God’s Greatest Love
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 *all scripture is NIV unless noted
Due to Valentine’s Day, February is a month where we tend to focus on love. Whether it is a galentines gathering or dinner with a loved one, the month can be filled with special acts of love and admiration. When it comes to scriptures on love, many of us would have our hearts and minds turn to one of the most beautiful passages that encapsulates the deep love of the Father, John 3:16. As children, we learned it in Sunday School, Awana’s, and today even see it plastered on the faces and arms of athletes, which alone causes many people to Google and read this verse that shows the deep love the Father has for us.
Some may think this is a simple verse, a Sunday School verse to memorize, but honestly, it is the one of the greatest verses in all of scripture that spells out God’s deep love for us.
The object of God’s love is for the world. Back in the time of the disciples, many people, including the disciples who were preaching the good news of Jesus, had a hard time believing that God could love anybody except Israel, the Jews. We see this all throughout the gospels and even into Acts, specifically in Acts Chapter 10, after Peter had a prison escape facilitated by an angel of the Lord.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water, They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
Acts 10: 44-47
After Jesus ascended into heaven and they began their traveling ministries, they were astonished every time the Holy Spirit would come upon a gentile. Each time it happened their faith was strengthened more and more with the fact that the gospel of Jesus was for everyone. God’s desire is that nobody would spend eternity away from Him.
The expression of this love is a reminder that there needed to be a sacrifice. God willingly gave His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for you. He didn’t just feel bad for us, He did something about it, to reconcile the chasm of sin between God and man.
Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed once for all when offered himself.”
Hebrews 7: 27
Up until this time, believers had to go to the temple and make a sacrifice to atone for their sins. No longer would believers need to offer sacrifices of perfect lambs in the temple. God gave the one and only perfect Lamb once and for all.
The recipient of this love is the world. Everyone. It doesn’t matter what you have done, if you feel worthy, what your background is or economic status. We all have the right and privilege to be called sons of God. However, we don’t receive or benefit from that love until we believe in Jesus and acknowledge Him with our mouth.
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
We all have the opportunity to receive this gift and it is a matter of speaking and believing that what God says is true.
The intention of this love is that none would perish. God doesn’t want one single person to not know him personally.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
God’s clear desire is that all would be called his children.
The duration of this love is for eternity. God will never stop loving his people. People don’t think about eternity much because it is overwhelming to picture. But one thing is for sure, it would be miserable without Him.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
Once we become a child of God and accept the gift of this love verse, John 3:16, we have the security of an eternity in the presence of our Creator and Lover of our soul.
Prayer
Love. There is so much power and promise in this one verse. Praise the Lord for His love that is greater than anything we know. Give thanks that He offered the perfect sacrifice so we could truly know Him and be known by Him. Spend time this week in prayer, and even journaling, about this thought - there is no greater love than that of our Heavenly Father laying down the life of His only Son Jesus, so that a perfect sacrifice could be made for our restoration in order to have the promise of eternity with Him. Praise Him. Pray for those in your world that don’t know him yet. Pray for the gospel to reach the ends of the earth, the lost we don’t know personally. Pray that His return will come soon to be in His presence for all of eternity.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2: 11-14
