Young People's Group

For God So Loved the World

by Mitchell Tan
March 11, 2021

THE DECLARATION OF THE LORD’S GREAT LOVE

The love of the Lord God is truly immeasurable. There is nothing quite like it. This was something that the Lord Jesus declared as He was teaching Nicodemus about eternal life, the kingdom of God and having faith in Him. He spoke of how the Son of God was specially sent to this world because of the great love of God.

“For God so loved the world …”
John 3:16

The world was created by God and yet it had become most sinful. It is a world that hates God and chooses to sin against Him. Despite how wicked and corrupt it is, the Lord God still loves the world. Why would God do that? He loves the world because of the covenant that He had made with Abraham. It is through him that all the nations of the world will be blessed (Genesis 22:18). God loves because He had made this promise. Thus, He continues to love the world despite its sinfulness.

THE DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S GREAT LOVE

“… That He gave His only begotten Son …”
John 3:16

The great love of God was demonstrated through the gifting of His Son. The fact of the Lord’s great love is seen in the act of the gift of His Son from above. The Lord Jesus is the one and only Son of God. And He is dearly and fully loved by His Father in heaven. Yet, He was willing to give His beloved Son to die for us that all nations of the world will be blessed. He chose to give that which is most precious to Him for a world which is most rebellious. What kind of love this is! It is matchless!

THE DEFINITE PURPOSE IN SENDING JESUS TO SAVE THE WORLD

“… That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:16-17

The Lord Jesus was specially sent to save the world. He is the lamb of God that will take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He was going to be the ultimate sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind. He did not come in His first coming to condemn the world. He was sent by God to be that instrument by which all of us can be saved. He is our only hope.

THE DECISION TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD

“That whoever believes in Him”
John 3:16

Whether we would be saved is dependent on whether we would believe. The person who truly believes in the Lord will not perish. He will be saved and have eternal life. The decision is for us to want to believe. We should be deeply moved by the Lord’s love. We should believe because of His love.

“HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US …”

The Apostle Paul wrote of how God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). His love toward us was shown in His gift for us. The Apostle John also wrote later of how His love was manifested toward us in that God sent His only Son into the world that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9). The love of God was shown forth toward us that we might live through the person of Christ The love of God should impact us deeply. Let’s respond to the amazing love of God. Let’s believe in the Lord Jesus!

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