John 3:16

This best-known verse in the whole Bible expresses the gospel message more clearly and winsomely than any other. Almost every word in it is significant.

Jesus’ mission in the Incarnation (John 3:13; John 3:17) and the Cross (John 3:14-15) resulted from God’s love for human beings. The construction of the Greek sentence stresses the intensity of God’s love. He gave His best, His unique and loved Son. The Jews believed that God loved the children of Israel, but John affirmed that God loved all people regardless of race. According to one commentator, no Jewish writer specifically asserted that God loved His world. [Note: Odeberg, p. 116.] There is nothing in this verse or in the context that would limit "the world" to the world of the elect. This love of God is amazing not so much because the world is so big as because it is so bad (cf. John 1:9). The Father loves the world with the selfless love that provided the Incarnation and the Crucifixion. Galatians 2:20 reveals that the Cross shows the Son’s love.

"The Greek construction puts some emphasis on the actuality of the gift: it is not ’God loved enough to give,’ but ’God loved so that he gave.’ His love is not a vague, sentimental feeling, but a love that costs. God gave what was most dear to him." [Note: Morris, pp. 203-4.]

Christians should not love the world with the selfish love that seeks to profit from it personally (1 John 2:15-17).

The world stands under the threat of divine judgment because of the Fall and sin (John 3:36; Romans 1:18). God in His gracious love has reached out and chosen some people from out of the world for salvation (John 15:19; Romans 6:23). He does not take pleasure in pouring His wrath out on the lost, but He rejoices when people turn from their wicked ways to Him (Ezekiel 18:23). The fact that God allows sinners to perish does not contradict His love. He has provided a way by which they need not perish because He loves mankind. His ultimate purpose is the salvation of those who believe in His Son.

The consequences of belief are new birth (John 3:3; John 3:5), eternal life (John 3:15-16), and salvation (John 3:17). The alternative is perishing (John 3:16; cf. John 10:28), losing one’s life (John 12:25), and destruction (John 17:12). To perish (Gr. apoletai) does not mean to experience annihilation but ruin, failure to realize God’s purpose, and exclusion from His fellowship. The only alternatives are life or perishing; there is no other final state.

Cessation of belief does not result in the loss of salvation.

"We might say, ’Whoever believes that Rockefeller is a philanthropist will receive a million dollars.’ At the point in time a person believes this, He is a millionaire. However, if he ceases to believe this ten years later, he is still in possession of the million dollars. Similarly, if a man has believed in Christ, he is regenerate and in possession of eternal life, even if he ceases to believe in God in the future." [Note: Joseph C. Dillow, The Reign of the Servant Kings, p. 200.]