Devotion 3/22, God So Loved!

For 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.   John 3:16-17

John 3:16 is most likely the best known verse in the entire Word of God, probably because it states the gospel so clearly and simply. It is relatively short, and massively profound!
Notice how it says that God so ‘loved’ the world, not that He owed the world. God did not owe us anything at all. We had a sin debt to Him that we were totally incapable of paying, we were headed to an eternity in the torments of hell and separated from God forever.

But God so LOVED us! He chose to show mercy, grace, love, and compassion on us by sending Jesus Christ, His one and only Son, to come to this earth and shed His precious, pure, and innocent blood on the cross at Calvary for our sins. There is only one payment for sins that God will accept, and that is the blood of His Son (John 14:6, Romans 5:8-9, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

All who place their faith in Him will never perish but have eternal or everlasting life. Eternal means never ending. Once one has truly placed their faith in Christ it cannot be lost (John 11:25-26, John 5:24). Some false religions teach that we can lose our salvation, but the Word of God is our final authority and when read in its entirety, it just does not teach that a person can lose their salvation. God is true to His Word and when He says eternal….He means ETERNAL!

Holy and Righteous Father, thank you for your love. I know I didn’t earn or deserve it, but thank you. Until I see you face to face and express my appreciation and praise for you in your presence, please know my heartfelt gratitude and my deep and abiding joy because of your plan, your Son, and your salvation. I thank you in the name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
God So Loved!
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