Probably the most well-known bible verse in the world, John 3:16 can be found on tattoos, t-shirts, and even printed on the bottom of some fast food containers. Some have called this verse the very heart of the Bible. But what does it really teach?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
A Verse with a Context
Just like any other piece of writing, bible verses have context. So what is the context of John 3:16?
In John chapter 3, Jesus has an extended conversation with a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus about what is required to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus says that this requires being born again. Our famous verse comes at the end of this conversation and serves to clarify what it means to be born again and how it is that some enter the kingdom of God while others do not.
There are three popular ways to read this passage that fail to account for the context and full meaning of the passage.
1) The “I’m so great” reading
Some readers of this passage will be tempted to think – “Wow, I must be really great if God sent his Son to die for me.”
It is true that you are inherently valuable and dearly loved by God. He created you in his own image (Genesis 1:27). However, there are two important things we must keep in mind. First, God did not create us or save us out of loneliness or because he felt incomplete without us. The God of the universe is complete in and of himself, and has no needs (Acts 17:24-25). Second, the gospel should lead us to consider how great God is, not how great we are. Scripture tells the story of God coming to save us despite the fact that we made ourselves his enemies and sinned against him (Romans 5:8,10). John 3:16 is not about how great we are, but about the amazing grace offered by an amazing God.
2) The “everyone goes to heaven” reading
Some readers of this passage will be tempted to stop reading after the first 6 or 12 words. How many times has someone quoted to me those first 6 words to say that people of all faiths or no faith will go to heaven – for God so loved the world?
God is a God of both love and justice. He loves his creation, but we have sinned against him. Justice demands that sin be paid for. So in his great mercy, God sent his only perfect and infinitely valuable Son to pay for our sin on the cross. Now, the last 12 words of John 3:16 tell us, we must receive his gift of salvation by putting our faith in God’s Son. It is incredible that God would offer us any way to be saved, but this verse and others emphasize that there is only one way (see John 14:6).
3) The “forget the old testament” reading
Some readers of this passage will be tempted to think this God of the New Testament is so much more loving than the God of the Old Testament.
The Bible is one complete story, and God is one unchanging God. The verses immediately before our famous verse (John 3:14-15) demonstrate the Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan throughout the Old Testament. The Old Testament is full of stories of people sinning and God rescuing them. The story of the bronze serpent is just such a story (read Numbers 21:4-9), and Jesus tells us this story points ultimately to him as the one to whom people must look to be saved.
Your Life Today
So what difference does it make whether we properly understand John 3:16 or not?
A misreading of this verse could lead to several critical mistakes: (1) thinking the gospel is about how great you are rather than how merciful God is, (2) thinking that it doesn’t matter whether people believe in Jesus because everyone receives his mercy, or (3) thinking the God of the Old Testament is a different God altogether.
On the other hand, a proper reading of this passage should lead to faith in Jesus which leads to eternal life. It should lead to immense joy and love for God because of what he has done for us in Jesus. It should lead to a passion to share the gospel with others so that people all over the world can receive salvation through Jesus. It should also lead to an appreciation of the entire story of the one God of the Bible.
So let us read, memorize, and share this verse always as a testimony to the amazing love of an amazing God offered to all who believe.
