"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" (KJV).

Set within the context of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, this has been called "the golden verse of the Bible." Yet we cannot be absolutely sure whether Jesus spoke these familiar words or whether the Gospel-writer included them as commentary. Despite that ambiguity, its meaning is crystal-clear and this verse continues to inspire hope in millions after almost 2,000 years. Focus with me today on its soul-cheering declarations.

God is for us, we note first, which is why he sent the Son into the world. This corrects the misconception held by many that God was angry with the world until Jesus died, then he suddenly experienced a change of heart. It is true that in Jesus' death God's wrath was spent and exhausted, but according to John 3:16 that death had more to do with satisfying God's love than it did his wrath. God loved the world this much (the meaning of "so loved") -- that he gave the Son to bring fallen humankind back to himself.

The traditional translation here refers to the Son as God's "only begotten." That English phrase naturally suggests offspring by procreation, a concept inapplicable to God. It is more helpful to note that the Greek word behind the translation is a compound word with two syllables that match the two Latin words composing our word "unique." Some modern versions correctly call the Son the "one and only." This is a statement about the distinctiveness of Jesus as God's Son, not an explanation of his spiritual or physical origin.

Because of God's love expressed in giving the Son, every individual believing in (trusting) the Son is promised "eternal life." This is life of the Age to Come, although John's Gospel emphasizes that the believer begins to experience it now. The final alternative to this life will be to perish -- a common New Testament description of the fate of those who refuse to believe, and who thereby forfeit the life they otherwise would have enjoyed with God now and always. This "perishing" will involve the entire person and its result will last forever. That is the "eternal punishment" of which Jesus speaks elsewhere. In view of the extremity of God's love, there is no reason why anyone should meet that horrible fate. Those who finally do so will have only themselves to blame.

For more about God's heart of grace, click here.