Does this verse sound familiar? It is mostly a repetition of the previous two verses. Again, God uses repetition in the Bible for two basic reasons: 1) emphasis and 2) to get your attention. The concept given here is so vital for us to know that Jesus repeats it.

Everyone has their own favorite text but this verse has been called “everybody’s text”. Luther calls it “the Bible in miniature” because within it is contained the very heart of the gospel in a form which anyone can understand.

The word “world” is the translation of the Greek “kosmos” which literally means an ornament.  We get our word “cosmetic” from it.  The universe is the most outstanding ornament in existence so the term came to mean the universe; and since the earth is the most significant part of the universe to men, cosmos served to define the earth.  It is used Biblically in both ways but even more so to indicate “the sum of the divine creation which has been shattered by the fall, which stands under the judgment of God, and in which Jesus Christ appears as the Redeemer.” (Sasse qt’d in Morris p. 127) In other words, “the world” is used in the Bible to indicate fallen, sinful mankind.

“loved” in the Greek is agape. The fact that God loves man was unknown until Jesus told us. No other gods have ever been thought to love man and even the One true God had not specifically declared His love for man in the Old Testament, though His love could readily be seen by his actions, and some of the Psalms strongly hint at the fact of His love for us. Not so surprisingly, Jesus is the great Revealer of the love of God for all of mankind.

It is shown here that love is the motivation of God. Note that this indicates that salvation is initiated by God Himself. Jesus did not come to earth and then talk God into giving us grace; God the Father loves us so much that He planned from before time began to send His only Son to die for us. (1Peter 1:18-20; Rev 13:8)

1 Peter 1:18-20  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

Revelation 13:8  All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

“God so loved the world” was a radical new concept. Jews would have agreed that God loved His chosen people, but the whole world? We could understand if God loved those who loved Him or loved the good people, but His word declares that He loves everybody. He loves those who love Him, but He also loves those who hate Him. He loves those who do good, but not any more than He loves those who do evil. God loves everyone and that was the reason He sent His Son into the world to save those who put their trust in Him.

When we love groups of people, we lump them together and “the broader the stream, the shallower it is.” (Maclaren) The greatest of patriots doesn’t love his country a hundredth as much as he loves his own child. But that is not the way it is with God. When He says that He loves the world, He means He loves each and every individual in it. Augustine observed that “God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love.” or, as Maclaren says, “He loves all because He loves each.” God loves you as if you were the only person in the universe.

The word “gave” has 2 senses. God gave His Son by sending Him into the world, but He also gave him on the cross.  The cross shows us the love of God, a love so great that it is not a sentimental thing, but instead one that carries a cost, and that cost is extremely expensive. God loved us so much that He gave what was most dear to Him. In Romans 8:32 it says that God “spared not” His own Son. This is the same phrase (though a different language) used in Genesis 22:16. Because of His perfect knowledge and His perfect love for His Son, it must have been even more difficult for God to “spare not” His Son than it was for Abraham, and yet He did it. Why? Because of His incredible love for you!

Romans 8:32  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Genesis 22:16  and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

The word “believes” is, again, the Greek pisteuo which means to think to be true; to be persuaded of and then to place one’s confidence in; to trust.  This word involves belief in and commitment to that which is believed. Compare this word with the one Nicodemus used in verse 2 when he said “We know you are a teacher…” There “know” means to perceive with the eyes; it is experiential knowledge and does not involve faith. Jesus is telling Nicodemus here that he must go a step further than just knowing; he must trust.

“perish” is a translation of the Greek apollumi which means to destroy, abolish, render useless, kill, and is used metaphorically as to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell.

“eternal” is aionios and means pertaining to an age. To the Jews it would indicate pertaining to the age to come which had no end, and thus it means eternal, everlasting, without an end.

Note that Jesus defines eternal life here as the opposite of perishing.  This eternal life is without end, but the important thing about it is not its quantity, but its quality.  Westcott says, “It is not an endless duration of being in time, but being of which time is not a measure.” (qt’d in Morris p. 227) In other words, eternal life is life that is worth living.

Salvation is not so much outward, such as going to heaven instead of hell, as it is an inward thing. It is a state of mind and a relationship with God and it must take place in your heart for there to be any real change. Laws and police will bring order and doctors, welfare, and benevolence will bring relief to the suffering, but these just touch the outside of men. You can’t heal a man who has poison in his veins by just washing off his body. We are only cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7). We are given a total transfusion, so to speak. Our old blood (life) is totally removed and replaced with His blood (life). We, like the Israelites in the desert who were healed of snakebite, have the poison totally removed from our bodies and the life of Christ, with which it was replaced and which we now share, even carries an immunity to poison with it. Sin no longer has dominion over us!

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Salvation is also a process, a growing. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again, and after birth comes growth. We are told to work out our salvation (Php 2:12). This process of growing is substituted for the process of dying which we had before Christ.

Philippians 2:12  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Trusting in Christ and His work is the stretching out of your hand, by faith, to take the gift which God offers you. The bronze snake did not provide healing for the Israelites because of any healing rays emanating out from it; they were healed because they trusted God to keep his word, and He did, and He always will!

Have you trusted in Jesus as your savior? If so, then how much of your life are you letting Him save?