Introduction
There are numerous verses in Scripture that speak of God’s love for man. For instance “God is love” (1 John 4:8). John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The People’s New Testament Notes says that “There is no sweeter verse in the Bible.” This verse is memorized, quoted, and referred to perhaps more than any verse in the entire Bible, but unfortunately it is also among the most misunderstood. In this study we will seek investigate why John 3:16 is a great evangelical text.
It is great because of the One who loved
“God so loved” - The eternal God, immutable, all knowing, omnipresent, and absolutely holy God who created all things, is a God of love. The word “so” in this verse reveals the measure of His love, that is, it is immense. The Geneva Bible states that is “nothing else but the free love of the Father.” The Father was willing to sacrifice His Son to save those whom He loved. This love is a free, unmerited gift from God to a fallen world.
It is great because of whom He loved
“For God so loved the world” - The "world" (kosmos) is not the earth but mankind. The greatness of God’s love for man is seen in the fact of the total unworthiness of man to be a recipient of God’s love, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Also, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).
It is great because of how much He loved
"For God so loved" – The word “so” (oste) can mean either ‘manner’ or ‘degree’, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…” (1 John 3:1). There are no human words to express the full extent of God’s love. Those who limit such love only to the ‘elect’ make a mockery of God and His word.
It is great because God “gave his only begotten Son….”
The love (agapao) of John 3:16 is unselfish and seeks the well being of those so loved. Hence, “He gave.” The Father loved so much that He gave His “only begotten Son.” Jesus was unique (only begotten is from ‘monogenes’, which means one of a kind). Such an unselfish act for God to sacrifice His only Son for sinful men!
It is great because of how many God loved
The universality of God’s love is seen in “that whosoever believeth….” The Pharisaic concept in John’s day limited God’s love to the Jews, thus making themselves the elect. The Calvinistic view would seek to limit God’s love to the "elect," those who have been predestined to be saved. However, the scriptures teach, “…if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20) and God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
It is great because of the negative purpose of the text
The verse says, “whosoever believeth in him should not perish….” – “Perish” is the opposite of “everlasting life.” The negation "should not perish (me apoletai) is literally translated "may not perish.” A similar thought in found in Romans 9:33, “And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Those who are born again “have passed from death unto life” (1 John 3:14). Jesus spoke of this in these terms, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). We shall see later that this eternal life has a condition. Though it is offered to all, eternal life is not appropriated by all.
It is great because of the positive purpose of the text
The opposite of perish, as seen, is "have everlasting life." There are only two classes of individuals who will stand before God’s Throne, the righteous and the unrighteous. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). “Everlasting life” is limited to those who have repented and have accepted Christ as Saviour. Scripture refers to this as the believer’s inheritance, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4) … “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2).
It is great because of the condition upon which man can enjoy the benefits of God’s wonderful love
The condition is “…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish….” The ‘belief’ that is referred to is not a dead religious faith system or creed, instead it is alive and active. True faith is that “faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5: 6). Religious faith, which is nothing more than adherence to a creed, has never saved anyone, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20).
“Believeth” is translated from the Greek word “pisteuon”. The grammar of “pisteuon” is in the nominative case, singular in number, masculine in gender, participle, and present tense (The Analytical Greek Lexicon, pg. 326). The participle and present tense is describing on-going, continuous action. One translation renders it as, “…whosoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on)…” (The Amplified New Testament). Therefore we must continue to believe on Christ to be saved.
Those who believe in him are those who repent, confess Christ deity, and are baptized for the remission of sin (see Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9-10, and 16:30-34). The Lord adds them to his church (Acts 2:47, Galatians 3:26-27). These who believe will then add all the virtues that accompany spiritual growth and, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:5-10). However, one can choose to cease believing, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:12-19).
Conclusion
John 3:16 is a great evangelical text. Though we speak of the fact that the love of God is available to all, it is only appropriated by those who commit themselves to Christ. This love does not ignore sin, disobedience or unbelief in those who claim to be saved. Jude :21 admonishes us, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” If we truly follow the One who loved us so much to die on Calvary’s cross to save us, then we will be assured of full salvation. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5).
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