It’s the one Bible verse that we all know, John 3:16. Even non-Christians could probably recite at least some of the verse. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life!” And since this verse is so well known, there is a good chance that it may also be the most misunderstood verse in the Bible as well! To begin with, “Who exactly is this “God” that loves us?” Everyone in the world has a different definition of who “god” is. What makes this “God” so unique? And what exactly is “love” anyway? I say that I “love” pizza and I say that I “love” my spouse. I use the same word “love”, but I can’t possibly mean the same thing! Right?

One aspect of this verse that makes it so well known is that it brings a concise answer to those questions. With only a few words, the Gospel writer John brings great clarity to the Christian faith. Who is God? He is the one who loves us! What is love? That God sent His Son (His only Son Jesus) to save us!

Is this ALL that we need to know about “God” and “love?” Well frankly, yes! If John 3:16 was all that you knew about God and His love for you in Jesus Christ, this would be a sufficient foundation for saving faith! Thanks be to God, that we have so much more in the Bible that speaks to God’s love for you!

One of my favorite verses that speaks of God’s love for us is Romans 5:6-9. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Open your Bible this week and start looking up all the passages that speak of God's deep love for you!

Living in the Love of Jesus!

Pastor Maske