God So Loved the World

God So Loved the World | Devotional

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:7–8

As much as God hates sin, He loves sinners. Set against the dark background of our sin, the grace of God becomes all the more wondrous. The most familiar passage in all Scripture is John 3:16.

Without an understanding of the wickedness of sin, however, we cannot grasp the tremendous significance of this verse.

“God so loved . . .” Why would God love me despite my sin?
“God so loved the world . . .” Why would God love a whole world of sinners?

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son . . .” Why would God’s love for sinners be so compelling as to make Him sacrifice His beloved Son in such agony and humiliation?

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him . . .” Why would God make salvation so simple for sinners, requiring only faith of us, and having done all the necessary expiatory work Himself?

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish . . .” Why would God want to exempt sinners from the judgment they themselves deserve, even to the point of allowing His only begotten Son to accept that judgment on behalf of those who do not deserve His mercy?

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Why would God want to give everlasting life in His presence to sinners who have done nothing but oppose Him and hate Him?

The answer is found in God’s grace (Eph. 2:4–5).
How do you react to God’s free offer of salvation?
The Vanishing Conscience, 118–119