric car around. However the short range and bouncy ride will discourage family holidays and visiting remote relatives, so it's best suited to those who rarely leave the big city. The van version will suit business who need cost-effective transport for frequent short-distance deliveries, so like all electric cars it won't work for many, but will be the perfect solution for some.

Small electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and the Renault ZOE have been on British roads for a little while now, but the first large electric van is now available - and it can also be bought as a five-seater passenger car.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nissan/e-nv200/87433/nissan-e-nv200-combi-review#ixzz38PoPGlAi

Tonight: Is Britain Christian?

David Cameron believes Britain is a Christian country, but these days less than half of us describe ourselves as Christian, and only 5% of us go to church on a weekly basis.

Nadia Eweida

In ‘Is Britain Christian?’ Tonight asks if the Prime Minister is right, and if it matters if he’s not? Should we accept that Christianity needs to take a back seat in a modern secular society, or will some communities lose more than bricks and mortar?

Britain’s history, laws and traditions are rooted in Christianity. The Queen is head of the Church of England - a tradition that dates back to the Tudors. Some of our greatest art, literature and music is inspired by Christianity. But these days, less than half of us describe ourselves as Christian.

This has left some of those who continue to hold very strong beliefs feeling marginalised. British Airways employee Nadia Eweida and nurse Shirley Chaplin have both fought in the European Courts for the right to display crucifix necklaces as part of their uniform.

But it’s not all bad news for the church: in the UK, membership of Pentecostal churches has risen by around 20% over the past five years, often boosted by immigrant communities.

Read more here

Vicar in the trenches: The story of Reverend Theodore Hardy in the Great War, Robert Gore Langton, Daily Express

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ut there was one breed of non-combatants that has been rather forgotten: chaplains.

By the end of the war there were 3,500 clergy in khaki, going about their rounds in a dog collar and representing God while all hell broke loose.

They were a mixed bunch and many were frankly worse than useless.

Padres who got the least respect were the ones who preached patriotism behind the lines and frightened the men going to the front. But some performed quiet miracles on the front line, earning undying admiration.

Perhaps the most astonishing of them all was a small, unassuming country vicar and one-time headmaster from near Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.

He joined up as a relatively old man at 51.

He was to become the most highly decorated non-combatant of the Great War, winning to his considerable embarrassment the DSO, MC and VC.

His name was Theodore Bayley Hardy.

Read more  here

Further reading

1)     Royal Army Chaplains Department

2)   Theodore Hardy, Wikipedia

Obama’s LGBT order ‘threatens religious freedom’

Obama’s LGBT order ‘threatens religious freedom’

President Obama has come under fire for forcing all federal contractors to conform to the administration’s view on sexuality through a so-called ‘anti-discrimination’ executive order.

On Monday, the US president signed the order, which prevents federal contractors from discriminating against people who identify as LGBT, but does not exempt faith-based organisations.

President Obama had received a letter signed by 14 people including a leading pastor, the executive editor of a Christian magazine and the head of a large Roman Catholic charity, urging him to exclude faith-based organisations from the order.

Ordinary Christians in the Hands of the Extra –Ordinary God. Part 2:

Ephesians 3:10 -12 and 16 – 21 NIVUK

 So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him…………… 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen

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 grew up in the South Wales Valleys, were the common themes for many were Chapel, Rugby and the Colliery, the threads that would often hold those communities together would be those mentioned above, the hymns of the Chapel such as Guide me, O Though Great Jehovah would be sung with at least equal gusto on a Saturday Afternoon watching the Rugby.

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n many ways, our lives would have been influenced and affected by the strong religious traditions of something best described as chapel culture, when we spoke of the church, we would often have of thought of the Anglican Church with their vicars etc., to many people from a chapel background the church was a strange place that could be described it’s church, but not as we know it!.

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he traditions of Chapel Culture would be at least influenced by protecting and promoting Welsh Language and Culture, and to distinguish it against the English Language and Culture. I would say that in the Village where the Church I was raised in, half the Chapels would speak Welsh in all their services. I love Wales, its Language, Culture and its People but there aren’t The Lord who died for my sins and the sins of the entire World, and rose again in Victory and is coming back for us when He comes to reign and rule and establish His Kingdom in its full splendour and glory.

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e have made idols of so many things in the Church, whether that be our traditions, heritage and our national or cultural identities, our churches have become monuments to past moves of God, or to the men who God raised up to move his Church forward.  The Church has become known to what we’re against rather than what we for, we fight battles and wars with society rather than supporting and encouraging society, yes there are anti-Christian influences and challenges facing us today, with the prospect of Gay Marriage and the attempts of our politicians to force change in the legal definition of marriage.

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hen people think of Church they think of a dying religion and something that is part of the establishment. We should stand against the enemy, the devil but our weapons aren’t the weapons or the strategies of the world, see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 .We try to convict the people we meet whose lives aren’t in accordance with scripture of their sin but we aren’t the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin and shows them God’s righteousness see John 16:-8-11 instead we’ve alienated those He sent us to show His Love and Compassion to.

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hen Jesus walked the streets of the lands of Bible Times,  he wasn’t part of the establishment, whether than was the political or the religious establishment, Jesus is God’s ultimate revolutionary, he isn’t some kind of Jewish Che Guevara, he was and is the Son of God, who came as  baby, lived a normal life, then for the last 3 years of his life, bought God’s message of transformation, hope, redemption, salvation, deliverance and peace to those he meet regardless of their  sexuality,  disability, cultural or ethnic background, he raised up normal men and women, that were often the lowest and sometimes the most despised people in society, like his ancestor King David, who’s mighty men came from those in debt, distress or the discontented, see 2 Samuel 22:3, he died an agonising death on the cross, of all the tens of thousands than were crucified by the Roman and other empires, only one death made a difference, Jesus took the entire sin of the entire world from that day until he day He returns, and died as the sacrifice for not only the sins of the church, but the sins of those yet to know Him. He arose Victorious from the tomb, and entered Heaven after preparing His early disciples and sending the Holy Spirit see John 20 so that His Church may go forward and see people saved, lives transformed, hope restored and renewed and salvation bought to the ends of the earth.

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oday, we the Church like David’s Mighty Men and the early Disciples are God’s Mighty Men and Women of Faith, who have been tasked by our Saviour and Lord to advance His Kingdom and His Church into our streets, neighbourhoods, communities, regions, nations and the nations of the world.

 

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hen God commissioned the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8 see here for context. Isaiah 6:8-9 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

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hroughout the History of the Church, God has called and commissioned Ordinary People just like You and Me,  he’s not called the seemingly best equipped or seemingly the most talented or indeed the best gifted, when God sent the Prophet Samuel to anoint Israel’s next King he sent him to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem, and when he looked at Jesse’s Sons he saw some great and talented warriors but they weren’t God’s choice see  1 Samuel 16:5-13, God is calling the Ordinary People to rise up for Him see 1 Corinthians 26-29 but let us not be like the Prophet Jonah, who when God called him to Nineveh went in the opposite direction!

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oday God is calling again  Whom shall I send, and who will go for us, will we say Here am I send Me, and will we be ready to Go to those who sends us and where He sends us ?

Yours in His Grace

Blair Humphreys

Southport, Merseyside

Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

A

fter the fractious introspection and months of angry debate about what it means to be Scottish, the people of Scotland enjoyed a well-deserved break from it all last night – as they welcomed the world.

And by the end of an exuberant, good-humoured, periodically chaotic evening – starring everyone (and everything) from a giant haggis, cabers, golf clubs, a gay wedding, 41 Scottish terriers, Rod Stewart, rousing cheers for the Queen and lashings of self-deprecation – Scotland seemed to have answered her own question.

All of the above, we can safely say, encompass what it means to be Scottish. Quite what last night’s opening of the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow means for that referendum campaign, on the other hand, is anyone’s guess.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2703216/Tunnocks-Tea-Cakes-Irn-Bru-Forth-Bridge-Gretna-Green-Glasgow-opens-Commonwealth-Games-world-Scottish-flavour.html

Please read more here

'THE BONDS THAT UNITE:' THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE TO THE COMMONWEALTH

 

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The Queen spoke of the 'shared ideals and ambitions' of the Commonwealth when she delivered the message which has travelled the world in the Games' baton relay.

She highlighted the 'bonds that unite' the 71 nations and territories when she formally declared the 20th Commonwealth Games open.

In an address directed at all the athletes competing in the Games, she made special reference to the young people of the Commonwealth, saying they are entrusted with its values and future.

The message, which was kept secret until tonight, has circled the globed over the last nine months, since the Queen placed the paper inside the baton which then visited all 71 locations.

Reading the message, the Queen said: 'At Buckingham Palace last October I placed this message into the specially-crafted baton and passed it to the first of many thousands of baton-bearers. Over the past 288 days the baton has visited all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth, crossing every continent in a journey of more than 100,000 miles.

'The baton relay represents a calling together of people from every part of the Commonwealth and serves as a reminder of our shared ideals and ambitions as a diverse, resourceful and cohesive family.

'And now, that baton has arrived here in Glasgow, a city renowned for its dynamic cultural and sporting achievements and for the warmth of its people, for this opening ceremony of the Friendly Games.'

The Queen, in her role as head of the Commonwealth, sent her best wishes to the competing athletes when she addressed the opening ceremony at Glasgow's Celtic Park.

She said: 'To you, the Commonwealth athletes, I send my good wishes for success in your endeavours. Your accomplishments over the coming days will encourage us all to strengthen the bonds that unite us.

'You remind us that young people, those under 25 years of age, make up half of our Commonwealth citizens; and it is to you that we entrust our values and our future.

'I offer my sincere thanks to the many organisations and volunteers who have worked diligently to bring these Games to fruition, and indeed to the spectators here in the stadium and to the millions watching on television. Together, you all play a part in strengthening our friendships in this modern and vibrant association of nations.

'It now gives me the greatest pleasure to declare the 20th Commonwealth Games open.'

  

BARROWMAN'S GAY KISS

 

John Barrowman, the Scottish-American actor, singer, dancer and presenter, kissed one of the performers during the ceremony. 

In what was seen as a clear message to the 42 countries of the Commonwealth where it is still a crime to be gay, Glasgow-born Barrowman reached out to kiss the man before holding his hand during a sequence to celebrate Gretna Green.

Barrowman is openly gay and married.

Comment:

It’s a shame  that a wonderful celebration of the cultural variety that is the Commonwealth was hijacked by Gay Rights, although I believe that it shouldn’t be a crime to be gay,  there isn’t need to push Gay Rights into focus.  Hoping that someone’s Gay Kiss is going to pressure other countries to de-criminalise homosexually is a fallacy and foolishness. I believe that’s not okay to be gay.

Faith in God Is a Virulent Infection, Columnist Claims, Charisma Magazine

Belief in God is a "virus," and evangelical Christianity is one of the more "virulent infections," a Conservative peer and columnist for The Times has claimed.

In an attack on faith schools, Matt Ridley said that "rationalists" want to "protect" children from religion.

And the peer, who is a supporter of the British Humanist Association, said, "secular, free-thinking" should be adopted to "combat the rise of radical Islam and radical Christianity."

His comments in The Times came as a report was released on the "Trojan Horse" Islamic plot in some Birmingham schools.

Please read more

Scottish Independence, a Vehicle for Alex Salmond's Grandiose Ego ?. Updated

Two months to go until the referendum, but acrimony will last for years,  Daily Express Scotland

The Yes Scotland campaign - comprised largely of SNP members and sympathisers, aided by a ragbag of Green nationalists, a small number of disaffected Labour voters and rather more anti-English bigots than anyone cares to admit - is in trouble.

The separatist movement has had three years to persuade us of the wonders in store if only we would sever our links with the UK.

Much longer if we consider that the SNP has been fighting for the breakup of Britain for eight decades.

Yet, here we are, eight weeks to go before the most crucial vote Scots have ever been involved in, and all the indications are that Mr Salmond and his followers face a humiliating defeat. read more here

Comment:

I believe that Mr Alex Salmond and his colleagues in the Scottish National Party have not only dis-honoured the people  of Scotland but also the people of the rest of the United Kingdom by their disgraceful lies and actions to push their agenda to separate Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom,  Does he see himself as President Salmond rather than First Minister ?.  I was surprised to see last night that Mr Salmond has the  title  right honourable, which means he is a privy councillor and advises Her Majesty The Queen,   at the end of the day as the First Minister of Scotland, he serves at her Majesty’s Pleasure, maybe it’s time that he steps aside and lets  someone who is not only  loyal to the people of Scotland, and the people of the rest of the United Kingdom, but also loyal to The Crown to lead the people of Scotland, Mr Salmond and his colleagues in the SNP are using the people not only of Scotland but the people of  the rest of the United Kingdom to serve their grandiose egos.,  The evidence points to one thing that Mr Salmond is a Charlatan!

Another own goal for Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond's blatant electioneering at the Commonwealth Games

Why the EU wouldn't allow Scotland to join the European Union

Nearly 1 Million Scots consider leaving Scotland if it's Yes Vote

Void at heart of Salmond's plan laid bare for all to see

Alex Salmond loses first independence TV debate

Further Reading:

1.      Does The SNP Economic Plans really mean Independence?

2.    The Currency Question?

3.     The National Debt?

4.    Pensions

Don’t Let Super-Spiritual People Hurt Your Church, J Lee Grady, Charisma Magazine

A few years ago a prominent charismatic evangelist gained a wide following when he said an angel was visiting him regularly during his televised revival meetings. The angel was supposedly dispatched to unleash the next great healing revival in the United States. One big problem: The revival didn't happen.

Yet month after month, the tales of this evangelist's wild spiritual adventures grew more and more incredible. At one point he wrote that he visited heaven and met the Apostle Paul—and then said Paul admitted he was the author of the Book of Hebrews. A 2,000-year-old theological mystery was solved!

Looking back on these events now, it's hard to believe so many charismatics fell for these wild claims. Anyone with the most basic level of discernment knows God does not allow us to talk to dead people to get spiritual information. So why are we so gullible? I call this the "oooh, ahhh" factor.  read more

 

Britain's most unpopular flight costs YOU £86 per passenger to subsidise, Daily Express

The public pay £1.2m a year to subsidise the unpopular air service from Cardiff Airport to Anglesey in North Wales.

The Labour-run Welsh Government insisted on heavily subsidising the cost of running the route, with tickets starting at just £29.95.

But the flight has been a huge flop with around 100 people using it every week - costing the public £86 for each passenger.

Transport chiefs today called for a "comprehensive marketing programme" to boost passenger numbers.

Darren Millar AM, chair of the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee, said: "We remain concerned that this service is underperforming when it comes to providing value for money for the Welsh taxpayer.

Going, going, gone! A small town loses THREE banks in a year as branches continue to close all over Britain, Daily Mail.

One year ago there were four banks on the High Street in the north Essex town of Brightlingsea. By this autumn only one will remain.

First Nationwide shut, then NatWest said it would leave, and now Barclays has followed suit. The closures are threatening to bring this thriving community to its knees. 

Susie Bowes has only been running Vintique antique shop on the High Street for two months and the Barclays branch is six doors down. She knew NatWest - further down the road - was going to close when she was looking to open a business bank account. She chose Barclays. It never said it was going to go, too.

Read more here

Romanian family of 17 who lied to get a house live in a three-bedroom London semi.

A Romanian migrant family of 17 who lied to get a three bedroom house but take home £55,000 a year in benefits say they put up with the overcrowding because life is better in Britain.

The Toma family arrived in Britain in 2012, but after struggling to find a letting agency prepared to house all 15 of their children they told a landlord there were just six of them to get a home.

Although electrician father Mihai Toma, 47, earns £1,800 a month which covers the rent at the house in Harrow, north-west London, because of the number of children the family get £55,000 a year in tax credits and benefits.

  Toma family arrived in Britain from Romania in 2012 'for a better life'

  Family of 17 struggled to find letting agents who would accept them

  They then lied to a landlord, saying there were only six family members

  Father Mihai earns £1,800 a month as an electrician

  They say they get £4,600 in monthly benefits due to the number of children

  Tomas want a bigger house, but councils says they are not eligible

Read more here

The Flaming Herald, by Bert Farias, Charisma Magazine. The Raw, Naked Truth About Homosexuality

Gay rights and gay marriage have become one of the major issues of our culture today. In such times, Christians cannot afford to lose their moral compass or compromise the scriptures.

Here is a reminder that will strengthen our moral bearings:

The devil hates it when someone brings the truth out into the open. He likes to keep all light and truth hidden in the darkness. He hates it when someone speaks plainly and clearly about sin. On the other hand, he loves to promote all that is abominable and evil. "Off with his head," has always been the cry against those who confront sin and preach repentance.

So here is the raw, naked truth on homosexuality that we must never forget:

The Bible says that homosexuality is unnatural. Men in gay relationships have given up the natural use of the woman and women the natural use of the man.  

Read more here

Further Reading

A Call for Humility and Repentance in the Gay Community,  Flaming Herald.

How Obama's LGBT Executive Order Endangers Religious Liberty, Todd Starnes, Charisma Magazine

President Obama signed an executive order Monday barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity—ignoring the pleas of Christian and other faith leaders to include an exemption for religious organizations.

"Thanks to your passion and advocacy and the irrefutable rightness of your cause, our government—the government of the people, by the people and for the people—will become just a little bit fairer," the president told a gathering in the White House.

The executive order would prevent Christian and other religious organizations with federal contracts from requiring workers to adhere to the tenets of their religious beliefs. Christianity Today reports the order could impact religious non-profits such as World Vision, World Relief and Catholic Charities.  To read more please click here

President Obama, You Have Crossed a Dangerous, Unprecedented Line, Michael Brown, Charisma Magazine

Dear Mr. President, I write to you today as a concerned citizen of our great nation, standing as a witness against your historic actions on the morning of July 21, 2014, actions which I hope you will one day repudiate with deep remorse and regret.

I am referring, of course, to your signing an executive order Monday banning "discrimination" by federal contractors against LGBT people, allowing for no religious exemptions of any kind.

This was an outrageous act of discrimination against religion in the name of anti-discrimination—an act of bullying people of faith in the name of the prevention of bullying.

How can you, as a man who professes to be a person of faith and a follower of Jesus, throw religious Americans—in particular Christians—under the bus?

How can you attempt to force Christians, Jews, Muslims and others to violate fundamental aspects of their moral codes in order to appease a small but powerful special interest group, one that is not, in fact, suffering daily economic hardship by being fired from their jobs because of their sexual orientation or expression?

Have you forgotten entirely that our nation was founded on the concept of religious freedom?,  please read more here President Obama

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Curb EU benefit tourism, Whitehall told

: Report finds growing concern among Britons about access to the welfare state by migrants.

Daily Mail Story

A  major overhaul is needed to curb  migrants’ access to British benefits, a Government review has concluded.

The report finds growing concern among Britons about access to the welfare state by the hundreds of thousands of arrivals from Europe taking advantage of EU free movement rules.    

If the system is not urgently reformed it could ‘significantly undermine’ public support for freedom of movement, it concludes.

Please read the full story here