This is a lengthy but important piece written by Wayne Jackson. It is copied below from the June, 1981 edition of the Christian Courier. The paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson.
The gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 16 is one of the all-time beloved and well known verses in the entire Bible. It is frequently called the "golden text" of Scripture. One might be shocked to learn therefore, that this great passage is one of the most misunderstood and abused texts of the Word of God. Many sincere people who dearly cherish John 3:16 have little idea what this marvelous verse is actually teaching. In a brief study, let us carefully look at it.
For - In the Greek New Testament, John 3:16 begins with the conjunction gar which is used to explain a foregoing statement. In this case the writer has just alluded to an historical situation that occurred in the days of Moses. After the Israelites were led from Egyptian bondage into the wilderness of Sinai, many of them discouragingly commenced to murmur against Jehovah. Accordingly, the Lord sent fiery serpents among them as a mode of punishment. When the people acknowledged their sin and sought deliverance, God instructed Moses to fashion a serpent out of brass and set it upon a standard, and any man who "looked" upon the serpent would live (cf. Numbers 21:4-9). (Note: It must be observed that the desired cure was not to be realized in simply "believing" that such could occur; rather, in addition to having faith in the Lord, the Israelite who sought healing was required to obediently look upon the image.)
The incident of the serpent was of course, typical (i.e., a symbol, picture) of the death of Christ as indicated by the "even so" terminology of verse 14 (cf. Luke 11:30). Jesus, consistent with the divine plan, must die and in a manner whereby he would be "lifted up" (cf. John 12:32). This was accomplished by His death on the cross (cf. John 8:28). The object of all of this was that, whosoever believes in Him (en auto, dative case of location) have eternal life" (verse 15). Eternal life is thus located "in Christ" (Second Timothy 2:10) and that realm is entered by baptism, the culminating act of the conversion process (Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27). This background therefore, leads up to the introduction of John 3:16.
God so loved - It is here affirmed that God so loved the world. The term "God" is the designation of the divine nature and so can be employed of either the Father (Ephesians 1:3), Jesus the Son (John 1:1b) or the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). In this verse it is obviously used of the Father, who gave the Son.
How wonderfully is the love of God here portrayed. Unlike the gods of paganism, who were vicious and cruel and the cold and indifferent god of modern philosophy, the God of the Bible is loving (Second Corinthians 13:11; First John 4:8, 16). The term "loved" translates the Greek verb agapao. The noun form agape is not a love which is merely emotional. It is the love of genuine interest, determined dedication. It is a love which acts out of concern for others. W. E. Vine says that agapao, as used of God, "expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, III, p. 21). It is the magnanimous love of God that motivates man to seek His grace. "We love, because He first loved us" (First John 4:19). The extent of divine love is underscored by the use of the adverb "so" (houtos), a term marking the degree of intensity. God thus loved; not passively but actively, to the extent of giving His precious Son, he "fellow" (Zechariah 13:7) for human redemption.
The World - The Greek word for "world" is cosmos. Literally it denotes the orderly universe created by the intelligent God (Acts 17:24) or in a more limited sense, the earth (Mark 16:15). Frequently though, "world" stands for all the people of the earth. The passage emphasizes the universal love of God.
The doctrine of predestination, as expressed in the old Westminster Confession of Faith (1643) and still believed by many today, taught that: "...By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life and others fordained to everlasting death" (Art. III). The doctrine suggested that God, consistent with His own sovereignty, had arbitrarily determined to save some and damn others and hence, actually a man was utterly helpless as to his eternal fate. The notion is patently false and a reflection upon the character of Jehovah. Christ affirmed that He came, "to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28) but "many" is an expression meaning "all" (First Timothy 2:6; cf. Romans 5:12, 15). Yes, God's grace appeared, "bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11). Jesus was the Lamb of God, "that taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29; First John 2:2). Truly, God is not willing that any should perish (Second Peter 3:9). It is important to point out of course, that only the elect will be saved but the elect are those who of their own free will determine to accept the Lord's offer of salvation. And so, certain passages dealing with the death of Christ are especially focused upon them; "...Christ so loved the church, and gave Himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). God loves the whole world and wants all to be saved but he will force no one!
That He gave - Giving is characteristic of God. He has given us life (Acts 17:25) and His gifts of providence are daily evident (Acts 14:17). He is the source of all good gifts (James 1:17) and the greatest was the gift of His Son. Seven centuries before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah foretold: "...a Child is born...a Son is given..." (9:6). Surely we must say with Paul, "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift" (Second Corinthians 9:15). It is quite apparent however, that even when a gift is made available, for it to be effective someone must be willing to receive it. There must be a concurrence between the will of the giver and will of the benefactor. Now the tragic fact of the matter is, though God willingly gave His Son, not all have been disposed to receive Him. Of some it was said, "...they that were His own received Him not..." (John 1:11). Men do have the power to reject gifts! Further, it is certainly true that an object may be freely given (not deserved) and yet be conditional. In the days of ancient Israel, Jehovah informed Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho..." (Joshua 6:2). In spite of the fact that Jericho was a gift, the Lord subsequently gave specific instructions for the taking of the city. "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days" (Hebrews 11:30). Similarly, those who would receive Christ as God's gracious gift must submit to the conditions required by the Lord and His apostles (cf. Acts 2:41).
His only begotton Son - "Only begotten" renders the Greek monogenes, found nine times in the New Testament (five of these of Christ: John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; First John 4:9). The term derives from two roots, monos (only, alone) and genos (race, stock). In the contexts in which it applies to Jesus, it undoubtedly denotes that He is "unique in kind." It is used, "to mark out Jesus uniquely above all earthly and heavenly beings" (Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Zondervan, II, p. 725). "In its significance monogenes relates to the several areas: (1) being or nature (uniquely God's Son), (2) the revelation of God to man (John 1:18), (3) salvation through the Son (John 3:16; First John 4:9)" (Everett F. Harrison, Baker's Dictionary of Theology, p. 386). The Lord Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by the prophets (Isaiah 9:6), angels (Luke 1:32), the Father (Matthew 3:17), Himself (Mark 14:62), His disciples (Matthew 16:16), His enemies (Matthew 27:54) and by the power of His resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4).
That whosoever believeth on Him - Again the term "whosoever" (literally, "everyone") reveals the universality of God's saving plan. The gospel is addressed to, "the whole creation" (Mark 16:15) and as the final great invitation of the Bible has it, "...let him who thirsts come. Whosoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).
The word "believeth" is a present tense participle, literally, "the keeping on believing ones." But exactly what is the Biblical "belief" of which God approves? Some have defined the term as simply an acception of the historical facts regarding Christ, along with a willingness to trust Him as Savior. This is the view of those who advocate the doctrine of salvation by "faith alone." But the truth is, there is more to faith than a mental disposition!
The verb "believe" in the Greek New Testament is pisteuo. In addition to believing, trusting, the word can also include the meaning, "to comply" as Lidell & Scott observe in their Greek Lexicon (p. 1273) and as they further point out, it is the opposite of apisteo, meaning, "to disobey...refuse to comply" (p. 175). W. E. Vine declares that faith involves, "a personal surrender" to Christ (Expository Dictionary, II, p. 71). Lexicographer J. H. Thayer says that belief is, "used especially of the faith by which a man embraces Jesus, a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah - the divinely appointed author of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God, conjoined with obedience to Christ" (Greek Lexicon, p. 511).
Saving faith cannot be divorced from obedience as the following evidence clearly reveals. (a) Belief and disobedience are set in vivid contrast in the Bible. Note this verse: "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36 ASV). Similarly, those Israelites that were "disobedient" were condemned "because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:18-19; 4:3, 6). (b) While John 3:16 promises eternal life to him who believes, Hebrews 5:9 attributes eternal salvation to such as obey, thus demonstrating that the two are not mutually exclusive. Rather, saving faith includes obedience! (c) The New Testament often uses "faith" as a synecdoche (a figure of speech whereby the part is made oto stand for the whole) to denote the sum total of gospel obedience. For instance, Paul wrote, "Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God..." (Romans 5:1). That this means more than mere mental faith is proved by Paul's own conversion. He believed in Jesus' Lordship while yet on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:10) but he enjoyed no peace for three days subsequent thereto; until he was baptized (Acts 22:16; 9:18-19). Other components in the plan of salvation sometimes figuratively represent the entire process. Repentance is said to result in life (Acts 11:18) but certainly not repentance alone. And baptism saves (First Peter 3:21) but not baptism alone. Biblical faith therefore, is the faith that lovingly works (Galatians 5:6) in obeying the Lord's requirements for the new birth (John 3:3-5) and the maintenance of the Christian life. The notion that salvation is effected by "faith alone" is a strictly human doctrine.
Should not perish - Contrary to the assertions of some religious materialists, the Scriptures do not teach that the wicked will ultimately cease to exist. The Greek word, here rendered "perish" is apollumi, a very strong term meaning, "to destroy utterly." That apollumi does not suggest annihilation is clear in that this word is employed to describe the miserable condition of the prodigal son when separated from his loving father; in that state the son was "lost" (Luke 15:24). As Vine pointed out, "The idea is not extinction but ruin, loss, not of being but of well-being" (Expository Dictionary, I. p. 302). In this connection one should carefully study Matthew 25:46 and Second Thessalonians 1:7-9. The abiding separation of the wicked from god will entail an eternal suffering! This passage is an eloquent refutation of both the materialistic theory of the annihilation of the wicked and the modernistic assertion of universal salvation!
But have eternal life - Eternal life is here promised to those who pursue the life of obedient trust. But exactly what is eternal life? It most assuredly is not just external existence, for the wicked will exist eternally. Eternal life is the exact opposite of everlasting death. The final abode of evil persons is called, "the second death" (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14) and since "death" always connotes the idea of separation in some form or another, the final death is obviously eternal separation from God (cf. Matthew 7:23; 25:41; Second Thessalonians 1:9). Conversely, eternal life is everlasting communion with God along with all that that involves. It is a state of glory (Romans 2:10; Second Corinthians 4:17), rest (Hebrews 4:11) and happiness (Matthew 25:21).
John 3:16 is truly a marvelous text. But it is deeper and much richer than many have supposed. May we be wise enough to study its truths in the light of the Bible as a whole. It contains history, responsibility, warning and promise.
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