The Golden Text of the Bible

(#1044, Imperial, 1964, Dec. 1966)

Read John 3:16.

John 3:16 is the heart of the gospel.  More souls have been saved through John 3:16 than any other verse.  If Satan could blot out one text it would be this one.  In it is one of the greatest statements concerning the love of God on record.

For God so loved the world.

Salvation starts with God. We had nothing to do with it.

So loved speaks volumes.  It explains all that Christ endured for you, all that God gave.  He loved us even when we were sinners (Rom. 5:8).

The world is made up of rebels who have turned their backs on God.  He loved all. Only God could love like that.

That He gave His only begotten Son.

Love demands sacrifice; it must demonstrate itself. God proved His love by giving.  He could have sent an angel but He sent His Son.  His hands & feet were pierced with nails, his temples lacerated with thorns, his tongue clave to his jaws, his throat parched, his back torn with the scourge, his side pierced with a spear, his bones disjointed, his muscles in agony, and his heart broke under the load of sin.  What giving! What love!

That whosoever believeth in Him.

Whosoever means God's offer is universal.  All may come.

Believeth reminds us that it is faith that connects the sinner with God.  It is nothing you do yourself.

Him reminds us that it's not faith but Christ that saves you.  He is the only object of saving faith.

Should not perish but have everlasting life.

We are saved from perishing, death, separation from God.  We are given something in return: eternal life!  We become partakers of the divine nature.  What matchless grace and wondrous love.  John 3:16: this is the gospel!

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made;

Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the Lord of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Though stretched from sky to sky.