Perhaps this verse is the most well-known verse of the Bible throughout the world. It has been called “The gospel is a nutshell.” The verse has the words of Jesus, “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
THE GOOD NEWS OF THE VERSE
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son”
Here is the amazing truth about the love of God.
The magnitude of the love. The words “so loved” indicate the magnitude of the love that was shown. It was a love that gave!
The magnitude of the gift. that He gave his only Son.” No greater gift could ever be imagined. It is amazing that the Holy God Yahweh could hand over His Son to die for sinners who were sinful, undeserving and unworthy of His love. Why would He do so? What was His purpose in giving such a gift?
The magnitude of God’s purpose in giving. “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” It was to save humans from perishing. All humans needed to do was to put their trust in Jesus as the One who had died in their place and they would be granted eternal life in Him. They would no longer perish.
THE BAD NEWS OF THE VERSE
“should not perish”. The words seem to be out of place in a verse declaring so beautifully the love of God. But they are there, and we need to consider their significance. Indeed as we consider the words in the context of the whole verse, it suddenly highlights two truths.
i]. The first truth is the state of humankind before Jesus came to earth and died for sinners.
They were in danger of perishing. Did this mean that they would perish when Jesus returned to judge the world at the end of time and would perish then? Or were they in a state of perishing while they were still living on earth?
Some indication might be given in the later verses where Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:17-18.
God’s purpose in sending His Son into the world was to save the world from perishing because it was already condemned. But if anyone believed in Jesus they would no longer be perishing or be condemned.
ii]. The second truth is the magnitude of the love of God seen in Jesus’ death for sinners.
Someone once wrote that one cannot understand or fully appreciate the good news of the gospel until they recognise the bad news. It is true in the lives of many people that when they were first acquainted with the gospel in John 3:16, they were captivated by the concept of God loving them. But their appreciation of the love of God deepened when they came to understand the magnitude of human sin and God’s grace and love in forgiving sinners in Jesus.
Not only that but also granting them eternal life when they trusted in Jesus.
No wonder John was able to declare in writing, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13.
Those who believe in the name of the Son of God “have” the Son and possess eternal life in Him.
What wonderful truths are contained in John 3:16 where God declares that He has made provision for forgiveness of human sins and that all that any human needs to do to be forgiven and receive eternal life, is to trust in His Son Jesus. That means an ongoing commitment to Him for the rest of that person’s life, whilst realising that the new life he has received will take him to spend eternity in the presence of Jesus.
What incredible love God has bestowed on His people through the gift of His Son.
What a privilege to be able to receive that love in Jesus and to live in a secure relationship with Him for eternity.
Blog No.574 posted on Thursday 01 May 2025.
About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
574. THE GOOD AND THE BAD NEWS IN JESUS’ WORDS IN JOHN chapter 3 verse 16.
Perhaps this verse is the most well-known verse of the Bible throughout the world. It has been called “The gospel is a nutshell.” The verse has the words of Jesus, “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
THE GOOD NEWS OF THE VERSE
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son”
Here is the amazing truth about the love of God.
The magnitude of the love. The words “so loved” indicate the magnitude of the love that was shown. It was a love that gave!
The magnitude of the gift. that He gave his only Son.” No greater gift could ever be imagined. It is amazing that the Holy God Yahweh could hand over His Son to die for sinners who were sinful, undeserving and unworthy of His love. Why would He do so? What was His purpose in giving such a gift?
The magnitude of God’s purpose in giving. “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” It was to save humans from perishing. All humans needed to do was to put their trust in Jesus as the One who had died in their place and they would be granted eternal life in Him. They would no longer perish.
THE BAD NEWS OF THE VERSE
“should not perish”. The words seem to be out of place in a verse declaring so beautifully the love of God. But they are there, and we need to consider their significance. Indeed as we consider the words in the context of the whole verse, it suddenly highlights two truths.
i]. The first truth is the state of humankind before Jesus came to earth and died for sinners.
They were in danger of perishing. Did this mean that they would perish when Jesus returned to judge the world at the end of time and would perish then? Or were they in a state of perishing while they were still living on earth?
Some indication might be given in the later verses where Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:17-18.
God’s purpose in sending His Son into the world was to save the world from perishing because it was already condemned. But if anyone believed in Jesus they would no longer be perishing or be condemned.
ii]. The second truth is the magnitude of the love of God seen in Jesus’ death for sinners.
Someone once wrote that one cannot understand or fully appreciate the good news of the gospel until they recognise the bad news. It is true in the lives of many people that when they were first acquainted with the gospel in John 3:16, they were captivated by the concept of God loving them. But their appreciation of the love of God deepened when they came to understand the magnitude of human sin and God’s grace and love in forgiving sinners in Jesus.
Not only that but also granting them eternal life when they trusted in Jesus.
No wonder John was able to declare in writing, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13.
Those who believe in the name of the Son of God “have” the Son and possess eternal life in Him.
What wonderful truths are contained in John 3:16 where God declares that He has made provision for forgiveness of human sins and that all that any human needs to do to be forgiven and receive eternal life, is to trust in His Son Jesus. That means an ongoing commitment to Him for the rest of that person’s life, whilst realising that the new life he has received will take him to spend eternity in the presence of Jesus.
What incredible love God has bestowed on His people through the gift of His Son.
What a privilege to be able to receive that love in Jesus and to live in a secure relationship with Him for eternity.
Blog No.574 posted on Thursday 01 May 2025.
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.