John 3:16 Who is he??? WHAT does it mean???
You see it at football games and anywhere there is a camera. You learn it in Vacation Bible School, and it is probably the most recognized and quoted scripture ever. And for good reason as it tells us the whole story of God and the Bible. If you truly understand and accept this verse you have all you will ever need in this and eternal life.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
Let’s look deeper at these famous words of God....
For God= Everything Good comes from God and this is the ultimate and completed Gift God is offering Man.
So Loved= I love the King James Bible for its accuracy and the beautiful language with its subtle details. Imagine this verse without that little two letter word "so". You see God is not the God of just enough or close enough, but He is the God of abundance and excess. He does not just Love us he SOOOOO LOVES US!!! It is His agape unlimited, unconditional, and unending Love He is to us.
The World= Not the physical creation or planet around us, but us the people that He personally created and breathed the breath of life into. Go back to Genesis and you will find that God spoke everything into existence except man. He got his hands dirty and formed man of the dust of the ground and then made man a living soul by breathing into his nostrils the breath of life.
For God so Loved _________(insert your name).
That He gave= True love demands sacrifice and giving. True love does not take it gives. God did not just say He loved us He showed us His great Love. Many in the world through "Love" and the word around without substance behind it or true meaning. But God always backs up His love and promises with truth and action.
His only begotten Son= God gave His best. Again, true Love demands sacrifice and giving. God gave ALL He had to allow us the opportunity to have a relationship with us. Just as in any relationship we need to give to the other party and sacrifice our wants and desires for them. I often say God did not give his mother-in-law or cousin, He gave His only begotten Son.
That whosoever= What a club we belong to as born-again believers. It is open to ANYONE and there are no requirements you must meet. You honestly can't be good enough or too bad that God doesn't love you. No one is excluded or left out. You are the first one God would pick for His team. What if you were the only one who would have needed Jesus's Love and sacrifice? Guess what the story would have been the same as Jesus would have done what He did for you without hesitation.
Believe in Him= God has done His part and He asks you to simply Believe He loves you that much and that Jesus died for you and is alive forevermore!!! Simple yet hard at the same time.Should not perish but have everlasting life. God's will is that all will come to repentance and accept His love for them. He does not want anyone to die and go to Hell.
That is why we have John 3:16 and the rest of scripture. To tell of a better way, of an answer to our Sin disease, and of a God of love who desires nothing more than a personal relationship with you!!
Lord Jesus I am a sinner and I know I have done wrong in your eyes and judgements. I believe in Jesus that he was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect sin free life, died for me on the cross, and arose alive three days later. Forgive me of my sin and come into my heart and life. Help me begin a relationship with you. Thank you for forgiving and saving me.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, please message me and let me know so I can praise God with you and pray for you.
God Bless,
Pastor Greg Hagan
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