In Max Lucado's book titled simply 3:16, the entire book focuses in on just one single verse from the Bible--John 3:16. I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy, sent to Family Christian Stores employees by Thomas Nelson, and I'm so thankful that I did because 3:16, the book, drew me back to what I believe is the single most significant sentence in all of Scripture--3:16 the verse.
Preschoolers can recite it. Football fans paint boldly across cardboard signs. It's brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in moment, yet solid enough to withstand 2000 years of storms and questions. It begins with God, ends with life, and urges us to do the same! Listen to the impact this verse has had on people's lives:
"I love John 3:16 because it is the gospel in a nutshell. It shares God's great love for us, and our great need for him." Mac Powell, Third Day
"John 3:16 is the foundation of my faith. A picture of undeserved, unconditional, and unwavering love from a Father to his kids." Ernie Johnson, TNT Sportscaster
"John 3:16 is the North Star of the Bible. If you align your life with it, you can find The Way home." Anne Graham Lotz
"This is the promise that bears hope for the hopeless. When we finally realize 'I can't do this on my own' this is the Father responding, 'I know, so I've done it for you.'" Jeff Foxworthy
If you know nothing of the Bible, begin here. If you know everything of the Bible, return here. This is the Hope diamond of Scripture!
But before we can get to 3:16, we have to set the stage. It all begins with a silent figure moving stealthily through the darkened streets of Jerusalem. Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, the religious elite who militantly rejected Jesus. So when he decided to seek Christ out and learn from him, he had to do so in secret. Slipping through alleyways and dimly lit streets, Nicodemus finds his way to a simple house where Jesus and his followers are staying.
"Rabbi," he said, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. " (John 3:2 KJV).
Without hesitation, Jesus replies, "
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. " (John 3:3 KJV). I'm not sure what was on Nicodemus' mind that night, but it's clear what was on Jesus' mind. Christ's exposition on salvation reaches it's climax in the sixteenth verse.
John 3:16 (KJV)
"
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "
In this one verse, we see the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ how it relates to us. I want you look at some of the beautiful intricacies of this verse, starting with two simple words...
I. HE LOVES:
"For God so loved the world..." If those words are true, it changes everything, doesn't it? Imagine what the world would be like without God's love... A dark planet hurtling through space unguided, undirected. No hope. No future. Nothing to live for. No greater purpose to our existence. Every death would be an end. Every grave a place of despair.
But God does love the world! We see it in every sunrise... every blade of grass... every fountain of water... every birth... every child's face. God so loved the world!
My little cousins watch these cartoons--Veggie Tales. In case you've been living under a rock somewhere and haven't heard of Veggie Tales, it's this show with computer animated vegetables that tell bible stories. You know, Sunday morning values, Saturday morning fun. Well, at the end of every episode Bob (he's a tomato) says, "Remember kids, God made you special, and he loves you very much!"
Isn't that the message of John 3:16? Isn't that the message the world needs to hear? God made you special and he loves very much. That's the message George Matheson needed to hear. He was only fifteen when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Not to be denied, Matheson continued with his plans to enroll in the University of Glasgow, and his determination lead to his graduation in 1861 at age nineteen. By the time he finish his graduate studies he was completely blind.
But his spirit didn't collapsed until his fiancée returned his engagement ring. She said she couldn't see herself spending her life bound by the chains of marriage to a blind man. He adapted to life without sight, but never recovered from his broken heart.
Years later, as a well-loved pastor in Scotland, George's sister came to him announcing her engagement. He was happy for her, but his mind went back to his own heartache. He consoled himself in thinking of God's love which is never limited. Never conditional. Never withdrawn. Never uncertain. Out of this experience he penned these words:
O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths it flow may richer, fuller be.
The Bible says, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 KJV).
In another of Max Lucado's books, he writes, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart..."
He loves. And because he loves...
II. HE GIVES:
Jesus said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son..." Just to say, "I love you," doesn't really mean a whole lot. Love--agape love--is a verb. It has to be tangibly demonstrated. It has to be proven. God's love included. The Bible says, "
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. " (Romans 5:8 KJV).
That sounds strange to some people. So many people in the world respect the teachings of Jesus. They admire his example. But no matter how they turn it around, they can't see any significance in his death. One man even said, "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. I don't need God to give anyone for me," he claimed. "I've led a good life. Held a good job. People respect me. My wife loves me. I don't need God to give me his son." Maybe you agree. But are we really as good as we think we are? Let's see how well we score against God's basic laws--the Ten Commandments:
1. "You shall not steal." have you ever stolen anything? A paper clip, a peanut? That makes you a thief.
2. "You must not lie." Those who claim they never have, just did.
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." Ever let God's name slip passed your lips in anger or frustration? The Bible calls that blasphemy.
4. "You shall not commit adultery." Before you excuse yourself from this one, Jesus said that if you so much as look at a woman with lust, you've committed adultery in your heart.
And that's just four out of ten. We could keep going, but I don't think we'd fair any better. Most sincere people, when we're honest (when we're alone at night with just our thoughts), we know that we're really not all that good. We all have regrets. We've all made mistakes. The Bible calls that sin. And we do it all the time.
The Bible tells us, "
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; " (Romans 3:23 KJV). Our sin separates us from God. So if any of us are ever going to have a real relationship with our Creator, then it's up to him to find a way to reconcile us. That's where Jesus comes in. He determined to build that bridge with an old rugged cross. He gave himself. He gave Jesus to bring salvation to the world through his death.
In verse fourteen, Jesus alludes to an event in the Old Testament. It's a story told in Numbers 21:4-9. It was a story of sin. The children of Israel--God's special people--had rebelled against God, so God sent poisonous snakes that bit the people so that many died. But this was also a story of grace. Moses interceded for the people and God provided a remedy. He told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up on a pole for everyone to see. Anyone who had been bitten who then looked at the serpent would immediately be healed.
We're in a similar situation. The whole world has been bitten by sin, and the "wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23 KJV). Just as the serpent was lifted on that pole for the people to look to for healing, Jesus would be lifted on a cross for us to look to for our healing. God sent his Son to die, not only for Israel, but for the whole world.
Although God's remedy was sufficient for all of Israel, it was only effective for those who "looked upon the serpent." And although God loves and Jesus sacrifice was sufficient for the whole world, it is only efficient if...
III. WE BELIEVE:
Jesus said that God, "gave his one and only Son so that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish..." This concept runs contrary to our instincts. And it's so simple. We expect a more complicated cure, a more sophisticated salvation. And what about that Bible verse that says, "God helps those who help themselves"? Well, that's not really in the Bible.
No other religion offers what Jesus promises. Judaism sees salvation as a Judgment Day decision based on morality. Buddhism grades your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Muslim earn their way to Allah by performing the duties of the Five Pillars of Faith.
But not Christianity. Jesus calls us to do one thing: believe! Listen to what the Bible says:
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12 KJV)
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18 KJV)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47 KJV)
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38 KJV)
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)
Maybe you're thinking what about baptism, repentance and a changed life? Are you saying those things aren't necessary? No, of course not. Those things are absolutely essential. But baptism, repentance, a changed life, and things like that are not in addition to faith. They are expressions of it. They are acts of faith that work together with our faith to make our faith real.
But what Jesus wants us to see is that it's not because of what I've done, but because of who he is. It's not because of who I am, but because of what he has already done! And all he asks is for us to put our trust in him, and him alone!
Once upon a time, there lived an elderly man whose one and only son proceeded him in death. The man was very wealthy, but because he had no living heirs his estate was auctioned off when he died. People came from miles around to bid on all the wonderful antiques and riches proudly displayed in the courtyard of his manor. The first item up for bid was an amateurish portrait of the rich man's son. No one bid. The attendants grew restless, anxious to bid on the real family treasures. But the auctioneer wouldn't proceed to any other items until the painting had sold. Finally, a sweet young mother, with southern accent, bid on the painting. She had worked in the manor as maid for a little while and new how much the boy meant to his father. Suddenly the auctioneer threw down his gavel and announced that the auction was over. He walked over to the woman, gave her the painting and told her that everything she saw now belonged to her. The elderly man left specific instructions in his will that whoever buys the son, gets it all!
God has done the same thing! The Bible says, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. " (1 John 5:12 KJV).
Max Lucado, has said, "God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself." And the reward is that when we believe...
IV. WE LIVE:
"Whosoever believeth in him," Jesus said, "shall not perish, but have eternal life." Although, people sometimes imagine spending eternity in the clouds, floating around and strumming harps unendingly, that's certainly not the Biblical picture of Heaven.
The Bible describes Heaven as a place that will have rivers, trees, cities, buildings, gates, streets, mountains, and houses (Revelation 21-22). Although its glory will be beyond description, its essential components will be the same as those we find here on Earth. Paradise lost will be paradise restored. Long ago, God declared, "
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth" (Isaiah 65:17 KJV). God's plan for the Earth is not to destroy it, but to redeem it, to renew it, to restore it to the perfect paradise it once was before the fall--before sin entered the world and corrupted it.
Although the full glory of Heaven will be beyond description, we are certainly capable of imagining a better world; a world of beauty and grandeur, a paradise as God intended it to be. But that's not all.
One of the greatest blessings of heaven is what won't be there. No death, disease, or divorce. No trials, tribulation, or turmoil. Without the presence of evil, the New Heaven and New Earth will be like nothing we've ever experienced. In his book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn responds to the question-what won't be in heaven?
No death, no suffering. No funeral homes, abortion clinics, or psychiatric wards. No rape, missing children, or drug rehabilitation centers. No bigotry, no muggings or killings. No worry or depression or economic downturns. No wars, no unemployment... Close friendships but no cliques, laughter but no put-downs. Intimacy, but no temptation to immorality. No hidden agendas, no backroom deals, no betrayals.
What a wonderful world to look forward to. But still there's more. The Bible says that when Jesus comes riding on the clouds "those who have died believing in Christ will rise," and after the resurrection we will be given new bodies! Listen to how the Bible describes our heavenly bodies:
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:41-44 KJV)
Indestructible. Honorable. Glorious. Powerful. Those are words that describe what your new body will be like. In this life, we get old. We get tired. Our bodies just won't do what they used to do. But in eternity, we'll run faster, jump higher, play harder, worship with radiance, and we'll never get tired. Never grow old.
Not only will Christ's coming inaugurate our resurrection, but it will also initiate our reunion. Imagine reuniting with family and friends! Imagine meeting your great, great grandchildren or holding the hands of loved ones you once laid to rest. But most importantly of all we will be reunited with our Creator and Savior. "On the day when the Lord Jesus comes," the Bible says, "
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2 Thess. 1:10).
The most amazing thing in heaven will be our intimate relationship with our Maker and Redeemer. In Heaven, the Bible says, "The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." (Revelation 21:3). We won't need to be drawn into God's presence. We'll live there, constantly and consciously. Our restored relationship with God will offer infinite possibilities. Imagine exploring the depths of God's love, wisdom, and holiness. Imagine forever growing in our capacities to fathom his immensity, immutability, and incomprehensibility. And to top it all off the more we come to know him, the more there will be to know. Jesus will spend eternity revealing to us why he is all the wonderful things he is.
Conclusion:
He loves. He gives. We believe. We live.
It really is that simple. God loves this world, more than we'll ever know. He gave his one and only Son so that we could live forever with him. Apart from him we die. With him we live. Choose life. Choose Jesus!
If you aren't sure you've done that, you haven't. If you want to today, I'd like to help. In any way possible.
I know He lives. I know He loves each and every one of us. I am so grateful to have the knowledge of my Savior that I do, and I am grateful for his atoning sacrifice on my behalf, that I may be able to be cleansed of my sins and return to live with our Savior and Heavenly Father again.
