Devotion: the Gospel in one verse

Devotion: the Gospel in one verse

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Commentary

John 3:16 is undoubtedly the most famous and most widely quoted verse of the entire Bible. This verse encapsulates the Gospel in one single verse. God loved the world so much that He sacrificed His One and Only Son on the cross to save the world from sin. In the Greek language there are four words for love. Eros is romantic love between a husband and wife. Phileo is friendship love between friends. Storge is love between family members and close relatives. Agape is God’s divine unconditional love for people. Agape is the highest form of love that expects nothing in return. The Greek word used for love in this passage is agape. Here are the 5 components of this verse:

First: God is the originator of God’s love. God is the One who initiates His divine love for us. We love because he first loved us, first John 4:19.

Second: The world is the destination of God’s love. God’s divine love is universal and for everyone irrespective of race, culture, social class, financial status, sexual orientation, and so on. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus, Galatians 3:28.

Third: Giving is the demonstration of God’s love. God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to pay the penalty of sin by His death on the cross. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, Romans 5:8.

Fourth: Christians are the recipients of God’s love. 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, John 3:18.

Fifth: Eternal life is the result of God’s love. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life, John 5:24.

Application

Jesus loved you so much that He died for you even when you did not know Him and were in enmity with Him. He died so that you can have eternal life.

Do you believe in Jesus?

Have you confessed your sin and surrendered your life to Him?

Have you made Him the center of your life?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins for us. Thank You for Your amazing love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.