TOPIC:“Don't Forget God Loves You”
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (3:16)
The Bible verse John 3:16 has been called “the Gospel in a nutshell.” All aspects of the Gospel can be found in this one verse. It is the greatest verse in the Bible. It is the golden text of the Word of God. It is known by more people than any other verse in the entire Bible. I don't believe you could travel to any country throughout the world where the words of John 3:16 are not known and appreciated.
Such love as portrayed in this verse goes beyond the comprehension of man's mind. It defies our understanding for it tells of a God who loves people even though they don't love Him. This is why one of the great pulpit voices of the past, William B. Riley, wrote: “In thirty years of pastorate in one church I have dared this text but once. This neglect is not from lack of appreciation, but, on the contrary, from a conviction that its understanding and interpretation are beyond me.” Or as D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of past years, when speaking on this text declared: “My message is on fire tonight, and I wish it might be burned into every heart.”
I wish each one of you will look with penetrating eyes into this verse for fresh truth and greater insight into God's amazing love.
Consider, to begin with, the EMBRACE of God's love. We read in this verse these words: “For God so loved the world.” That's us! God's attitude towards the sinner is one of love. And the word translated "love" is the noblest and strongest in the Greek. It denotes an act which comes from the very heart of God.
Think of this amazing truth. This whirling planet which swings in its orbit and turns on its axis is composed of a class of people that God loves. The word “world” takes in all of mankind. What a startling truth - the worldwide love of God - this must have been . . .