Gospel John 3.16-17
16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Sermon:
“For God so loved …….”
The words of John 3.16 might be the most well know Bible verse, the most quoted, the most known words to be put on Bumper sticker, Cards, Poster and banners. It is often called the Little Bible, as the entire message of the Bible is contained in that verse.
It is indeed one of the most beloved bible verses and yet… it cannot and should never stand alone. The entire message of the Bible is not contained in that verse alone but with the following verse.
Because it we only read and quote John 3.16 as the truth and nothing but the truth about our faith, then Gods promise, and our faith becomes the opposite of the divine love shown to the world: then it becomes an exclusion and a condemnation of the others. Then it becomes words we use as a condemnation of all the ones we think are lost, unbelievers, unworthy and doomed. Then it becomes all about our salvation because we believe – and not about the love of the entire world through God and Jesus. Who are we do condemn when God loves and saves?
So, the last time I checked John 3.16 is followed by John 3.17.
How important it is that we also read and believe the words God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
Because God’s love is abundant, filled with grace and mercy not with wrath, condemnation, and destruction. God’s delight is love, life and light – not hate death and darkness.
So let us read the two verses of John together: 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
If we do not read this verse in the context and along with 3.17, then it suddenly becomes a weapon in our faith to fight the battle of the righteous against the unrighteous. With no room for God’s grace and love – only our need for redemption, condemnation and praising ourselves for our faith. Instead of receiving God’s love as an amazing gift, we receive it as our earned right and reward for being on the right side. But are we – when we condemn the world that God so loved?
God loves the world is not just a theory for salvation. It is specific and. God loved the Samaritan Women. God loved the paralyzed man. God loved the blind man. God loves Marth and Mary as they mourn the death of their brother. God loves. God loved Peter even when he denied. God loves us reflecting on our faith and trying to live with love.
Because God is love.
God Is Love as it is so beautifully written in 1. John:
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
So that means that today we are preaching that God is love into a broken world and into the darkness and despair and fear so many experiences in this world that God so loved.
So, we do not only preach for us, seated here in the church, confessing our faith and belonging to a safe community: we do preach for those fearful of deportation. For our transgender sisters and brothers who are singled out as criminals and doomed. For those of other races and colors than white. For women who continue to march for justice and equality. For our Jewish brothers and sister hated once again for their faith. For our Palestine brother and sisters persecuted and killed. For our Muslim brother and sisters vilified and feared. For the world, the delicate climate, the oceans, the space – this world that we share and care for as God loved it.
God so loved the world. And God still loves.
As we paused to remember that day 9/11 when terror and destruction marked our time and our lives, we also pause to say and remember: God so loved the world, and God still loves.
Despite crumbling towers, terror and destruction, fear and anger.
As we paused to remember that day 9/11 – we also paused to mourn the continued loss of lives, of men, women and children in our violent time and a heartbreaking epidemic of gun violence and hatred.
We mourn the killing of the young conservative Charlie Kirk.
We mourn the killing of state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.
We mourn the killing of 8 year old Fletcher Merkel and 10 year old Ha[per Moyski at the Catholic School and church.
We mourn and pray for the students and teachers in Evergreen Colorado at yet another school shooting.
We mourn. We pause. We pray.
All of these tragedies have one thing in common: they are born of hatred. The common thread is that all of these lives were stolen by someone who believed violence was the answer.
But as people of faith, we believe that God so loved the world and God still loves. Through Jesus Christ we are taught to love, neighbors, enemies and God. And hatred and fear is never the answer. We may disagree, we can debate, we can argue – but we are called to love, respect and protect.
As one of the great ones who also was the victim of hatred and violence Dr. Martin Luther Said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out have: only love can do that.”
When we celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, baptisms, graduations, we give gifts. We give gifts to bring joy and to show love. Gifts are our way of saying: I love you.
Gifts do spread joy and create joy. It is lovely to receive a gift. But it is even more lovely to give a gift.
Throughout the Bible we are engaged again and again to give. To be generous. Lend a helping hand. Give of your time. Visit. Share your talents. Be a generous giver.
Because God is love. And God so loved the world that he sends his only son not to condemn but to save. To make us see. To make us change our ways. To make us love.
So, let us read the two verses of John together one more time: 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Let these words rest upon you and your days.
Let these words color how you look at the world and others. As loved, as you yourself is loved.
Let these words believe in God and his beloved beautiful and bold creation.
Listen to the very first words of our Bible or the creation and of God’s intention and love of this world.
1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
God so love the world that he created it.
God so loved the world that he sends Jesus into our world, time and life to save it, and change our ways.
Amen.