God So Loved the World

by

Adline Andrews

“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.” (John 3:16)

The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse. God’s love is not static or self-centered because it reaches out and draws others in. In this verse God sets the pattern of true love, the basis for all love relationships. When you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of his Son, this being the highest price he could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that he had bought for us. It is a gift, not a reward, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ep. 2:8-9). It is by the atonement of Christ. In the scriptural sense atonement is the expiation of sin by the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. It is the means by which reconciliation between God and the sinner is effected

Some may be repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable, but eternal life is not an extension of a person’s miserable, moral life; eternal life is God’s life embodied in Christ given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever. In eternal life there is no death, sickness, enemy, evil, or sin. When we do not know Christ, we make choices as though this life is all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity. When you receive this new life by faith you begin to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective

To believe is more than an intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in him that he alone can save us. It is to put Christ in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing are also both trusting that his words are reliable, and relying on him for the power to change.

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” (Ga. 3:13).

“And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.” (Col. 1:20).

References

 The New Analytical Bible

  Life Application Study Bible