To most people who grew up in church or near believers, we all know the famous line.
John 3: 16: "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."
To those of us who grew up listening to these words, they were engraved in our hearts, but we never understood their true meaning. Before we can discuss these words, let's first pray.
Heavenly Father,
Your children come before you with heavy hearts, thanking you for this precious hour and for keeping breath in our lungs. We ask you to cleanse our hearts. Remove the sin we have in our souls. Remove all impurities that may stop us from going to Heaven on the promised day. Please keep protecting us. Keep these words we are about to hear in our hearts so that we may not sin against you. We thank you for everything, Father.
In Jesus' name
We pray, and we believe
Amen.
As I was saying, we grew up hearing the words, as God so loved the world, blah blah blah, but we always took them for granted. Let's look at it in parts.
PART 1: For God so loved.
LOVED.
Not judgment, not anger, not punishment for our sins, but love.
Not just any love. Not small love. Not friendly love. Not romantic love. Overwhelming love.
And we are not talking about a human or animal, we are talking about God, Christ's Father. In 1 John 4:8, we are told that "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." God doesn't wait for people to love him first; he loved us first.
PART 2: The world.
God loved whom?
The world.
Not believers, not good people, not the church, not the Romans, not the Israelites. Everyone. Romans, Israelites, good, bad, believer, non-believer. All of us.
Romans 5:8 says it well, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Christ didn't wait for us to change. He died for us the way we were. Sinful, prideful, and many more horrible things. Even the non-believer reading this right now should know that the love of Christ is also on you and that Christ died for you too, and that He wants you the way you are.
PART 3: That he gave
Love is not expressed in words. It is not expressed in thoughts. It is expressed in action.
God didn't tell us, "I love you." He gave us something.
What did he give us?
His only Son, Jesus Christ.
This is the highest form of sacrifice. He gave us his ONE and ONLY Son, what else can he deny us?
Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
The cross of Christ is the greatest form of love that ever and will ever exist. Not words, not feelings, sacrifice. Love requires sacrifice.
PART 4: That whoever believes.
That WHOEVER
No restriction, no qualifications. Anyone who came. Believer or not. Rich or poor. Strong or broken.
God is inviting, just like in Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." He is inviting everybody.
Just like in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
That means people who doubt, struggle to believe. Faith doesn't start with perfection, but a step.
PART 5: Should not perish.
Without Christ, there is not life.
God is loving, yes — but He is also just.
He doesn't ignore sin.
But due to His love, instead of leaving us to our doom, he made a way out.
In 2Peter 3:9 "Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." We learn that He wants none of us to perish. That's why Jesus came down.
PART 6: Have everlasting life.
The goal? Everlasting life.
Not just living forever. Living forever with God.
Life filled with: Peace, Joy, and Purpose.
From now to forever
John 10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
This is not future hope but present transformation.
To all non-believers here:
You don't need to:
-Fix everything first.
-Understand everything fully.
-Become perfect.
You just need to believe.
Even a small step of faith matters
The gospel of Mark 9:24 "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Tells us that God meets us in the middle of doubt.
In short:
- God loves you.
-God gave for you.
-God invites you.
-God wants you.
You are loved
You are loved — before you believe, while you doubt, and even when you struggle. And the invitation is still open.
Believe and have life.
In the name of Jesus, Let us pray.
Matthew 6:9-13
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Have a good day or night.
See you here tommorow.
I hope everyone learnt something.
Don't hesitate to comment any questions, all who want to know more can ask me for my ig or any other social media and we can talk.
May God bless you all Amen!
🙏🙏