"God So Loved The World!" John 3:16
Far too many of God's children
miss the blessed message of this text, by trying to fit it into their
theological system. The Calvinist strives earnestly to make the text
read, "God so loved his elect". The Arminian
tries to make it teach universal redemption, suggesting (contrary to scripture)
that there is no such thing as electing love and distinguishing grace. If we
can put aside the prejudices of our theological systems, and read this verse as
poor sinners in need of divine mercy, we will find much to comfort our hearts
and encourage or faith. Here our Lord plainly declares God's revelation, of his
infinite love to perishing sinners.
"God so loved the world". He did not have to
love the world. There was nothing in the world which merited or constrained his
love, He did not need to love the world. But it was
eternally the pleasure of God to set his heart upon the fallen sons of Adam in
sovereign infinite love! The word "world", as it is used here does
not refer to the extent of God's love, but to the character and condition of
the people whom God loved, "The whole world lieth in wickedness". Men
who had broken God's law, who by their own willful sin had rebelled against
Gods authority; men who were depraved, helpless, dead,
perishing sinners, are the objects of God's love!
"That he gave his only begotten Son." Our
misery was so great that none could deliver us but the eternal Son of God.
God's love was so great that he withheld not the Son of his love. At Mt.
Calvary God gave his Son to die in the place of sinners whom he loved. He gave
his Son over to the hands of inflexible justice, to satisfy the claims of
justice against our sins, so that we might not die.
"That whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We deserve
to die. We were all perishing under the wrath of God. But, by divine
revelation, we have seen the Son of God dying as our Substitute. Believing that
his blood and righteousness alone can satisfy Gods holiness and justice, we
have cast ourselves upon Christ. And now we live!
Don Fortner