![]() ![]() ![]() And why did he do that? John 3:16 is clear: he did it so “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The Son was sent by the Father to die for the world. There is an awful lot packed into that little phrase, “he gave his only son…” In brief, it means that God the Father gave Jesus the Christ, who was and is the eternal Son of God come in the flesh, over to death (not to mention all of the other pains and miseries of this life). ![]() And how has he loved the world? It is not that he has an affection for the sinful world, for how could he? But God loved the world by doing something gracious, merciful and kind. It is a succinct presentation of the fabulous news that although the world is sinful, corrupt, and rebellious towards God, God has shown love to the world. And it is no wonder that this verse is so well known and so greatly loved, for it is a marvelous little summery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I think you would agree that the most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16 - “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). And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Galatians 3:1–9, ESV) Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith- just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ![]() And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.” (Genesis 12:1–9, ESV) And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ![]()
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