The Greatness of God's Love
John 3:16 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.
This one verse, John 3:16, some say holds the full Gospel of God's love.
I would like to share with you the insights I received as I studied this one verse.
in this one verse:
I see the Greatness of God's love.
I see the Gift He so freely offers to us.
I see us as the recipients of His Grace.
I see the everlasting Promise He makes to Believers.
This is what I see in this wonderful verse.
First.
The Greatness of His love
God so loved the world
I believe God is proud of His creation. The word world brought to mind some interesting thoughts to me.
Was He just talking about you and me when He spoke of the world?
Back in Gen.1 we read about the 6 days of creation. Each day He proclaims "that it was good"
1 -- Light , divided light form darkness ... day and night ..... it was good
2 -- He made a firmament to divide the waters ... it was good
3 -- created the vegetation, trees etc ... it was good
4 -- Sun and moon and stars .... it was good
5 -- fish and birds ..... it was good
6 -- beast cattle and the creepy things .... it was good ------- then He created man ...
Gen.1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
It seems to me that the creation of man was like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
Mankind, you and I are special. A special addition to the creation.
Then He rested on the 7th day
Creation became corrupted because of sin, sin from one man.
This world we live in, that God created became corrupted. Thorns and thistles. Perhaps the whole universe, corrupted because of sin, rebellion.
That cherry ( Adam ) corrupted this world that had been " very good "
Now we live in a corrupted world and a corrupted world system.
But still, God loves this world.
When a person becomes a Christian, is Born Again, That person might be in the world but not of the world. Jesus speaking:
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
For the Christian we are only sojourning through this world headed for our mansion He has prepared for us.
Second, notice
The Greatness of His Gift
He gave His only begotten Son,
I believe God was willing to offer to us a most precious gift.
He Gave a gift
Notice the word " gave ", it does not mean exchange. We have nothing to offer.
We have to accept it
We can not earn it
That gift is precious
A gift always costs someone. It cost God His Son.
His only begotten Son
Begot--- indicates a beginning -- the Man Jesus had a beginning. The Word of God always was and is and will be.
Son-- indicates an offspring -- The virgin birth
Only--- indicates uniqueness -- none other
His deity -- John 1:1-14
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Next, notice
The Greatness of His Offer
whosoever believeth in Him
To believe would mean knowing He forgives
To believe would mean knowing He has paid for our sins
To believe would mean a desire to repent
To believe would mean a trust and obedience
To believe would be living for Jesus
The whoever is whosoever, from the gutter to the palaces
A belief in Jesus as Lord and Saviour will bring about a repentance.
The Bible talks about repentance due to conviction, fear and conscience.
Jesus said if you love me you will obey me.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I believe in repentance, true repentance.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If you are really seeking God, you are walking away from sin.
Righteousness and evil are opposites. The 2 do not go the same direction.
Evil goes down, righteousness goes up.
Remember wide is the gate
Matt.7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matt.7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Finally, notice
The Greatness of His Promise
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A choice is given, to perish or to have everlasting life
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
To go from perishing to abundant life John 10:10
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
There is a choice to be made. No decision is a choice against God's gift.
God offers, we either accept or reject.