God So Loved the World
Scripture Reading — John 3:16-21
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The story of salvation starts with God’s people making a huge error. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and brought sin into the world (Genesis 3).
If you and I were in God’s position, would we have felt like restoring Adam and Eve? We might have wanted to start over with someone else. Maybe we’d even make an entirely different world and fill it with something other than human beings.
But God chose not to abandon his creation. Even though we humans don’t deserve it, God stays in relationship with us. He clothes us. He guides us. And he promises that Satan will be defeated.
Throughout the Old Testament we find that God’s people fell into sin and dysfunction again and again. But God remained faithful. He stayed with his people and promised that one day a Savior would come, break the cycle, and free people from the curse of sin.
The book of John was written to help people understand that Jesus is that Savior (Messiah). God loved us so much that he sent Jesus from heaven to become one of us in order to pay for our sin and restore our relationship with God.
In Christ we see that God’s love for us truly is unconditional. It does not depend on our doing enough to please him; instead, salvation is freely given as an undeserved gift.
Father, in spite of my sin and wrongdoing, help me to believe that you love me and that through Jesus you give me eternal life. Amen.
About the author — A.J. Gretz
Anthony Joseph (A.J.) Gretz is a pastor in Grandville, Michigan. He has also served churches in Ohio and in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He and his wife, Anna, have three children.
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