John 3:16 - Explained
"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."
The verse starts with the word for — a word that connects what has been said previously with what is about to be said. It is going to give more details about how believing on the Son is what gives you everlasting life. And when it says God here, it is referring to God the Father. We know this because later in the verse it talks about giving his only begotten Son — the Son of who? God the Father.
For God so loved the world. The Bible is expressing the love that God the Father has for the world. The most painful thing you can experience as a father is something happening to your children. I would much rather as a father have something happen to me than to my children. And it shows that God the Father loved the world so much that he was willing to give up his only begotten Son. And notice it says he loved the world — not a certain group of people, not a certain nation, not a certain religion. He did not just die for the elect. He did not just die for the Jews. He died for all people, which destroys Calvinism and a lot of false teachings out there.
Love is proven by action, and the proof of this love is that he gave his only begotten Son — referring to Jesus Christ. Now there is a distinction in the Bible between the phrase only begotten and first begotten. First begotten implies that you are not the only one. When the Bible says Jesus is the first begotten of the dead, what it is saying is that he is the first one to actually receive the resurrected body. Jesus rose again and for saved people living now, at the rapture they are going to receive the glorified body along with those that are asleep in Jesus. So Jesus is the first begotten of the dead. But when it says only begotten here, what it is saying is that Jesus Christ is the only one with the very nature of God. This is the main chapter that talks about being born again, and if you believe on Christ you are a son of God — but you are not a begotten son. Only begotten is referencing how Jesus has the very nature of God, because Jesus Christ is God.
That whosoever believeth in him — anyone that believes in him, referring to Jesus Christ. Believing in God or believing in one God is not enough to get you to heaven. You have to believe in him specifically. And notice what it does not say — it does not say you have to repent of your sins, go to church, or get baptised. If somebody believes but they do not live a good life, do not go to church, and do not get baptised, they will still receive everlasting life according to the Bible. They will not perish. They will not go to hell. They will receive everlasting life.
You do not have to wait until the end of your life to find out if you are going to heaven, because the moment you believe on the Son you receive everlasting life. Not conditional life, not temporary life, not life until you commit your next sin — but everlasting life. The Bible refers to hell as a place of spiritual death, and so this promise is that the moment you believe in the Son you have everlasting life. You are saved. You are on your way to heaven.
God is omniscient — he knows the future. He does not say well, certain people believe on me but I cannot give them everlasting life because one day I know they are going to commit a big sin. No. He says anyone that believes in the Son will receive everlasting life. And in the Bible you actually see believers that commit major sins such as murder and suicide after getting saved, and they are still saved. Why? Because the promise God is giving is that if you believe in the Son, you receive everlasting life at that moment. You are born into God's family. God is your Father spiritually. And no matter what you do, you will be on your way to heaven.
John 3:16 is a great proof that all you have to do is believe in the Son and you are saved and on your way to heaven.
Pastor Matthew Stucky
