John 3:13-21

Let’s quote the verse together. You know it. I know that you know it, and if it’s possible where you are and it won’t create any trouble, just quote the verse with me. John 3:16. “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.” You know John 3:16 is almost an index to the Gospel of John. When you read the Gospel of John and start marking the words that are repeated, you find these words: “love,” “God so loved the world.” Fifty-six times in the Gospel of John, John talks about love. “God so loved the world.” 71 times the word “world” is used. You see John was concerned that the whole world know about the love of God. “Believe,” 98 times in the Gospel of John you’ll find “believe.” “Believing in the Lord.” “Life,” 36 times. That’s one of the key words in the Gospel of John: life. “The light of life,” “the breath of life,” “the water of life.” Jesus said, “I am the life.” Yes, John 3:16 is the index to the Gospel of John.

What is the message? That there is a loving God. Not just a God of power, not just a God of wisdom, a loving God, a giving God. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” You recall in the Old Testament Abraham was told to give his son on the altar, but Isaac was rescued! Nobody rescued the Lord Jesus. The loving God is the giving God. And the giving God is the saving God. “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

But I must be true to this text and point out that this saving, giving, loving God is also a judging God. “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is not condemned; but He that believes not is condemned already” (vv. 17-18). He’s a judging God. Will you trust this loving, saving, giving Savior today?