As Christians we tell the wordl God loves them, yet have to say all have sinned and as a result have to die and then after death comes judgment.
The world replies "how can that be love"? Or "I thought you said God loves the world".
Does God love the world, what does John 3:16 mean?
Quick notes:
John 3:16 does not use "loves" but loved. (past tense)
His act to demostrate His love was the giving of Jesus the chosen one (Christ) His Son once. Whilst we were yet sinners Christ died. Rom 5:8.
His act of Love was once for all Rom 6:10, Heb 7:25-27 ; 9:12 ; 10:10
As David Pawson points out "If you just tell unbelievers 'God loves you' they assume they are likeable, lovable, attracted to God. They will not realise that is is precisely because they are unlovable to God- because He hates how they live and what they do- that it becomes so marvellous that God sent His Son to die for them"
The context
John 3:16 is in the context of what happened to Isarel when they rebelled against God. Numbers 21 sets the scene.
Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
The word houtos means οὕτω,d \{hoo'-to}
1) in this manner, thus, so
Notice this word so is at the beginning of the sentance in the original laguage. It's there to say (in the say manner or in the same way as this) i.e the bronz serpant was lifted up so that all who looked upon it would be cleansed IN THE SAME MANNER or WAY (SO) Jesus was lited up.
But if this word so is placed in the wrong place (as it is in most bibles) we read that God Sooooo loved the world.
Vines description of Agapao (Love) Link here
Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
The word houtos means οὕτω,d \{hoo'-to}
1) in this manner, thus, so
Notice this word so is at the beginning of the sentance in the original laguage. It's there to say (in the say manner or in the same way as this) i.e the bronz serpant was lifted up so that all who looked upon it would be cleansed IN THE SAME MANNER or WAY (SO) Jesus was lited up.
But if this word so is placed in the wrong place (as it is in most bibles) we read that God Sooooo loved the world.
Our message to the world.
Our message to the world has to be what God says of it "you (the people of the world) have sinned against Me (God)”.
His wrath is upon all the unrighteous and ungodly “ Yes God is angry. How do we know
“Rom 1:18. Look at the what He did to the world when He sent the flood in the days of Noah. Only 8 where saved.
The good news is God has provided a way to be saved and He deomstarted His love and now requires all to repent (turn to God) and believe in Christ Jesus ( the chosen saviour).
Matthew 7:7-8 says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
God loves Christ Jesus and therfore those in Christ are so loved. Those believing can be reaussured as Paul writes to colossian church.
Col 1:12-14 "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
Vines description of Agapao (Love) Link here
