Nov 8, 2020
Scripture Reading: John 3:16-21
The most beloved and memorized verse in the Bible is John 3:16. In this wondrous sentence we have a summary of God’s glorious plan for securing a people for Himself for all eternity. Considering who God is and who we are, the actions of the Almighty on our behalf in this verse are staggering to see.
First, there is a warning in this verse. For those who do not hope in Jesus Christ, there is a perishing. This perishing is not just to die and leave this world. This perishing is more than physical death. It is an eternal, conscious punishment away from the presence of God (2 Thes 1:9).
Second, there is a plan revealed in this verse. God the Father, because of His infinite love for us, sent His only Son to die on our behalf. Nothing God could have given would have been more precious than His Son. It shouts to us of the depth of His love.
Third, there is a plea in this verse. Believe! Whoever believes in Christ has life. This belief is not just agreement with the facts about Jesus, but a wholehearted trust in Him alone.
Fourth, there is a promise in this verse. For those who hope in Jesus Christ, they have eternal life. Their hearts are changed and they are never again separated from God. To know Him is eternal life (1 Jn 5:20). Immortality is a reality in Jesus Christ. He is the answer to the soul’s longing for life, because He is life.