FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

Passage: John 3:16-21

Key verse: 16

NIV

16 For God so loved(A) the world that he gave(B) his one and only Son,(C) that whoever believes(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(E) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(F) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(G) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(H) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(I) 19 This is the verdict: Light(J) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(K) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(L) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

For God So Loved the World

16 “For (A)God so loved (B)the world,[a] (C)that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not (D)perish but have eternal life. 17 For (E)God did not send his Son into the world (F)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 (G)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (H)believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 (I)And this is the judgment: (J)the light has come into the world, and (K)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (L)their works were evil. 20 (M)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (N)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (O)does what is true (P)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

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Footnotes
  1. John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Not to condemn, but to save (16-18)

God loves all the people in the world. He loved Nicodemus too. He showed his love by sending his beloved Son to die for the sins of the world. We are all swimming in a sea of death because of our sins. Jesus came to save all people who put their trust in him. When we receive Jesus, we are accepting God's loving, saving hand extended to us. He gives us eternal life. When we reject Jesus, we are condemned, not because he condemns us, but because we are already condemned because of our sin.

2. Come to the light (19-21)

To come to the light means to repent and come to Jesus. Men reject Jesus because they love darkness; they want to cling to sin. Proud people don't want to have their sins exposed by God's light. They don't want to repent. Those who love truth come to the light, no matter what the cost.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and grace which saved me from sin. Help me to live in your light with a repentant heart.

One Word: God loves even me