Love

Introduction

John 3:16 has long been celebrated as a powerful, succinct, declaration of the gospel. Of the 31,373 verses in the Bible, it may be the most popular single verse used in evangelism.

The Gospel of John The Gospel of John

This gospel was written by John, (1) the son of Zebedee, (2) the brother of James, (3) one of the twelve original apostles, (4) “the apostle of love,” (5) one of the three inner-circle disciples of Jesus, (6) “the disciple whom the Lord loved,” (7) the author of five New Testament books, (8) the last of the apostles to die, and (9) (according to tradition) the only apostle to escape a martyr’s death.

1. The proclamation of God’s love.

“God … loved the world” This is a tremendous proclamation. First, it is unexpected by man. Nicodemus knew God to be a God of holiness, of law, and of judgment. But the Pharisees did not stress the love of God. One can understand why, for when you consider how evil man is, one would not think God would love mankind. But He does. Second, it is unequaled in religion. Heathen religions have no gods that love like this. Their gods are cruel gods, capricious gods, and corrupt gods. Third, it is unexcelled in its effect. When one proclaims their love for a person, it can affect the person who is loved in a great way. No proclamation of love ever affected man so wonderfully and blessedly as this proclamation of Divine love.

• The pattern of God’s love. “So.” In the Greek, the word translated “so” has several meanings. One meaning is “in this manner … in the way described” (Thayer). This tells us that God’s love is patterned after the illustration which Christ had just given Nicodemus about the bronze serpent being lifted upon on the pole for the healing of the rebellious Israelites. In spite of man’s sin, God’s love provided a remedy for the Israelites. Likewise in spite of our sin, God’s love provided a remedy for us. “So” Christ gave His life on the cross for us.

• The passion of God’s love. “So.” Another meaning of the word translated “so” involves intensity and means “so greatly” (Thayer). God never does anything halfway or halfhearted. If God loves someone, it will be as no one else loves.

• The persistency of God’s love. “Loved.” The word being past tense says God loved us before we were redeemed, not just after we are redeemed. Past tense does not mean He does not love us now. His love is also present-tense which means it is always abiding always with us (Romans 8:39). The past tense here simply shows us how early God loved us. God does not love us because of what we are but because of what He is. “God is love” (I John 4:8).

• The perimeter of God’s love. “World.” No perimeter of love is so large. No love has embraced so many. If we love a few neighbors, relatives, friends, and most of our family, we think we are filled with love. But compared to the perimeter of God’s love, we haven’t even begun to love.

• The proof of God’s love. “Gave.” True love gives. God’s love was not just words, but it was also deeds in that He gave His Son on Calvary for our sins. One can give and not love, but one cannot love and not give. One of the first evidences of love in courtship is the giving of gifts. The offering plate reveals our love for God more than our talk!

• The price of God’s love. “Gave his only begotten Son.” In the last point we saw that love gives; here we see how much love gives. If you love much, you will give much. God’s gift says no one has ever loved so much as God loved.

• The prudence of God’s love. “Gave His only begotten son.” True love is wise. God gave us exactly what we needed the most. No other gift was so needed, so profitable, so fitting. Love is not blind and stupid. Love gets the right gifts for the one who is loved.

• The prerequisite of God’s love. “Whosoever believeth in him.” This is the prerequisite for benefitting from God’s love. God’s love, though great and wonderful, will not benefit you unless you attend to this important prerequisite.

• The protection in God’s love. “Should not perish.” Love protects the objects of its love. First, the nature of the protection. “Should not perish.” The protection spoken of here is spiritual protection. This is the protection we need the most. People are interested in protection—insurance companies prove that fact. But the protection they are interested in is physical or material not spiritual. Second, the nobility of the protection. “Should not.” This is protection which shall never end. There is no exception clause here. It is permanent. What a thrilling fact! God protects us forever once we receive His love gift. This protection will never expire.

• The provision of God’s love. “Should have everlasting life.” God’s love gives the loved one a great provision. First, the excellence of the provision. “Everlasting life.” This is the greatest gift anyone can have. John 10:10 says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This life is more abundant than anything the world can offer. This is the greatest life of all. Second, the eternality of the provision. “Everlasting.” Many things which we buy in stores have warranties on them. But the warranties are all limited. Ninety days seems to be a popular limit on many items. God warrants this gift of salvation, too. It is forever. No merchant can put that kind of warranty on their product. But God can and did. “Everlasting” means once saved always saved. Once you become a child of God, you cannot cease to be His child.

John G. Butler, Analytical Bible Expositor: John (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2009).

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:51 AM September 12, 2023.

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Conclusion