(John 3:16-17)1NIV New International Version Translations – “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
This is an amazing statement! The “Kosmos” world, the world that God created, is the world that is opposed to God. How could God love such a world? Martin Luther, a 15th-century theologian, said, “If I were as our Lord God and these vile people were as disobedient as they now are, I would knock the world to pieces.” The miracle is that God does not!
The Bible says Jesus came to overcome the world. But why is the world against its very Creator? That’s a profound question. We might start by trying to understand humanity’s sinful nature and how it led to rebellion against God. This began with Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Sin created a separation between humanity and God, leading to a natural inclination to resist His ways. Our “Free Will” allows us to establish values and priorities of the world that conflict with God’s teachings, and His Truth. For example, the world may prioritize wealth, power, and self-interest, while God calls for humility, love, and selflessness (1 John 2:15–17). The Bible teaches that our world is engaged in a spiritual battle between good and evil. Satan is referred to as the “prince of this world” (John 12:31). He seeks to lead people away from God and His truth. God’s response is not just a weak indulgence to His creation but a divine self-sacrifice. God could have easily ignored the world’s sins and allowed people to live in darkness. We deserved that treatment. However, that would have reflected apathy, not love. As any earthly parent knows, letting the child run wild is much easier than real hard parenting. The term “loved” translates from the Greek verb agapao. The noun form agape is not merely emotional love. It is the love of genuine interest, that of determined dedication. It is love that acts out of concern for others.
Despite mankind’s failures in handling their gift of free will, God sent his Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Martin Luther referred to this verse as “the gospel in miniature.” God’s motive is love, and His objective is salvation. Furthermore, God not only offers salvation but also provides an opportunity to live and enjoy this world. This is the first mention of eternal life in this Gospel. It is mentioned seventeen times, fifteen from the lips of Jesus. The word, “life” also appears frequently. We tend to think of eternal life as life without end (John 6:58). However, it also refers to a quality of life lived in the presence of God. Later, in His prayer, Jesus defined eternal life this way, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). According to that definition, eternal life begins now in this world for those who know the Father and the Son.
Those who obtain eternal life are the ones who believe in His Son. Jesus’ message questioned the existing state of society. He opposed the religious and political leaders of His era. His teachings on love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God were revolutionary and often met with resistance (John 15:18–19). Jesus came to overcome these challenges and offer a path to reconciliation with God. His life, death, and resurrection provide a way for humanity to be restored to a right relationship with God (John 16:33). A relationship with Jesus allows us to enjoy our world now and His world forever.
John 3:16 is probably the most loved verse in the Bible, and we hear it frequently. It suffers from being so often repeated apart from its context. John 3:17 gives us part of that context, stating God’s purpose in sending the Son. It is not to condemn (krine) the world but to save it. Krine can mean either judged or condemned, but in this context, it means condemned. God sent the Son to save the world, not condemn it!
(John 3:18) – “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
We dare not take the gift of God’s Son lightly. It cost the Father the life of His Son. How can the Father offer mercy to those who reject such a precious gift? If God needed to send the Son to save the world, it must be that the world needs saving. The world, therefore, must be very lost. The Son’s work is beneficial only if the world accepts God’s plan for salvation. In John 3:18, Jesus completes the context of His statement in John’s Gospel, “Whoever believes in him will not be judged. But whoever does not believe has already been judged because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
We should take courage because Christ has already conquered the world for us. None of us knows how to act if brought into temptation. Humanity is weak, we will fail. So let us watch and pray without ceasing, that we may not be left to ourselves, and by trusting in Jesus and knowing that we can overcome our worldly nature.
Contemplation
- Do you think our society understands why it deserves to be condemned?
- Ideas to Explore: How can we compare the direction Jesus desires for us to our lives? What standards and influences will we use?
- God is a “gold star” parent. Why do you think it is so hard to relate to God being a parent, and having a Son?
- Ideas to Explore: We don’t think about the nature and character of God enough. We spend too much time limiting our understanding of God to that of humanity.
- Why does God “Love” His world so much?
- Ideas to Explore: All creators, whether in art, life, books, buildings, etc. usually love what they have created.
- What makes humanity weak and unable to save itself?
- Ideas to Explore: Free Will allows for the existence of evil. We are too self-centered.
- Is it possible to save humanity without God?
- Ideas to Explore: Why or why not?
- This study suggests that humanity can save itself by making a “choice.” What would you say to those who believe that God does not matter and that we are all predestined to our fate?
- Ideas to Explore: Not all will be saved?
- How would you summarize the “Good News” for our friends, family, and world?
- Ideas to Explore: Here is where a good testimony on your faith and beliefs comes in handy.
- 1NIV New International Version Translations