From the very outset, let me state that ALL of God’s Word is the inspired Word of God. It is given to us for our instruction and inspiration in order to show us the way to be saved and how we should live a holy life unto Him. When one reads the scripture, they can be assured that all of it has a purpose for our lives. In reading the Bible, a person can rest assured that God is in the process of teaching them something; something spiritual that well help them live life as He desires it to be lived.
I have found that there is one verse that is particularly equipped to lead a person to a saving relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. That verse is the most-quoted verse in all of the holy writings. It is that simple verse that we learn at the earliest stages of our church life when people attended Vacation Bible School and were members of a Beginner’s Sunday School class. You have probably guessed what verse that is. It is John 3:16. We quote it so much and so glibly that we don’t realize the depth of what it is saying. This precious verse in the Bible is so filled with doctrine that it is like having the Gospel packed into a Walnut shell. The problem is that we are not often told what all it does contain so we don’t know what a profound verse of scripture it actually is. We quote it so quickly and with such a familiar cadence that we miss the importance and depth of what John 3:16 actually tells us. I am going to try to give you a quick synopsis of this verse so that the next time you quote it or hear it quoted, you will attach more significance to it.
There are nine different doctrines contained in John 3:16. It is literally cram packed with the things that we need to know about God’s saving grace He has for us. It instructs us in one little verse about God’s statement on His provision for us and where we will spend eternity if we trust in Jesus. Let’s look briefly at these nine doctrines so we can see how God has provided a way for us to live with Him forever.
We first find that there is the doctrine of God and the fact that there is but one God. The original language puts it like this: “For THE God”. It is emphasizing that there is but one God who is involved in this universe. He created this world and all that is in it. He also created all the heavenly bodies in all the galaxies. In our day, people want to make allowances for the fact that there are other Gods involved. There are no other gods involved because they don’t exist. They want to say that there are many ways to get to God. There are not! There is only one way to Get to spend eternity with God in heaven and it is through Faith in Jesus Christ His Son.
The there is the doctrine of Love. “For THE God so Loved the world.” The word for love is actually AGAPAO. It refers to one having a “good mental attitude.” It is mental attitude love. I am so glad that God has a good mental attitude toward me personally. He is in total control of my life and can do with me as He pleases. Actually, with only one word or thought, God could remove me from history and no would even know that I had ever lived. They wouldn’t even miss me or you. I am very glad that He has a good mental attitude love toward me.
Then there is the doctrine of creation. “For God so loved the WORLD.” This word is “cosmos” and it refers to the world itself and all the things God put on it. It refers to the animals, plants and any creatures in the sea or creatures of the air.
This word has special emphasis upon God’s crown of creation, man. The Bible says God created all the universe including the earth. If one believes God and His Word, they cannot be an evolutionist who believes that the things of the earth including man are the by-product of chance. I believe that anyone who believes in evolution has given up their intelligence for the belief in a satanic system of how everything got here. It came into being in an effort for satan to try to erase
God’s position and authority as well as His creative power.
Also, we find the doctrine of Grace. “For God had such a good mental attitude about His orderly creation of things that He “GAVE”. The original language tells us something else here. It means….”He gave at a point in time in eternity past. Revelation tells us that Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” That is in eternity past. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and ate the fruit, God did not have to come up with plan “B”. He already had His plan in place from before the world was formed. It is rooted in eternity past. God took care of our need for salvation long before there were people to be saved. He prepared for you long before there was a you.
Next we find the doctrine of Christ…the Messiah. “He gave His ONLY Son.” The word begotten is supplied here for clarity. The Greek says…”Only.” The word in the language is: Monogenes. It means that Jesus had only one set (mono) of human genes (genes). It shows us the way in which Jesus was prepared in order to be able to die for humans. Scripture says that every person is born with an “old sin nature.” Romans tells us this. It means that we are all sinners because of this fact. We need saving because our old sin nature which we get from our fathers must be dealt with in order for us to be saved. You do not get your old sin nature from your mother. You get it from your father. Now, let’s look at Jesus. His mother was Mary (from whom he could not inherit the old sin nature.) His father was not a regular human man. It is God Himself. So, he didn’t inherit the old sin nature from his mother and he did not inherit it from his Father who is God Himself. The result is that Jesus did not have the old sin nature thereby He is the only person who ever lived who was specially prepared to be able to die for those of us who have the old sin nature and redeem us from sin that the old sin nature brings. Much more could be said about this aspect of John 3:16 but time or space prevents it. But you have been told enough to let you know that the One that God send to redeem us is the ONLY ONE who was perfect in nature and able to save us from our sins. He was the (“only one born that way”).
The doctrine about the extent of salvation is also mentioned in our special verse. “For the God had such a good mental attitude about us that at a point in time, in eternity past, He gave the only one born that way that WHOSOEVER believes “into Him”…. It is plain as the nose on one’s face that God meant that His salvation that comes through Jesus is meant for anyone and everyone who professes belief in Him. The word here means anyone personally and also it includes the whole group as well. Anyone who believes God about Jesus and commits to Him will be saved. No Question asked. Scripture reveals that a person believes “into” Christ. In fact the wording says “whosoever believes “into” Him shall be saved. A person is placed inside of Jesus when they are redeemed (saved). And, once a person is inside of the Savior, they are eternally secure. This is the short version but believe me that nothing can get you unsaved after you have been placed INTO Jesus. This is a spiritual operation which cannot be undone.
We also have the doctrine of FAITH. The word for faith does not mean that they have some whimsical concept of belief. It actually means “to commit to”. A person can say that they believe things that they are not committed to but if they are committed to something they HAVE to believe in it. The Bible tells us that we must be “committed to” Jesus Christ. Most people don’t want to hear this because they have been told that if they “believe” something that’s enough. But if you are committed to, that goes far beyond simple belief. The word translated “faith” actually means “to commit to.” That puts the word “faith” in a different category of meaning. Do you simply believe in Jesus or are you committed to Him. There is a difference.
If we are committed to Jesus, John 3:16 tells us that we will have eternal life. The word “have” means something crucial for us. It actually speaks of your eternal security in Jesus. The word “have” means “to have and to hold and cannot lose.”
That is a very secure statement. The verse says…”that whosoever commits themselves into Him shall “have and hold and cannot lose” eternal life.” There you have God’s statement on how secure a person’s salvation is. Pretty secure I would say! Then it says that we have ETERNAL life. That is more than along time. It is Eternal and it never has an ending because there is no time in eternity. Time will end but your eternal security is not limited by time. It lasts on and on forever.
Now we can see just how much is in that one little verse, John 3:16. So, the next time you hear it glibly quoted just be reminded f what all God has crammed into that one little verse and thank God for his wonderful statement on our salvation.
The more expansive version of John 3:16:
“For THE God had such a good mental attitude about His ORDERLY ARRANGEMENT OF THINGS that at a point in time in eternity past, He GAVE His ONLY son (the only one born that way), that whosoever (past, present and future) believes (commits) into Him, shall not perish (be utterly lost) but HAVE (hold and cannot lose) ETERNAL life (life that stretches from eternity to eternity).”
