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.

Read full chapter
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.”

Read full chapter
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. He gave his one and only son (16) John 3:16, the key verse of the whole Bible tells about God, as love. He loved us first. He loved the world full of unlovely sinners who rebelled and betrayed God. He showed that love is giving, sacrificing his best, even his one and only Son as a sacrifice even on the cross. His desire is that no one may perish but have eternal life by just believing in his love. How wonderful is God's unconditional love! 2. Not to condemn but to save (17-21) God sent Jesus not to condemn but to save the world. We all were already condemned because of our sins. But whoever believes in him shall not be condemned. Those unbelievers will remain condemned. This is the verdict: The light has come but they loved darkness hating the light because their deeds were evil. They were afraid of being exposed of their deeds. They don't want to repent. But those who love the truth come to the light to be shown as children of the light.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your infinite, universal, sacrificial and giving love for unworthy sinners. Help me to come to the light as I am as a sinner always and grow as a child of light, who has eternal life.

One Word: Come to the light!