God’s Way of Salvation in John ch 3 vs 16
John 3:16 is often called “The Gospel Text,” for here we have the whole gospel briefly stated. We see the source of salvation–the love of God; the channel through which salvation comes–His only begotten Son; and the way by which we receive it–faith in His Son.
Perhaps you will say, “Oh, I have read that verse a thousand times.” Even if you have, have you ever really believed it–that is, by faith made yourself one of the “whosoevers” by trusting in Christ, and thereby received everlasting life?
A Christian friend told me how he was converted through this verse. He took it, read it word by word, believing as he read, applied it to himself, trusted the Son, and received everlasting life. Multitudes of other searching souls have done the same. Have you? If not, may the Lord help you to do so now.
Just let us look at this wonderful verse, a word or two at a time, always remembering that this is God’s Word, and God means what He says.
GOD
That is the first word. Salvation begins with God. Here is man’s first mistake. Man begins with himself. Man asks, “What must I do?” God says, “See what I have done.” Friend, turn from yourself to God. Hear what He says, and see what He has done.
LOVED THE WORLD
Love–salvation springs from the love of God. God loved what? The world, a world of sinners. Wondrous, undeserved love! But remember, we must accept that love, or else it will do us no good.
But I have omitted a word, have I not? It is such a little word, but very big with meaning.
SO
Oh that “So”! It tells of the great, boundless nature of God’s love, love which can only be measured by the action that it produced.
HE GAVE
Salvation is a gift. “The gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). Friend, are you trying to buy it? It is “without price” (Isaiah 55:1). God cannot sell it, and you cannot buy it–it is far too valuable. But God offers it freely as a gift. Will you accept it?
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
What a tremendous sacrifice! What love that offered it! Salvation is through God’s Son. “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11,12). Eternal life is not in us, but in Jesus alone. Therefore take Him as your Saviour, and you will have eternal life!
We have now seen what God has done–“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” Now, in the rest of the verse, we will see why He did it–“That whosoever believeth [trusts] in Him, should [will] not perish, but have everlasting life.”
WHOSOEVER
Perhaps you say, “How may I know that salvation is offered to me?” Well, what does God say? “Whosoever,” which extends the offer of salvation to every man, woman, and child on the earth. That includes you, my friend, does it not?
BELIEVETH or TRUSTS
Here it is as important to see what God does not say as what He does say.
God does not say, “Whosoever is moral, respectable, honest, well spoken of, and an office-holder or member of the church will be saved.” This is man’s first false way of salvation–character. It was the Pharisee’s way–“God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men.” And so he “trusted in himself.” (See Luke 18:9,11.) Was he “justified,” cleansed of His sins? No (verse 14). Why not? Because he was only righteous in his own sight, and in the sight of those around him. In God’s sight he was a sinner, for “all have sinned.” When it comes to man’s character, there “is no difference” (Romans 3:22,23). In God’s sight, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), and God is the Judge.
God also does not say, “Whosoever does good works will be saved.” This is man’s second false way of salvation–works. Did it ever strike you–what good works can a sinner do? As is the tree, so is its fruit; as is the man, so are his works. If you are a sinner, your works are sinful and of no merit for salvation. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Thus, you see, a sinner can’t do any works that please God. Even more than that, my unsaved friend, in God’s sight you are a sinner and therefore “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Now, what can dead people do? Nothing! It is life you need, and it is life God offers you.
Does God ask you as a sinner to work for salvation? No, His Word declares that salvation is “not of works” (Ephesians 2:9). Galatians 2:16 tells us three times that salvation is not by works, and three times that it is by faith. Read that verse–it leaves no doubt!
Finally, God does not say “Whosoever has a certain feeling is saved.” This is man’s third false way of salvation–feelings. This is a common mistake with anxious souls. “Oh,” says one, “if only I could feel some new feeling within me, I think I would be all right.” You think so, but does God say so? Never. He does not ask you to feel, but to believe His Word and trust His Son.
I know what you want. You want to feel “the joy of salvation.” But how can you feel the joy of salvation, until you first have salvation? A drowning man can’t feel the joy of being saved until first he is saved, and neither can you. Likewise, just as feeling can’t save him, neither can it save you. Salvation is a fact, not a feeling, and rests on these three great facts–Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He has risen again (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
We’ve noticed that God does not say, Whosoever is, or does, or feels. He does say, “Whosoever believeth.” To believe means to trust yourself completely to the one in whom you believe. Who is that?
IN HIM
The Son of God. Not in yourself, or in yourself and Jesus together, but in Jesus–Jesus only. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
SHOULD NOT PERISH
Perish you will, if you do not trust in Christ. The soul without Christ is in great danger. Did you ever think of that? Friend, if you are still an unbelieving sinner, you are in a terrible state, and on the way to a terrible doom! “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). Escape to Christ, trust in Him, and then you will not perish.
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE
No matter what kind of person you are, and no matter what kinds of things you have done, if you will right now trust in Jesus, believing who He is–the Son of God–and what He has done–died on the cross and risen again for you, you will right now have eternal life. When you believe God’s Word, you will have the assurance of your salvation, too, for it says of those who trust in Jesus, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28).
This tract courtesy of Moments With The Book.
Only twenty-five words, but what words they are! These are life-changing words; they are life-giving words! They say something about God, something about you and me, and something about the far-reaching results of believing or not believing.
In John 3:16 we can see the love of God for all the people of the world. No one is left out. His love takes in every person. His love is a giving love; He gave His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross for sinners – that means everyone.
In the verse we can also see individual human responsibility – “whosoever believeth in Him”. You must accept God’s forgiveness by faith. It is not joining a particular church, baptism, signing a card or giving money to any charity. It is believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross to take the punishment for all your sins. The Lord Jesus was the only One who was able to pay the debt for sin, because He had no sin of His own. God can forgive your sin and guilt because Jesus died for you.
At the end of the verse, we see the wonderful result – “everlasting life”. This life begins here on earth; it is a life of peace and joy, knowing that all is well between God and you. It extends beyond death to a home in heaven for all eternity.
There is one ominous word in the verse – “perish” – forever! There are consequences if you turn away, refusing God’s offer of mercy.
Why not trust Christ now as your Saviour and Lord? Don’t refuse the best of gifts, which is found in John 3:16.