JOHN 3:16 “FOR God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES in Him, shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.”
CONTEXT: The first word of this verse starts off with the word “For”. This is a joining word, which means it is a continuation of the previous verses. Everyone knows John 3:16. It seems to be one of the very first verses we learn as christians. But the question is, does anyone know what John 3:13-15 and John 3:17-18 says? This reminds us of the importance of knowing and READING THE BIBLE IN CONTEXT and not taking verses out of its context!!
HAVE A READ OF JOHN 3:13-18 to get context to John 3:16.
This verse is broken down into 4 sections:
1.The MOTIVATION behind God’s salvation. “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...”
It was because of God’s LOVE for us!! That was the motivation behind God sending Jesus to save us!! (Romans 5:8) Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-19 is that we may grasp just how WIDE, LONG, HIGH and DEEP is the LOVE OF CHRIST for us!!
Q. DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES YOU?
Notice this verse also shows us that love is shown through actions and not just words!! (See John 13:1, 1 John 3:16-18, Romans 5:8- God DEMONSTRATES His own love for us...)
2.The COST of salvation. “..THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON..”
It cost God the sacrifice of His one and only Son to purchase our salvation!! (See Hebrews 9:28, Romans 3:25-26, Romans 5:8)
The meaning of “only begotten” in the Greek can mean ‘unique, one of a kind’. The reason Jesus is the only unique, one of a kind Son of God, is because the rest of us were ADOPTED as God’s children (Ephesians 1:5, Galatians 4:5).
3.The CONDITION/REQUIREMENT to be saved. “THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM..”
It is not by works so that no-one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-10), but by grace through faith in Jesus and what He has done on the cross for us!! (Acts 16:30-31, Romans 3:21-25)
4.The REWARD/CONSEQUENCE of salvation. The reward is ETERNAL LIFE!! (John 10:10, John 17:3) In John 17:3, Jesus tells us that ETERNAL LIFE is to know God Intimately and Jesus Christ!!
But the unfortunate consequence for those who do not believe is CONDEMNATION (John 3:18)!!! According to John 3:18 the unfortunate reality is that those who don’t believe, already stand condemned before our Holy God!
ETERNAL LIFE or ETERNAL CONDEMNATION! Which will you choose?
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