The most well known verse in all the Bible
is probably John 3:16: "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." But, do people really know what it says?
There are four words in this verse that are often taken the wrong way.
Many modern versions of the Bible translate the word "so" by saying,
"God loved the world so much." But, this word "so," HOUTOS in the
original, does not ever mean "so much," but rather it means "thus" or "so,"
as in "in this manner." That is why this is the key verse in the Bible,
because it tells in what manner God loved the world. To love the world as
such is to be the enemy of God (James 4:4). God does not love the world at
all apart from what He purposed in Christ.
The word "so" or "thus" actually refers back to the words just before John
3:16: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so (same word)
must the Son of Man be lifted up." Back in Numbers, Chapter 21, we are told how
the children of Israel sinned and rebelled against the Lord, so the Lord sent
snakes among them that bit them, and many people died. When the people cried
to the Lord, God told Moses to make a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole.
Those people who were bitten, who believed and looked at the bronze snake, were
cured and lived.
The bronze snake lifted up on the pole is a picture of Christ, who took our
sin and was lifted up to die for us and to be our only remedy. So, this verse
is for those who know that they have been bitten by the serpent of their own sin
and have no way to save themselves. When they come and look and trust in Christ,
the only remedy, they are saved.
Notice that it says that God gave his "Only begotten Son." Some modern
translations just leave out "only begotten." When a beaver begets, what does
he beget? Well, he begets a beaver. To leave out this word is to leave out the
Godhood of Christ from the key verse in the Bible. If your saviour is not God,
you’re not saved.
The word translated "believe’ in John 3:16 is the same word translated "commit"
in John 2:24, "Jesus did not commit himself to men, because he knew all men." The
word means to put faith in. Jesus did not put his faith in men.
But, if Jesus were lifted up to die for everybody in general and nobody in
particular, so that it was really up to us, whether we were going to choose and
believe Him, He would be putting His faith in us.
Oh, but Jesus also said, "I know whom I have chosen." And, "You have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you." Saving faith is God’s gift to men, not man’s
gift to God.
But, some will say, "How about the word whosoever then?" The words translated
"whosoever" are not indefinite in the originial. It says, "all of the ones who
believe in Him.." God knows every one of them because He has chosen them. And, He
is the one who gives them saving faith and hearing ears.
Additional copies of this tract, as well as other titles, are available from:
Canadian Gospel Publications Mission
12229 - 38 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5W 2J2
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