For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

                                                                                                                 John 3:16-18 

Today: Read John 3

The gospel is good news. This good news is that regardless of our circumstances in life, God can redeem, restore, and reconcile us. This message hinges on three statements, all found in today’s passage. These three declarations provide the foundation for us to experience forgiveness, power, and hope in our lives.

Statement #1: God loves you!

Biblical love (agape) can defined as affection, goodwill, and benevolence. All of these characteristics need to present for us to claim authentic love. Affection is fondness for someone. Goodwill simply means that we desire to see good things come into the life of another. And benevolence is action. This is the true test of love in that it demonstrates what we are willing to do to help others. The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8). That would mean that all of these characteristics of love would be present in Him. And that is exactly what we see in today’s passage. Consider the following:

For God so loved the world…that’s affection!

that He gave His only begotten Son…that’s benevolence!

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life…that’s goodwill!

The gospel begins with the remarkable truth that God loves you!

Statement #2: Christ died for you!

God’s love is for the world and so is the death of Christ. We see this term “world” used four times in today’s passage. This word can be defined as “the universe, the earth, the whole created order, and the whole mass of men alienated from God.” It is an all-inclusive word. Consider the words of Jesus:

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

                                                                                                                        John 3:17 

John echoes this same truth:

…and He Himself (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

                                                                                                               1 John 2:2 

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 

                                                                                                                   1 John 4:14 

Everything that mankind lost through deception and disobedience, God has redeemed and restored. The death of Christ reversed the curse that was brought about by sin. In other words, the obedience of Jesus on the cross is more powerful than the scheming of the enemy and the disobedience of mankind (Romans 5:18, 20). 

The gospel continues with the wonderful truth that Christ died for you!

Statement #3: Salvation and eternal life are available to you!

So if God loves us and Christ died for us, then why are there people who are not going to heaven? That question is answered in the final portion of our passage. Consider the following:

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

                                                                                                                        John 3:18 

The answer is that many will reject the gospel. Love always demands a choice and a response. Consider the loving offer of a brokenhearted parent extended to a wayward child to come home or a man down on one knee asking the love of his life to marry him and become his wife. Both of these offers originate in love but they both require a response. God loves us! Christ died for us! But the love of God and the offer of salvation in Christ must be received by mankind.

Jesus makes it clear that the difference between a saved, redeemed, and forgiven individual and those who are still under condemnation is in whether one believes or not. To believe is to personally trust in Jesus. It is to confidently surrender our lives to Him and to firmly rely on Him for all things pertaining to life now and into eternity. So why wouldn’t everyone want to receive this love and redemption? Jesus makes it clear:

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

                                                                                                                 John 3:19-20 

Some people want to live life on their own terms. Some people relish living in evil and do not want to deviate from their own destructive plans. These people will not come into the Light that is Christ because they are afraid it will expose them. I personally believe this is the reason that many avoid church, scripture, and other believers. They just feel more comfortable living apart from Jesus. Tragically, this will end in spiritual death.

But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way! The ground is level at the foot of the cross meaning that anyone can come no matter how “bad” they believe themselves to be.

The gospel is complete in the truth that salvation and eternal life are available to you!

I believe that the gospel requires all three of these statements:

God loves you!

Christ died for you!

Salvation and eternal life are available to you!

Just imagine if the opposite of these statements was true. At that point, we could make a theological or doctrinal declaration. We could hold a religious or philosophical opinion, but without those three truths, we could not declare good news. Remember what Paul said, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things” (Romans 10:15).

If you have never experienced the redemptive power of God in your life, I want to encourage you to call on Him today. Admit that you are in need of a Savior and then ask Him to do so. Forgiveness, power, and hope are but a prayer away for anyone who will receive His amazing love.

For believers, the message is simple. Tell the world! Make the declaration of the gospel a regular part of your life as you come into contact with others. Let’s be counted among those who are known to have beautiful feet!