John 3:16
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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:16 the most famous verse in the Bible - recognised as the Gospel in a nutshell. If you are trying to explain to someone what you believe and what the love of God is about and why Jesus is unique then quote them John 3:16 ‘God so loved the world’
In this special verse - Gospel in a nutshell, let us hear two things one heart-warming and one heart warning. The heart-warming vastness of the Father's love for us and the heart’s warning about unbelief.
Heart-warming
Heart warning
Heart-warming
So often the picture painted of God the father is an ogre, creator who sits in heaven and lets us get on with our life on earth. This verse says otherwise. God loves so much that he gave, elsewhere we learn of his abundant generosity, turned water to wine (gallons of it) fed the 5000 from so little (baskets full left over) healed the sick, befriended outsiders (fishermen, tax collectors & sinners, prostitutes). Loves so much that he gave. To give is to let go of something, to give it (or him) away for no return [Illustr. I once bought a vacuum (Dyson) for my wife’s birthday. It was a good gift in my opinion, cost a lot. Somehow it was not seen as a good gift by my wife! Reason? It was a gift that was looking for a return favour. A regular run over the house with the gift.] Jennie said it was not a gift at all!
Illustr 2: Lewis Buckwell told me about an elderly lady who he used to visit with his granddad and Lewis would play the violin to her. When she died she left Lewis her prize possession: a 1700’s Joseph Kloz violin. A gift he will treasure forever, she loved Lewis so much that she gave him that violin. God loved so much that he gave [No vacuum, not a violin] his only begotten son’
Illustr 3: Thousands paid their respects to QE2 during 4 days of lying in State. On 19 Sept 2022 on TV and at Westminster Abbey millions mourned and gave thanks for her life. She gave herself to so many. She loved so much that she gave herself, poured herself out in service. It is a poor illustration of… God loved so much that he gave his only begotten son.
It may sound a bit careless and even callous for God to give his beloved son until we remind ourselves of the Trinity. Yes God loved so much that he gave his only begotten son, God gave of himself… the heavenly father gave the heavenly son to be incarnate, one of us (Christmas) (God with us) and to die for us (Easter).
God loved so much that he gave his only begotten son.’ The phrasing of the verse stresses the greatness of the gift. This was God’s best, this was God’s self.
The Jews would have been familiar with the phrase ‘God loved Israel' but the surprise of this verse is God so loved the world. This is the generous abundant God, not a narrow, racist God not an austere judge sitting in heaven taking note of our sins and failings.
God loved the world so much that he gave ….. so that whoever BELIEVES (trusts/ invites) in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Heart Warning
The sad postscript of this verse is that those who do not believe in Him (Jesus) will perish [QE2 did not perish]. There is no limit to God’s love except by self-exclusion by those who will not believe (Jn 3:18) in Jesus, He is God’s gift to us. God’s purpose in sending Jesus was not for judgment and condemnation. His purpose was generosity and gift and love. Gift of Christ and gift of eternal life. God longs that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). [Illustr. If an art critic (Nat Gallery London) chooses to mock a classic work eg Van Goughs ‘Sunflowers.’ It is not the classic work that is condemned it is the Art Critic himself. His unbelief has brought the condemnation on himself]. God loved the world so much that he gave (Jesus) the way to eternal life. That is ‘the world’s’ only hope [FRANC]. There is no 3rd option – it is eternal life or perish. There is believing and not believing, there is eternal life and to perish, there is no 3rd way (it doesn’t say if you live a good life, it doesn’t say if you do no harm to anyone, or if you give to charities) there is no 3rd way. God loved the world so much that he gave (Jesus) as the way to eternal life.
The passage continues (v19) those who believe on him have come into the light (I am the light of the world). As darkness exposes sin so the light exposes not our goodness but God’s grace, the greatness of what God has done for us, vastness of God’s love for us. St Augustine said, “God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love.”
God loves you so much that he gave Himself - How are you going to respond? Return to the Lewis story. What was his response to the elderly Lady’s gift?
He played the violin, he kept going on with his music, He responded to the lady’s gift. How are you going to respond to our God who loved you so much that he gave Jesus?
Are you going to respond in fresh devotion, personal bible study, prayer, praise… in sharing this good news with others?
