John 3:16

In John 3, Jesus taught Nicodemus the necessity of being born again. He said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5). (Click here to go to an article that fully discusses the new birth.) This new birth would be possible because Jesus would "be lifted up" (v.14) on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus emphasized His own identity as the "Son of Man" (v.13,14) and as "God's only begotten Son" (v.16-18). Nicodemus, impressed with the signs Jesus performed, had merely confessed Jesus to be "a teacher come from God" (v.2). Jesus, therefore, emphasized to Nicodemus that a belief in Him as the Son of God was necessary for salvation as part of the new birth.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

Indeed John 3:16 is a great verse in a great context. However, many theologians today want to emphasize John 3:16 to the exclusion of other passages of scripture. They insist that John 3:16 is "the golden text of the Bible," "the sweetest of all Bible passages," "a miniature Bible in itself," and "a passage that everyone can embrace without controversy." Again, there is no denying that John 3:16 is a wonderful passage, but should we champion this one verse over all others as they say we should? The Apostle Paul tells us that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2Tim.3:16-17). We should never study or promote one passage to the exclusion of others, but rather we must declare "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).

The idea that John 3:16 should be emphasized above other scripture because it is "without controversy" is faulty. First, whether or not we think a passage is controversial should not be the basis upon which we judge a passage's worthiness. Nearly everything Jesus and the apostles taught was controversial in the first century, and continues to be so today. Secondly, contrary to popular denominational opinion, John 3:16 is full of controversy. Let's examine the passage closely.

The first two words of the verse affirm the existence of God. "For God.." clearly implies there is a God. Modern theologians, agnostics, and Unitarians who doubt that "God is" (Heb.11:6) are directly challenged by John 3:16. If they are consistent in their (dis)belief, they have to deny this passage as much as they do Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Can any liberal theologian teach the beauty of John 3:16 and, at the same time, teach atheism (or agnosticism)? No, not without controversy!

Many people believe that the world, though created by God, has been abandoned by Him to "fate." Similarly, the ancient Greeks believed "blind chance was made to rule the earth." The polytheistic Epicureans looked upon their "gods" as "inactive and indifferent" in the activities of men. Is the God of Heaven this indifferent? Has He uncaringly abandoned us to fate? John 3:16 affirms otherwise. The five words "..God so loved the world.." teach us that He has a great care and concern for mankind. Not only does He provide us with things physical (the rain, the seasons, and food), but He also provides us with things spiritual. God's greatest demonstration of love is in the context of this verse: He gave His Son's life for us that we might be saved from sin. Theologians who believe in an impersonal, uncaring God cannot teach their theory without being stung by the truth of John 3:16.

When the verse says "He gave His only begotten Son," it clearly affirms that the Father willingly gave the life of His Son as a means to provide us the way to salvation. The crucifixion was no accident -- it was the will of God from the beginning that Jesus die and be raised on the third day. Though the Jews were responsible for sending Jesus to His death, such happened "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." (Acts 2:23). Jesus' mission was "foreordained before the foundation of the world." (1 Peter 1:20). In Revelation 13:8, He is called "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The Old Testament clearly prophesied of His crucifixion in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. After His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples that such was a fulfillment of that which was "written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (See Luke 24:44-46.) In fact, before He died, Jesus prophesied details about His own death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; Luke 9:22).

However, the premillennial position denies that Jesus' crucifixion was God's original plan. Premillianialists teach that Jesus initially came to set up an earthly kingdom in Jerusalem, but because of Jewish unbelief, was prevented from doing so. Imagine the consequences of such a doctrine! Was God not able to perform His original plan? Did He have to go to "Plan B" and set up a "church system" until Jesus would come and try again to make himself a physical king?! Those who are still looking for Jesus to come establish a physical kingdom miss the point that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, has already established a spiritual kingdom. Those who are redeemed through His blood are "translated into the kingdom of the Son.." (Colossians 1:13-14). Jesus never intended to build a physical kingdom. He told Pontius Pilate that "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36).

Many premillinialists claim to love John 3:16. But when they embrace it, they embrace one of the many passages that crushes their doctrine!

Orthodox Judaism and Islam (and other religions) deny that Jesus Christ is God's Son. John 3:16 affirms with certainty that He is! The Divine Sonship of Jesus was affirmed by the Father Himself at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17) and His transfiguration (Matthew 17:5): "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The angel Gabriel, when appearing to Mary, called Jesus "the Son of God." (Luke 1:35). Jesus Himself claimed to be the Son of God, not only in John 3, but also in the following passages: Matthew 14:33; Mark 14:61-62; Luke 22:70; John 1:49; 5:25; 9:35-37; 10:36; 11:4,25-27. The Apostle John wrote his gospel account of Jesus' life that "ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:31). The Sonship of Jesus was clearly demonstrated to mankind by His miracles, teaching, and His resurrection. Yet, many Jews, most Muslims, and several so-called "Christian" theologians deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 is a passage of great controversy to them, and stands as a rebuke to their error.

Our Oneness Pentecostal friends believe that "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" are all titles for the same one person: Jesus. They deny that three distinct personalities make up the Godhead. John 3:16 shows us that the Father and the Son are separate from one another: "He [God] gave His only begotten Son." How can the Father be His own Son? The idea is an absurdity. If the Father, Son, and the Spirit are the same being, then how could He be baptized by John in the Jordan River and, at the same time, descend from Heaven as a dove onto Himself, while also speaking from Heaven? (Matthew 3:13-17). What about the many times Jesus prayed to His Father in Heaven? Was He praying to Himself? Also, when Jesus told his apostles that He was about to go away to the Father (John 14:28;16:5-7), and then, from the Father, send the Spirit (John 14:26;15:26; 16:7,13), he meant exactly what He said. Oneness Pentecostalism would have to say that Jesus went away to Himself in order to send Himself from Himself back to the apostles. The Oneness doctrine makes no sense when put to the test. As the Apostle Paul said, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord [Jesus], one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph.4:4-6). There is one each of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 28:20).

Our Pentecostal friends preach John 3:16 with great fervor, yet it burns a gaping hole in their doctrine. It is impossible to preach the Oneness theory and the Sonship of Jesus at the same time. A controversial passage indeed!

Calvinism teaches that not everyone is able to believe. Only those individuals whom God has "hand picked" receive faith as an irresistible and permanent gift from God. They say salvation is not conditioned on anything -- God makes whomever He wants saved to be saved. Yet John 3:16 says "whoever believes in Him should not perish." "Whoever" is an open invitation for anyone and everyone to believe in Christ! Salvation is not a choice already made for us; it is something we can choose for ourselves out of our own free will! Consider these verses:

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13).

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43).

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:26).

To deny that salvation is offered to all who believe and obey Jesus Christ is to deny plain Scripture. Calvinism makes a mockery of God's plan of salvation by trying to remove man from any sort of responsibility toward God. Salvation has always been conditioned on man's obedience to God's will. If we fail to obey, we have chosen of our free will to be lost.

Universalists teach that God will save everyone regardless how they live. They say there is no such place as Hell, and that God would never punish anyone eternally. If that is true, then it is unnecessary to (1) believe in God, Christ, or the Bible; (2) comply with even one requirement of God; (3) abstain from sin; or (4) show kindness or honesty toward anyone. However, John 3:16 gives them no such comfort: "Whoever believes in Him should not perish." The passage clearly teaches that though salvation is extended to those who believe in Jesus, those who do not believe will perish and suffer God's wrath. Consider another verse in the same context: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36). John 3:16 creates great problems for the Universalist.

Some religious people believe that man has no spirit, but is only composed of material substances: body and breath. In New Testament times, the Sadducees taught this very thing, and affirmed that when a man died, he ceased to exist. (See Luke 20:27-38). Today, "Jehovah's Witnesses" also deny that man has an eternal soul. They say that when the righteous and unrighteous die, they have no consciousness. "Witnesses" believe that one day the righteous dead will be "recreated" in material form to live on earth forever, but the unrighteous dead are forever gone, devoid of any existence and not suffering any punishment.

When Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), He spoke of them being alive and awake after death -- the rich man already suffering for his wickedness, and faithful Lazarus already enjoying a reward. While being crucified to death, Jesus told the penitent thief who was hanging next to Him, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43). Man clearly has a spirit that lives on after death though his body is buried in a grave.

Two chapters later after our context in John, Jesus said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29). In Matthew 25:46, He said, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." After all are raised to be judged, the righteous are separated from the wicked. The righteous go on to live in Heaven forever, but the unrighteous will "be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched." (Mark 9:45).

When Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again, He wasn't teaching a salvation from non-existence, but from eternal damnation. The doctrine of materialism is in serious conflict with John 3:16.

Thus, in our study, we've seen that this "golden text" clearly denies several popular false doctrines in the religious world today. It is a verse of great controversy because it teaches many great truths about Jesus Christ and His mission to save us. He taught belief in Himself as the way to receive eternal life. Are you going to believe and obey Him?

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