”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16New International Version (NIV)
John 3:16 Devotional
God so loved the world
John 3:16, which states that “God so loved the world”, follows the recording of the conversation between a Pharisee Nicodemus and Jesus (John 3:1-15). Consequently, John ended up stating that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Nicodemus and Jesus
Nonetheless, Nicodemus is recorded to have gone to Jesus at night and acknowledged to Him that He had come from God (John 3:2). Nicodemus argued that only a person who God was with could perform the signs that Jesus performed.
Therefore, Jesus answered him that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). That is “unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter God’s kingdom” (John 3:5).
But Jesus’ statements confused Nicodemus (John 3:9). Because He and his fellow Pharisees related to God through religious works. And Jesus, therefore, told him that he could not receive their testimony (John 3:11).
Jesus also wondered that despite his religious knowledge and zeal over the years, he still couldn’t understand His statements. But Jesus still proceeded to tell Nicodemus that “He had to be lifted up” and “that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).
I want to imagine that later, when Jesus Christ was crucified, Nicodemus did remember His words, and maybe gained an understanding of them. Nevertheless, this is just imagination on my part.
Jesus’ Crucifixion
Therefore, John 3:16 immediately comes after the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. And in this verse, John categorically stated that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
That is God, who is love, demonstrated His love for us by giving His only begotten Son, to die for us on the cross for us. Therefore, God loved us with sacrificial love so that we may each have the opportunity to be reconciled to Him and possess eternal life (John 15:13 and Romans 5:8).
However, God’s love does not negate the fact that He is Holy and Just. This is why, this shocking, amazing love can only be experienced through belief (faith) in the person and work of Christ. This is how God provided a way out of the dominion of sin – He didn’t condemn us (John 3:17).
God knew that without Jesus’ sacrificial act for us, we could not have eternal life. Because the consequence of sin is separation from God and His blessings. And the ultimate separation is death (which is eternal separation from God, yet God created you to love you in fellowship).
Therefore, Jesus’ death on the cross laid the ground for God to forgive and pardon our sins. Consequently, we can have peace with God and be adopted into His family (kingdom).
Believe
We therefore only need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And He was sinless, yet He paid for our sins by dying on the cross in our place.
Consequently, eternal life is for those who believe – that is believers. Therefore, those who don’t believe will not receive the gift of eternal life (John 1:9-13).
Prayer/Blessing
Lord, I thank You for Your amazing love. I receive it in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you haven’t received God’s love, may you receive it today! Amen.
Prayer to Receive and Believe in Jesus Christ:
Lord, I would like to experience Your love through Jesus Christ. I, therefore, confess that I am a sinner who is separated from you. I am truly sorry and would like to turn away from my sinful past to you. Please forgive me of my sins and keep me away from temptation and sin. I believe that your only Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, and is alive. I invite you Jesus to come into my life and become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey you, and to do your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Jeremiah 23-25 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
