John 3:16 contains everything we need to know about God's true nature. The message found therein is powerful to the saving of one's soul ... yet simple enough for a child to understand.
There is an adverb in that 'oft-quoted' verse that we tend to overlook ... 'so'.
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
It doesn't say ‘God loved the world enough to give’, but ‘God so loved the world that he gave'. It is not some vague, sentimental feeling. The word 'so' emphasizes the intensity of that love, the extent of which can only be measured by God's gift to a lost and dying world ... His only begotten Son.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God 'so' loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11
His is a fervent love ... a love that cannot be quenched, a love that never fails, a love that passes understanding, a love that will not let us go, a love that suffers long and is kind. God’s love has the power to melt hard hearts and cause rebels to surrender.
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
His love is unlimited. It knows no boundaries, measurements, or exceptions. It is inherent to His nature; and since He is infinite ... His love is infinite. No sinner is beyond the Lord's willingness to save his soul.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
And ... His love is personal. John 3:16 would still be true if it said ... For God so loved 'your name here' that He gave his only begotten Son.
Take it in, pilgrim. Soak it up.
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