Chapter 3 Through 21 Of The Gospel Of John
Chapter 3 verses 16 through 21 of the Gospel of John take a moment to explain the major question: Why did God send Jesus to earth? According to John, who may actually be a variety of authors, God sent God’s only son here to die out of pure love for humanity and the world God created, proof that all believers would forever belong to the kingdom of the Lord. John clarifies that Jesus actually is not here to condemn anyone, rather, he is here to bring salvation to the people of the earth. There is a concrete ultimatum: those who believe will be spared from any judgment, those who do not believe will suffer great consequence. This is explained through a metaphor of light and darkness, Jesus being the brilliant light, sin and evil being the darkness.
…show more content…
“God so love[s]” humans with an intensity and boldness that will provide us with unmerited salvation. Through Jesus’s mission of penance, God remedied the central flaw of humanity: our inclination to sin. Yet God does not limit this love. God loves “the world,” which encompasses all people: the faithful, the pious, the non-believers, and the sinners searching for redemption. The emphasis on Jesus being God’s “only Son,” as well as the verb “gave,” highlights the remarkability of mere humans receiving such a unique and personal gift from the Lord. God considers all humanity God’s children, but Christ is God’s bloodline. God expects humanity to not take for granted such a precious, selfless offering. Because of this expectation, the word “believe” must not be taken lightly. This cannot simply be an intellectual belief; it involves a commitment, an identification of faith with the ultimate goal of trust. Yes, God’s glory and power to save “everyone” is accessible, but only those who dedicate themselves to their belief, those who appreciate the gift of Jesus, will have the opportunity to be saved. Those who do not truly believe will “perish” spiritually in hell, far-removed from God's neverending love, joy, and light. This “eternal life” is the promise of God at the end of verse 16, which is followed by a set of instructions on how to reach such a life. Through faith and trust, believers are able to receive the gift and sacrifice of
“God so love[s]” humans with an intensity and boldness that will provide us with unmerited salvation. Through Jesus’s mission of penance, God remedied the central flaw of humanity: our inclination to sin. Yet God does not limit this love. God loves “the world,” which encompasses all people: the faithful, the pious, the non-believers, and the sinners searching for redemption. The emphasis on Jesus being God’s “only Son,” as well as the verb “gave,” highlights the remarkability of mere humans receiving such a unique and personal gift from the Lord. God considers all humanity God’s children, but Christ is God’s bloodline. God expects humanity to not take for granted such a precious, selfless offering. Because of this expectation, the word “believe” must not be taken lightly. This cannot simply be an intellectual belief; it involves a commitment, an identification of faith with the ultimate goal of trust. Yes, God’s glory and power to save “everyone” is accessible, but only those who dedicate themselves to their belief, those who appreciate the gift of Jesus, will have the opportunity to be saved. Those who do not truly believe will “perish” spiritually in hell, far-removed from God's neverending love, joy, and light. This “eternal life” is the promise of God at the end of verse 16, which is followed by a set of instructions on how to reach such a life. Through faith and trust, believers are able to receive the gift and sacrifice of