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. John 3:16

This is the most famous verse in the bible. Many times at sports events you see someone holding up this verse on a sign. This verse says a lot for us. We see the gospel in this one verse. This is a great verse. It is one to memorize and meditate on.

·      FOR GOD – The eternal omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God

·      SO LOVED – God loved us even before He created us. God loves you and desires for you to be saved. Romans 5:7-8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

·      THE WORLD – This is you and me. God cares for each one of us. 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

·      THAT HE GAVE – This is sacrificial love. Salvation is a free gift it is not something we earn. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

·      HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON – Christmas is approaching. Sometimes when we read this verse we think of the nativity scene with angels and shepherds and later the wise men worshipping Jesus. This is all true. Jesus humbled Himself to come down from heaven to be that babe in the manger. But when God gave His son, He also gave Him to be derided, mocked, and beaten. He gave Jesus knowing that the crowds would shout, “Crucify Him!”  His Son was crucified, then rose again the third day.

·      THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM – What does ‘whosoever’ mean? What does believeth mean? Believing in Jesus is to believe that He died on the cross for your sins and rose again from the dead. It is placing your life in His hands. It is not just a quick fire escape from Hell. It is committing our life to Jesus from our heart.

·      SHOULD NOT PERISH – This is eternity without God in hell. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

·      BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE – Notice the word ‘have’. God gives us new life now. We become adopted into the family of God. We are partakers of the divine nature. We are blessed with spiritual blessings. 

Ron Cox - Director of HOPE Ministry