THERE are few verses, if any, more familiar to men's ears than John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." But there are many who fail, to grasp its wondrous fullness and blessedness. There is more than enough contained in it to make every sinner who receives its blessed contents by faith, happy both now and forever. 'Let us ponder these life-ministering words.
First of all, we learn who is the source of the love—God Himself. God is love. It is His essential nature. The blessed Author of all things, the Self-existent, eternal God, is love. And from Him love flows. All His ways are characterized by it, whether in heaven or in earth. Perfect, unchanging, boundless, eternal love is there. GOD IS LOVE.
Now there was a moment when that love gave a manifest expression of itself towards an object. And, here a precious little word of two letters is introduced to convey to us its fullness and extent, "so." God so loved. Who can fathom its depths?
You have the heart of God Himself there. No cold formal statement, but all the warmth and affection a the heart of hearts, the heart of the Blessed Savior-God told out in loveliest simplicity—God so loved. It speaks volumes to the heart that receives it. Meditate, as you read these lines, upon the infinite depth of meaning in those soul-winning words.
And what was the object of so great love?
Wondrous to say, a world steeped in sin and wickedness! Not one lovely and attractive in itself, but a world full of enmity and hatred against God, that was opposed to both light and love. A selfish, self-satisfied world, whose heart's desire was to live without Him. But the love of God goes out to an object utterly unworthy in itself. “For God so loved the world." Not a favored part of it, nor a' favored people in it here, but the world at large, the whole world, this world of poor guilty hell-deserving sinners, fulfilling the lusts and desires of their own poor deceitful hearts.
Already man in the world had been put to the proof; the holy law of God had clearly manifested that love was not there, neither to God nor to his neighbor. It was then, when the fullness of time was come, that the full expression of God's wondrous love came out. He no longer demands of man, but gives to him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave:" And gave what? Wonder of wonders!
Gave His only-begotten Son. Can it be true? Yes, gave His only Son. We are often so familiar with it, that we treat it as a matter of course, and lose sight of the immensity of the gift. And many pass it by, without scarce a thought; and yet such wondrous love is enough to break the hardest heart. The gift of Christ can alone give us an idea of the infinite depths of meaning in the words “so loved." He withheld not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. He looked from His holy dwelling-place upon this world of ruined sinners, guilty, lost; and—instead of sweeping it with the besom of judgment, so richly deserved— so loved, that He gave His only begotten Son.
Wondrous story! The Son of God come down into this lost world to save! the Son of God become the Son of man, the delight and joy of the heart of God, and yet here to do His will even unto death! He went to the cross, bore the whole judgment of God, and glorified Him. God is light as well as love, the Holy One who dwells in light unapproachable. Hence the hiding of His face from His Son at that awful moment when He was made sin. And such was the infinite value of that sacrifice, that in view thereof, we hear the Lord saying, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Blessed, joyful news! All are invited now to participate in His wondrous love. And righteously so, because the claims of His holiness were perfectly met.
None need reap the consequences of their folly and sin. Salvation now is for "whosoever." Where is there one that is not included there? Who can get outside of whosoever? The vilest need not despair, so long as "whosoever" is in John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16); and the word of the Lord endured' forever.
A life-long sin may be pressing upon the conscience of someone reading these lines, and Satan may be thundering his accusations in your ear, but the glorious gospel word "whosoever," from the lips of the Son of God, is enough to silence every foe and every fear. "Whosoever" simply means everybody, anybody, all, you. Are you clear as to this? Do you accept it? If so, now one word more only is needed, and the link for your soul is on, and that is "believeth." "Whosoever believeth." “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth," &c. What could be more simple or more blessed? Dost thou believe?
You may know all about it, see it all as clear as daylight as so many facts, but unless you believe you will remain just as you were—guilty, ruined, lost. You must believe. You are responsible to believe. To believe is to honor God. To disbelieve is to dishonor Him. And to believe, is to have—to escape eternal punishment, and to have eternal life. For, whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Weigh these precious words, weigh them now, in the presence of God. Here you are, a sinner under the judgment of a holy God, in danger of perishing everlastingly; but God so loved this poor world, of which you form part, " that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever (that's you) believeth in him (well, do you?) should not perish (He says so), but have everlasting life (and His word is forever settled in heaven).”
It is blessedly simple. Your eternal weal is wrapped up in this precious verse. Faith in the Savior, the only Savior, Jesus, the Son of God, is enough. As a little hymn says, "Believing doth suffice." The moment you believe in Him, the blessing is yours. "Believeth in him," not in yourself, and your own wretched doings, for "in all your doings your sins do appear" (Ezek. 21:2424Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. (Ezekiel 21:24)); but in Him, the victorious One, who went to the cross, glorified God, vanquished once and forever the whole power of death and hell, and came forth triumphant, a Savior offered to all by God Himself, God who is love!
Once again then, dost thou believe in Him? Not about. Him, as an historical personage; but on Him, the Living Christ, the Living Son of the Living God. Can you say simply in the presence of the Searcher of hearts, "I do"? Very well then, you shall not perish, but have everlasting life. He says so, and His word endureth forever (1 Peter 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)). "Not perish!" precious, precious promise.
Delivered now, once and forever, from the lake of fire; and "everlasting life," the free gift of God, yours! "The gift of God is eternal life" (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). He that believeth hath. They go together; believing is having. Should not perish, but have everlasting life. Have, have, HAVE!
Look at the whole verse once again. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). It begins with God, and ends with life. It begins with God, who had no beginning and has no end, the eternal God; and it ends with life, which has no beginning nor end either, for Christ is that life (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)). And the believer has this life in the Son. “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:12, 1312He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:12‑13)).
And if you have eternal life, then are you heir of eternal glory. You have eternal life in the Son, and you will shortly have eternal glory with the Son. What have you to do, then, till that day?
To follow Him. Live the life you have. “To me to live is Christ."
E. H. C.