John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish… I. IN THE GIFT. Men who love much will give much. Little love forgets to bring water for the feet, but great love breaks its box of alabaster. Consider — 1. What this gift was. The Father's other self. What more could He give? Could you fathers give your sons to die for your enemy? 2. How God gave it: not as you, to some honourable pursuit in which you would not be deprived altogether of your son's company, but as an exile to be born in a manger, to toil as a carpenter, and to die as a felon. 3. When He gave: for there is love in the time. (1) Jesus was always the gift of God. The promise was made as soon as Adam fell. Throughout the ages the Father stood to His gift. Every sacrifice was a renewal of the gift of grace. The whole system of types betokened that in the fulness of time God would give His Son. Admire the pertinacity of this love. Many a man in a moment of generous excitement can perform a supreme act of benevolence and yet could not bear to look at it calmly from year to year. (2) It includes all the ages afterwards. God still gives. II. IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION. What is it to believe in Jesus? 1. To give your firm and cordial assent to the truth of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. 2. To accept this for yourself. In Adam's sin you did not sin personally, but by committing personal transgression you laid your hand upon it and made it your own. In like manner you must accept and appropriate the atonement of Jesus. 3. Personal trust. III. IN THE PERSONS FOR WHOM THIS PLAN IS AVAILABLE. God did not so love the world that any man that does not believe in Jesus shall be saved. "Whosoever believeth." 1. From the moralist to the utterly vile; from the grey. headed sinner to the boy or maiden. 2. It encircles all degrees of faith. IV. IN THE DELIVERANCE. Whosoever believes shall not perish, though he is ready to perish. To perish is to lose all hope in Christ, all trust in God, all light in life, all peace in death, all joy. V. In THE POSSESSION. God gives to every man that believes in Christ everlasting life. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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