John 3:16
- Rita Egolf
- May 13
- 3 min read
“For God so loved the world…”
Could you finish the phrase? I’m sure you could. If you’re like me, you probably quoted it in some NIV/ESV/KJV hybrid, using a word like “believeth.” And that’s because this verse has become incredibly common in our culture. We have heard it from our earliest memories, and now say it with ease. But has this familiarity made us sleepy? Are we even encouraged by it anymore? I want to shake the dust off of your brains and remind you of how amazing this verse is.
For God So Loved the World
It starts with this glorious word, “For,” pointing us back to previous verses. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The people of Israel had sinned against God. They had rebelled and shown their unbelief. Therefore the wrath of God had been poured out on them in the form of snakes. But if they would look at the bronze serpent that Moses had made, God’s appointed means of salvation, they would live. It was simple: Look and live. With that image from Numbers 21 as a backdrop, we see how God loved the world. God loved the world like so.
That He Gave His Only Son (John 3:16)
How has God loved you? He gave you His only Son. He gave the treasure of heaven for your soul. He gave His only Son. Read in that phrase both the dignity of Christ, and the dearness of Christ. No one coerced God to do this, but He freely gave His Son to show His love for sinful and rebellious men. Remember, “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice” (Psalm 49:7-8). What man could not do, God did, by sending His Son to ransom men for God. Christ died for sinners, and Christ rose victoriously from the grave. Who has given more than God? Who has loved you like God?
That Whoever Believes in Him
Do you hear the freeness? Whoever. It doesn’t matter where you are from. It doesn’t matter what you have done. It doesn’t matter who your mom and dad are. Anyone and everyone who believes in the Son has life. He has not asked for you to do mighty works. He has not commanded a certain level of obedience to be saved. It is simple faith in the person and work of Jesus. He says, “Look and live!” It has been, and always will be, by grace alone, through faith alone.
Should Not Perish, But Have Eternal Life
And grace upon grace, when sinful men and women put their full trust in Jesus, the promise is that they should not perish! No more condemnation! No more eternal Hell. God the Son bears the wrath of God the Father, and through Him, we are justified, made righteous, in the sight of God. We no longer come into judgement, but we pass from death to life (John 5:24). This life is eternal, and it begins at our conversion. This is more than just a quantity of time. This is a quality of time. We come to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (John 17:3). Our life is wrapped up in knowing Him. What glorious truth!
There is a reason that John 3:16 is so popular. It reveals so many glorious gospel truths in such a compact way. I had a friend recently lament that he often recites it like he sings the Happy Birthday song. May it never be with us again! Let your hearts be warmed by God’s word. Let the gospel bring fresh joy to your soul. Tell people this verse and mean it! Let John 3:16 encourage you again.
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