The Love of God
A Sermon on John 3:16
Originally preached May 8, 1966
Scripture
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.
Sermon Description
What does it mean that “God so loved the world”? In this sermon on John 3:16 titled “The Love of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks beyond a superficial interpretation. This verse tells that great truth about just how much God loves the world. It is the love that sends one’s own son to die a torturous death upon the cross for vile sinners. This verse also tells just who He dies for: the world. This is not just any world, but it is a world that is sinful and rebellious. It is a world that hates God and His ways. It is the world of humanity who would rather live and die in their sin instead of repent and submit to God. The sermon calls the listener to ask: “Do you know God’s love as redeemer and savior or are you a part of the sinful world that hates God and who spurns His holy love given in Jesus Christ?”
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on John 3:16 which says "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."
- The verse is frequently misunderstood and misinterpreted. It must be examined carefully.
- The verse continues the conversation with Nicodemus from verses 11-15. It should not be isolated.
- The central theme of the verse is God's love displayed in salvation through Jesus.
- God's love is demonstrated in what He gives us - eternal life through belief in Jesus. Eternal life is the opposite of perishing.
- Perishing means being dead in sin, living for the world, and being outside of God's life. It leads to eternal punishment.
- Eternal life is a quality and quantity of life. Qualitatively, it is sharing in God's spiritual life. Quantitatively, it lasts forever.
- Eternal life begins now and continues after death into eternity. It is enjoying fellowship with God.
- God gives eternal life through faith alone in Jesus, not by good works or human effort. It is a gift received by faith.
- Faith in Jesus means believing in His person and work - that He is the Son of God who died to save us from our sins.
- Faith is immediate rather than delayed. When the truth is seen, faith responds at once. There is no need to wait or become better qualified.
- "Whosoever" shows that eternal life is available to all who believe, regardless of sins, age, race, or any other factor.
- No obstacle, no matter how great, can prevent someone from receiving eternal life through faith in Jesus. The only requirement is faith.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on John 3:16: Questions and Answers
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the most misunderstood verse in the Bible?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, 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") is possibly the most misunderstood and misinterpreted verse in the entire Bible. He notes that "there is no verse, perhaps, which is so frequently misunderstood and misinterpreted as this particular verse." He warns against repeating it "as if it were some kind of incantation" without careful examination.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain what it means to "perish" in John 3:16?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that perishing means "to be dead in trespasses and in sins." It is to be "outside the life of God and living a life which is entirely confined to the human and to the temporal level and sphere." A person who is perishing is not spiritually alive or aware - they are bounded by the ideas and thoughts of this world and have no interest in spiritual matters. Such a person is physically dying every day while having no awareness of their spiritual condition.
What is the definition of "eternal life" according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines eternal life in two dimensions: 1. A quality of life - "to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God." It is "the life of God in the souls of men" and means becoming "spiritually alive" and awakened to God. It is having the same quality of life that Christ had when he was in this world. 2. A quantity of life - It is not only a quality but also a duration. It is "a life without end" that "lasts throughout eternity." What we receive in this life is merely "the first fruits" or "the foretaste" of what will be fully experienced in eternity.
How does one receive eternal life according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, one receives eternal life "entirely and only and utterly as a gift from God" through faith in Christ. It's not the result of good works, efforts, striving, or any achievements. He strongly emphasizes that "no man has ever made himself a Christian" and "the man who thinks that he's made himself a Christian is proving and asserting that he is not a Christian."
What does it mean to "believe in Him" according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that believing in Christ means: 1. Believing in His person - accepting that Jesus is the eternal Son of God 2. Believing in His work - accepting that He came to save the lost and give His life as a ransom 3. Recognizing truth - "attending unto" the word rather than merely being familiar with it 4. Accepting and trusting - "resting yourself and your soul and your eternal destiny entirely in him and upon him" 5. Immediate action - "The moment a man believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, he says, I do it now"
Who is included in the "whosoever" of John 3:16?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "whosoever" includes everyone regardless of background, nationality, or past sins. He points out that this was especially significant to Nicodemus who "thought that Jews only were to be saved and that all Gentiles were to be condemned." The offer is extended to people of all nations, tribes, and languages. Furthermore, it doesn't matter what sins someone has committed or how long they have rejected God - "However great my trespass" and "However long from mercy I may have turned away" - all are included in the "whosoever."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say he's not interested in a person's past history when preaching the gospel?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the approach of a doctor (who needs detailed medical history) with his approach as a preacher. He says, "I'm not interested in histories here" and "it's a waste of time, because everybody's a sinner and everybody needs the same salvation." He explains that the particular sins committed don't matter because everyone is a sinner needing the same salvation. He's not concerned with whether someone was "an admiral or a journalist or a crossing sweeper" because every salvation is a miracle that only God could accomplish.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the only hindrance to receiving eternal life?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the only hindrance is unbelief. He states plainly: "There is no hindrance, no obstacle that you can think of. The only thing that matters is, do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?" He emphasizes that "every objection is answered" and "every obstacle is moved" for the person who truly believes. Age, background, past sins - none of these matter. The only barrier is not believing what Christ says.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.