Just to get our minds, thanking on the lesson today let’s refocused! Let’s Ponder the following question: what would you like to receive for Valentine’s Day? What gifts have you given today?
Flowers, chocolates, gift cards, regular cards?
God loves us so much that he created us; the gave us this world, this universe! He loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son, so that we would be reconciled back to him. So that we would be in right position with God. Let’s read, or recite the most famous Valentine’s Day scripture ever!
John 3:16-19
King James Version
“16 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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
This explanation is found in the Bible. John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be born on earth and die on a cross. Why? We are all sinners and the Bible says the consequence of sin is death, eternal separation from God. There is nothing we can do to make us “good enough” for heaven.
But God made a way. Christ lived a perfect, blameless life and provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He died in our place.
It is only by God’s grace—His undeserved mercy—that we can have eternal life with Him in heaven. Our role is to have faith, to believe Christ died for us and ask Him to forgive our sins. The simple meaning behind John 3:16 is that you are loved by God and can be forgiven.
Verse 17 is a peaceful footnote to John 3:16. Jesus came for the purpose of saving people, not condemning them. Verse 18 explains that this is because those who do not believe are “condemned already.” According to the Bible, God doesn’t want to see anyone destroyed.
Verse 18 says that those who do not believe are “condemned already,” in the present tense. We have already been declared guilty (John 3:19), because we are guilty. God’s love and patience cause Him to delay judgment (2 Peter 3:9).
2 Peter 3:9, NIV: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
So, we have the opportunity to let Christ pay our penalty for us. The Bible clearly says we are saved by faith in Christ, but also that we are saved only through faith in Christ. Those who don’t believe in Him cannot, and will not, find eternal life (John 3:36).
John 3:36, ESV: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
This, according to verse 19, is the reason why many people reject Jesus. His life, and His teachings, expose every single person as a sinner (Romans 3:10), and the things we do as morally wrong (Romans 4:7).
Romans 3:10, KJV: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
Romans 4:7 — King James Version (KJV 1900)7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Many people would prefer to hide in darkness, rather than be exposed by the light.
God loved us so much that he sent his only son so we could be restored back to God. God loves us so much that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are so loved by God we can’t fathom what God has prepared for us in heaven!
