that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
or God so loved, that he gave his only Son…” (John 3:16), is perhaps one of the most widely recognized and quoted Bible verses in the world. But how often do we really take the time to ponder the depth of God’s love and what it cost Him?
This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.
I have received some really nice and costly gifts over the years; especially from my husband. I know that my husband and family love me and not just because they tell me, but more importantly their actions demonstrate their love. Most people would agree that they know they are loved, because the people near and dear to them show it in some way. In other words, talk is cheap but true love requires sacrifice and action.
As much as my family loves me, they could not purchase forgiveness for my sins or eternal life for me even if they wanted to. But God, the only One who could afford to pay the cost to forgive my sins and give me eternal life, has done so. “For God so loved the world,” that He demonstrated His love when He gave His one and only Son. Therefore, no gift is more costly or precious to me than God’s gift of Jesus Christ. What could be more important than a person’s soul and their eternal welfare?
The beautiful part about John 3:16, is “For God so loved the world…,” that He took action to show His love. His love was much more than wishful sentiment and the gift that He gave cost Him dearly.
We needed a Savior and He graciously gave us One by His grace. Salvation is a gift and we can’t earn it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)
1 John 4:10 says, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT)
Our situation without Jesus was so dire, (Romans 3:23), (Romans 6:23), that God chose to pay an incalculable ransom and sacrificed His Son to get us back.
Jesus lived a sinless life and died a substitutionary death on our behalf. He was punished for our sins so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life. He took the full wrath of God for the sins of the whole world (Isaiah 53:5).
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV)
1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (NLT)
Salvation is a free gift that Jesus purchased with His blood.
The good news is that whoever believes in Him, means the invitation for salvation is open for all to believe and receive what Christ has done on their behalf.
Forgiveness and salvation are to be accepted individually. Each person must recognize that they have sinned; and believe and receive Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior.
John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (NIV)
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:40 NIV)
God so loved the world that He gave His Son to save people from going to hell. God does not want us to perish, but to believe and have eternal life.
2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV)
God is patiently waiting for people to turn to Him through Jesus Christ and be reconciled. He desires peace with us and Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6).
Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.
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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
Additional resources about related subjects on this site:
Podcast: What exactly is hell?
Podcast: What God would send people to hell?
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