God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
a biblical verse from the New Testament, specifically John 3:16. This verse is one of the most quoted and well-known verses in the Christian Bible and serves as a cornerstone for many Christian beliefs.
Here is a breakdown of the meaning of the verse:
- “God so loved the world”: The verse begins by asserting that God has an immense love for all of humanity and creation.
- “He gave His one and only Son”: This refers to the Christian belief in the incarnation, where God sent Jesus Christ, His “one and only Son,” into the world.
- “Whoever believes in Him”: The verse specifies that the benefits of this divine act are available to anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ.
- “Shall not perish”: The term “perish” is generally understood to mean eternal separation from God, often described as eternal damnation or suffering.
- “But have eternal life”: Instead of perishing, those who believe will have “eternal life,” which is often understood to mean not just unending life, but life in eternal union with God, marked by peace, joy, and divine love.
In summary, John 3:16 encapsulates the Christian belief that through the act of sending Jesus Christ into the world, God has provided a path for humanity to escape eternal damnation and to have eternal life. The only requirement is to have faith in Jesus Christ. This verse is often cited to emphasize the universality of God’s love and the accessibility of salvation to all people, irrespective of their background or past actions.
