The best-loved-verse in the Bible is very likely John
3:16. I am currently preaching a
mini-series on this verse that will take about 5 Sundays to explore. It is rich, simple but complex. Less familiar than John 3:16 is 1 John 3:16 (ESV)
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to
lay down our lives for the brothers.
“In 1 John
the author calls readers back to the three basics of Christian life: true
doctrine, obedient living, and fervent devotion.”[1] In 3:16 we can easily see that the
ground for “fervent devotion to our brothers and sisters is the love evidenced
and experienced in us by Christ. In
other words, “Jesus’ path to the cross marks the selfless, self-giving way of
life to which his followers are called.”[2]
But behind
the ethical considerations is this doctrine: “he laid down his life for us.” “Christ accepted the painful death of the
Cross so that we might be saved from eternal punishment.”[3] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep.” (John 10:11,
ESV)
It is clear
in the Scriptures that the death of Christ was intended to actually,
effectually, truly save a group of people referred to as “us” or “the sheep”. Herein we have the great divide in Christian
doctrine: Christ indeed loves the whole
world. How does God love the whole
world? ““For this is
how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NLT). As true as that is, God loves the whole
world, BUT, He did not die for the whole world.
For all whom he died for, He accomplished actual salvation.
The intent of Christ’s sacrifice was that His elect be
saved. The extent was the whole
world. John Piper is right, this
doctrine is also for our joy. “Christians
can be confident that Jesus’s blood will conquer the power of sin and death.
Everyone for whom Jesus died will receive the saving benefits of his death by
faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus’s death victoriously liberates
sinners from sin and disarms the power of the devil.”
No more let sin and
sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground . . ..
Father, thank you for
sending your one and only Son. Jesus, thank
you for not considering equality with the Father something to be held
onto. You voluntarily came and humbled
yourself, being obedient – even obedient to the Cross. Thank you Holy Spirit
for calling and converting us to this glorious plan of redemption. Thank you that it is real, not
potential. Thank you that it is accomplished,
not pending. Amen.
[1] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible
(p. 2426). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible
(p. 2434). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[3] Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., &
Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation
study Bible: bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James
Version (1 Jn 3:16). Nashville: T. Nelson.
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