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12/24/2016 TheGospelAccordingtoJohn3:16

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EJInternationalEditions
TextOnlyView Weoften
quoteJohn
3:16without
Enrichment considering
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teaches
about
Albanian Bengali Croatian
salvation.If
wewantto
Czech French German fully
understand
thisverse,
Hindi Hungarian Malayalam wemust
hearitthe
wayJohns
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first
audience
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Donatetothisproject. thecontext JoinusonFacebook

oftherestof
Johns
Gospel.

ByCraig
Keener

Ibegan
sharingthe SEEALSO
gospelsoon DownloadFreeApp
Order
ManagingtheLocal afterI ForGodsolovedtheworld:whatitmeans
Church/LeadershipCD. accepted tobelieveinJohn3:16
Christ.I
quicklylearnedthathowIexplaintheprocessofsalvationdependson
whatIbelieveaboutsalvation.Ofthedoctrinesthatareimportantforus
tomaster,salvationisoneofthemostimportant.

John3:16isafamiliarverseaboutsalvation.Weoftenquoteitwithout
consideringwhatitteaches.Ifwewanttofullyunderstandthisverse,we
OrderParacleteCD
musthearitthewayJohnsfirstaudiencehearditinthecontextofthe
All29yearsoftheoutof
printParacletemagazine.
restofJohnsGospel.ThethemesinJohn3:16emphasizepointsrelevant
Excellentsourceof tosalvationthatrecurrepeatedlythroughoutJohnsGospel.These
Pentecostalthemesand themesincludethenatureofGodslove,themeaningoftheworld,how
issues,theologicalarticleson GodgaveHisSon,whoHisSonis,whatsavingfaithinvolves,inwhom
theworkandministryofthe
savingfaithmustrest,andwhateternallifemeans.
HolySpirit,andsermonand
Biblestudymaterial.Fully
searchablesubject/author 1.GODLOVED.
index.
TheultimatecauseofsalvationinJohn3:16isGodslove.Godwasnot
morallyobligatedtosaveaworldthathadrebelledagainstitsCreator,but
thelovethatmotivatedHimtocreateusmotivatedHimtorestoreustoa
positiverelationshipwithHim.

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12/24/2016 TheGospelAccordingtoJohn3:16
Whatdoesthislovemean?Someapproachestoexplainingthisloveare
counterproductive.Forexample,manybookstalkaboutthedifferent
GreekwordsforloveinJohnsGospel.BythetimeJohnwrotehis
gospel,however,peopleusedthesewordsinterchangeably.Nodictionary
canadequatelyexplainthislovetous,whetheritisinGreek,English,or
someotherlanguage.Instead,theexampleofGodslovefillsthisword
withmoremeaningthanitcouldhavepossiblycarriedonitsown.

Forexample,recognizinghowmuchtheFatherlovestheSonhelpsus
OrderAdvanceCD understandHislovefortheworld,forbyloveHegaveHisSonforthe
Longoutofprintbutfondly world.JohnsGospelemphasizesrepeatedlythemutuallovebetweenthe
remembered,Advance
FatherandtheSon.Forexample:
magazineblessedthousands
ofA/Gministers.Nowthe
TheFatherlovesHisSon,whoistrulyobedient(10:17).
entireAdvancearchives30
yearsofinformationand TheFatherlovesHisSondeeplyandentrustseverythingtoHim
inspiration,helps,andhistory
(3:35).
isavailableonCD.
TheFatherlovestheSonforever(17:24).
TheSonlovestheFathersomuchthatHeobeystheFathers
commandmenttolaydownHislifefortheworld(14:31).

TheloveJohndescribesrevealsanintimaterelationship,anaffection
expressedinselfgivingsacrifice.

ParentsandchildrenwholoveeachothercanrelatetoJohnsdescription
ofdivinelove,eventhoughourlovecanbenomorethanashadowofthe
mutuallovebetweentheFatherandtheSon.
Order
ThefirstexplicitreferencetoloveinJohnsGospelappearsinJohn3:16 ConflictManagement
Godslovefortheworld.OnlyGodslovefortheworldexplainswhyHe TwoVolumeSet
wouldsendHisbelovedSon,whomHelovedinfinitelyandeternally,todie
onacross.Lestanyonedoubtthis,JesusteachesthattheFatherloved
theworldjustasHelovedtheSon(17:23).InthefaceofwhatGod
sacrificed,todoubtGodsloveforusisunbeliefthatwoundsHisheart.

TosavetheworldHeloved,Godwaswillingtoendurethepainoflosing
HisSon.TheCrossmakeslovebelievable.Manyatheistsandagnostics
findalovingGoddifficulttoimagine.Theyfeelhorroratthedepthofthe
worldssuffering,buttheyoverlooktheGodwhochosetoembrace
sufferingintheCross.

Iwasonceanatheist,butGodslovetransformedmyheart.Mywife,who
endured18monthsasarefugeeinCongo,experienceddeepsuffering,
buttestifiesitwasonlyGodslovethatgaveherstrengthtoendure.

2.GODLOVEDTHEWORLD.

Theworldistheobjectofsalvation.GodlovednotjustHisobedientSon,
butalsotheworldthatdidnotknowHimandopposedHim.1Godslove
fortheentireworldremindsusHewantseveryonetobelieveinJesusand
receivesalvation.

SomeofJesuscontemporariesemphasizedGodsspecialloveforIsraelor
fortherighteous,buttheydidnotrecognizethatGodlovedeveryone.In
thechapterfollowingJohn3:16,however,someSamaritansbeganto
understand.TheyacknowledgedJesusastheSavioroftheworld(4:42
cf.1John4:14).TheworldincludedSamaritans,whommostJews
despised.IfitincludedSamaritans,italsoincludedallotherpeoples,
includingthosewemightbetemptedtodespisetoday.

ItmaytakemoreefforttobringGodslighttopeoplegroupsshroudedin
darkness,butthereisnopeoplegroupandnoindividualbeyondthepale
ofGodslove.JesusshedHisbloodforall.IfwehonorHissacrifice,wewill
loveandserveacrossethnic,cultural,andreligiouslines.

BecauseGodgaveHisSonfortheworlddoesnotmeaneveryoneis
saveditmeanssalvationisavailableforanyone.John3:17emphasizes
thatGodspurposeinsendingHisSonwasnottocondemntheworldit
wasalreadycondemned.Instead,HesentHisSontosavetheworld.
JesusisthesacrificethatappeasesGodsangerforsins,notonlyours,but
alsothoseoftheentireworld(1John2:2).Salvationisforwhoever
believes.

WeshouldbemotivatedtosharethegoodnewsbecauseGoddesires
everyonetoreceivesalvation.Whenwethinkofunreachedpeople

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groups,werememberthatJesusalreadypaidthepricefortheirsalvation.
However,theystillmustbelievetobesaved.Thisnecessityinvitesusto
followourLordssacrificialexampletodowhatevernecessarytobringthe
unsavedthemessagethatGodlovesthemsogreatlythatHegaveHis
ownSon.

3.GODGAVE.

Godslovemotivatedsalvation,butitwasgivingHisSonthatmadeit
available.Oftenweread,Godsolovedtheworld,asifitmeant,God
lovedtheworldsomuch.Indeed,itdoesimplythegreatnessofGods
love.YettheGreekwordhoutos,translatedsohere,doesnotmeanso
much.Itmeans,Inthisway.Theversesays,ThisishowGodloved
theworld.Goddidnotsimplysayabstractly,Iloveyou.Heprovided
theultimatedemonstrationoflove,offeringHisownSon.

WhatdoesJohn3:16meanbysayingthatGodgaveHisSon?John
3:14explainsthatJesuswouldbeliftedup.JesustoldHisenemiesthey
willliftHimup(8:28).Later,JesuspromisesHewillattracttheworldto
himselfifHeisliftedup.Johnexplains:Jesusspokethistorevealthe
waythatHewoulddie(12:32,33,authorstranslation).Thatis,God
gaveHisSonbylettingHisenemiescrucifyHim.Thephraseliftedup
echoesIsaiah52:13.Godsservantwouldbeliftedup.Isaiah53describes
theSufferingServantssacrifice.

Godlovesusallthetime,butJohn3:16referstoaspecificactoflove.
TheverbtenseJohnusedforbothlovedandgave(theGreekaorist
tense)morelikelythannotimpliesasingleact.GodgavetheworldHis
SonbyJesusgivingHislifeforusonthecross.Likeasacrificiallambfora
sinoffering,Jesustakesawaythesinoftheworld(John1:29).Jesusthus
diedintheworldsstead(cf.11:51,52).

4.GODGAVEHISONEANDONLYSON.

Thetermrenderedoneandonlywasespeciallyappropriatefora
particularlybelovedchild,normallyonesonlychild.AncientJewish
sourcesusedittohighlightAbrahamsobediencetoGod,inthathewas
willingtosacrificehisbelovedson,Isaac.ThisdescriptionforJesus
reiteratesthegreatnessofGodssacrificialloveingivingJesusforus.
SomeJewishsourcesalreadythoughtofthecomingMessiahasGods
son,butJohnthinksofGodsSonhereinaspecialway,intermsof
JesuseternalrelationshipwiththeFather.

ThefactJohn3:16meansJesussonshipinthisspecialsensebecomes
clearatkeypointsinthesameGospel.Johnframeshisopeningprologue
byemphasizingthatJesusisbothGodandintimatewiththeFather,i.e.,
JesusisdistinctfromtheFather,butasGodtheSon.InJohn1:1,the
WordwasGodandwaswithGod,andin1:18theoneandonlyGod,
Jesus,isintheFathersbosom.Likewise,towardtheendofthisGospel,
ThomasconfessesJesusashisLordandhisGod(20:28).Johnwriteshis
GospelsohishearersmayalsobelievethatJesusisGodsSon(20:31).

WeshouldreiteratethepointofoneandonlySoninJohn3:16.By
specifyingthattheOnewhomGodgavewasHisoneandonlySon,John
highlightstheimmeasurableloveGodhadfortheworldingivingJesus.

5.WHOEVERBELIEVES.

AlthoughJesusdeathprovidessalvationforall,onlysomeappropriate
thatsalvation.Godprovidedsalvationfortheworldatgreatcostto
himself.Yetanindividualssalvationisnotautomatic.Thispassage
declaresthatpeoplemuststillreceiveHisgift.Wemustbelieve,thatis,
trustthetruthofthegiftordependonthegift.Christsdeathobjectively
providessalvation.ReceivingJesusbyfaithallowsustosubjectively
appropriatewhatHehasprovided.

Somehaveofferedanappealingmessagethateveryonewillbesaved.
Onecanunderstandwhypeoplewouldliketobelievethis.AlthoughGod
wantsalltobesaved,andwearerighttowantthesame,neglectingthe
meansGodhasprovidedforsalvationhastheoppositeconsequence:it
obscuresthetruthaboutsalvation.InJohn3:18,welearnthatpeople
standunderjudgmentuntiltheyputtheirtrustinGodsSon.God
providedthegiftforall,butwemustacceptHisgift(andlabortoensure
thatothershaveaccesstoit).

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OtherspaymoreattentiontoJohnstermbelievesbutreadintoit
appealingideasthatarenotthere.Some,forexample,affirmthatifone
believesatanymoment,onewillbesavedwhetherornotonecontinues
tobelieveinJesus.Usually,however,wewouldexpectthepresenttense
usedforbelieves(pisteuon)inJohn3:16toimplyacontinuingfaith.

Moreover,theviewthatfaithneednotpersevereignoresthecontextof
John3:16.Shortlybeforethispassage,manypeopleinJerusalemsaw
JesussignsandbelievedinHim.Jesusdidnot,however,reciprocate
theirtrust,becauseHeknewwhatwasinthem(2:2325).

BeingimpressedwithJesusisnotbyitselfsavingfaith.Laterinthe
Gospel,someofJesushearersbelieveinHimbuttheirfaithis
temporary.BytheendofthatchaptertheywanttostoneHim(8:30,59).
JesuswarnedthattheywouldbeHisdisciplesonlyiftheycontinuedinHis
teaching(8:31)andtheyobviouslydidnot.Faithmustpersevereto
theendifitistobetrue,savingfaith.Otherwiseprospectivedisciples
becomelikewitheredbranchesuselesstothevine,fitonlytobeclipped
offandburned(15:6).

OvertheyearssomeofmyclosestfriendshavelefttheChristianfaith.
Onedearfriendconvertedtoanotherreligionanotherbecamean
agnostic.Iwouldlovetobelievetheyremainsavedintheircurrentstate.
Suchabelief,however,runscontrarytoJohn3:16andahostofother
textsfromPaulsletterstoHebrewstoRevelation.2

6.BELIEVESINHIM.

Savingfaithisnotjustperseveringfaithitrequiresaspecificobject.
Somepeoplearguethataslongasonebelievesinsomething,onewillbe
saved.Simplyhavinggeneralizedreligiousfaithdoesnotsave.John3:16
describessavingfaithasbelievinginhiminJesusasGodsSon.Some
peoplecomeclosertobelievinginHimthanothers.Muslims,forexample,
sharewithChristiansthebeliefthatJesuswasavirginbornprophetand
miracleworkersuchrespectforourLordgivesMuslimsandChristians
considerablecommonground.YetJohndeclaresthatsavingfaithaffirms
morethanJesusasaprophetormiracleworker.

ThroughouttheGospel,JesusrevealsHisidentity,ofteninexplicitIam
statementsforexample,theshepherdorthevine(10:1115:1).At
pointsintheGospel,peoplealsorecognizetruthsaboutHisidentity:Jesus
isGodslamb(1:29,36)GodsSonandIsraelsking(1:49)andGods
holyone(6:69).ButtheGospelclimaxeswithThomasrecognitionthat
JesusisLordandGod(20:28).

JesusdefinesThomasconfessionasfaith:Isitbecauseyouhaveseen
methatyouhavebelieved?(20:29,authorstranslation).Thomasfaith
hastherightcontent:JesusisourLordandourGod.YetJesusinvitesa
higherleveloffaith:Blessedarethosewhobelievedeventhoughthey
didnotsee(20:29,authorstranslation).Thatis,thoseofuswhodidnot
seeJesusinthefleshcanstillbelievewhatThomasbelieved,thatJesusis
LordandGod.WecandosowithouthavingbeenwithHimonearth
becauseJesusfirstdisciplesandtheSpiritarewitnesses.

ThissceneistheclimaxofJohnsGospel,andtheclimacticexplanationof
whatJohn3:16meansbyfaith.Johnimmediatelyconcludesthemain
bodyofhisGospelbyadding,inessence:IwrotethesignsthatI
includedinthisbooksothatyou,myreadersandhearers,whodidnot
seeJesusintheflesh,neverthelessmaybelievethatJesusistheChrist,
GodsSon(20:31,authorsparaphrase).WedobetterthanThomas:
withoutseeingtherisenChristfacetoface,werecognizeHimasGodthe
Son.Savingfaithhasaspecificcontent.

AndhowcouldsavingfaithnotinvolveJesus?Iftherewereotherwaysof
salvation,whywouldGodallowHisownbelovedSontofacethepainof
crucifixiononacrossforus?DifferentNewTestamentpassagestalkabout
salvationindifferentwaysmovingfromdarknesstolight,deathtolife,
slaverytofreedom.Butallpassagesshareacommonthread:wecometo
GodthroughJesusChrist.Hepaidthepricenowpeoplemustrespond.
JudaismcannotsaveusBuddhismcannotsaveusIslamcannotsave
usandChristianitycannotsaveus.OnlyJesusChristcansaveus.Only
forthisreasonwouldGodgiveHisoneandonlySon.

7.WHOEVERBELIEVESHASETERNALLIFE.

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ShortlybeforeJohn3:16,JesustalkedwithNicodemusaboutbeingborn
fromGod.Newbirthisthebeginningofanewlifeeternallife.Thatis,
wearenotonlysavedfromjudgment(3:18,36),butwearesavedfora
newlife.Salvationisnotjustwhatwearesavedfrom(death),butwhat
wearesavedforanewlifelivedunderthetrueandrightfulLordof
humanity,ourCreatorandSavior,JesusChrist.Wedonotactgoodto
achievethegiftofsalvationrather,goodnessispartofthegift.Salvation
fromsinmeansthatinsavingus,Godgaveusanewwaytolive.

Whatdoesthephraseeternallifemean?BasedonDaniel12:2,many
Jewishpeoplespokeofeternallifeasthelifeofthecomingworld,
expectedafterthefutureresurrectionofthedead.ThusmanyJewish
peoplelookedforwardtoeternallifeinthefuture.InJohn3:16,andoften
inJohnsGospel,bycontrast,wehaveeternallifeinthepresenttense.
ThismeansthatinGodsSon,whomHeraisedfromthedead,wehave
alreadybeguntoexperiencethelifeofthecomingage.Westillawaitthe
resurrectionofourbodies,butevennowwecanliveinrelationshipwith
Godandoneanotherasaforetasteofthefuture(cf.17:3,21).

ThismeansthattheworldshouldbeabletolookattheChurchandsee
whatthepromisednewworldwillbelike.AsChristianswesometimeslive
shortofourbirthrightbecausewedonotknowwhoweare.Wearethe
vanguardofafutureage,lightsofGodsfutureworldinthispresentone.
Imaginewhatadifferencewecouldmakeinthisworldifweremembered
thatwereallybelongtotheworldtocome,andliveheretotransform
livesandgetmorepeoplereadyforthatworld.

CRAIGS.KEENER,Ph.D.isprofessorofNewTestamentat
AsburyTheologicalSeminaryandagraduateofAssemblies
ofGodTheologicalSeminary.Hehasauthored15books,
includingtheIVPBibleBackgroundCommentary:New
Testament(halfamillioncopiessold)andthefollowing
multivolumeworkswithBakerAcademic:TheGospelof
John:ACommentaryMiracles:TheCredibilityoftheNew
TestamentAccountsandActs:AnExegeticalCommentary.

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS:

1.HowcanwepictureGodsloveforHisSonandforus?

2.Howdosomeperspectivestodaydistortthenatureofsalvation?Are
someofthesedistortionsmoreseriousthanothers?

3.Whatdoeseternallifeinvolve,inadditiontolivingforever?

4.WhatimplicationsdoesGodslovefortheworldhaveforour
commitmenttoreachingallpeopleswiththegoodnewsofHisSon?

Notes
1.Johnemphasizesthesepointsin1:106:5115:18.

2.Seee.g.,Mark4:1420Acts14:22Romans11:221Corinthians
9:27Galatians4:195:4Colossians1:231Thessalonians3:51
Timothy4:1Hebrews2:136:4610:2912:1529James5:19,20
2Peter2:2022Revelation3:5.

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