John 3:16, commentary and pictures

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. That love is immeasurable, infinite and everlasting, embracing every person of every race and condition as personally as if there were no other, and it reached undeserving sinners and rebels while they were yet enemies. The Son given is divine and equal with the Father, yet in giving Him God gave all heaven with no reserve, sending Him to live in poverty and temptation without sin and to suffer as substitute and surety bearing guilt, curse and condemnation to uphold the law. Believing is not mere assent but personal trust receiving Christ as one's own sin-pardoning Saviour, by which the sinner stands pardoned with Christ's obedience counted as his, joined to Christ as a son of God, and true faith works by love in repentance, surrender and obedience. To perish is to come to nothing in eternal death under broken law, while everlasting life is God's free gift by grace through faith measuring with the life of God, bringing present peace and blessing and a probation to form character for glory.

Wording and Night Setting

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. That giving was the fruit of a love already present, not a love created by the death of Christ, for while men were yet sinners and rebels He gave Jesus to bear their sins so that pardon might come to all who believe. The only hope of the world was that One who knew no sin, One equal with God, should come to earth and live the law, proving in humanity that it could be kept, so that sinners might become partakers of the divine nature as obedient children of God. Christ bore the punishment for the world's sins so that through repentance and faith sinners may receive His righteousness and stand uncondemned, His perfect obedience counted as theirs, even as they cooperate with divine power and strive to overcome. His gift is unmistakable evidence of the Father's love and pledges that, having undertaken redemption, God will withhold nothing needed to complete it, and to fail to acknowledge that abundant grace is to lose what it offers.

The words were spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus, a rabbi who came to Him by night after seeing His healing and teaching. They stand at the heart of His instruction that a person must be born again with a changed heart to see the kingdom, for natural traits, temperament and disposition must be transformed into Christ's likeness or none can enter heaven. Believing in the lifted-up Son brings that regeneration of the soul and supplies the new heart needed to see God's kingdom, making the promise good news for the whole world. In that answer the Son is set forth as the remedy for sin, faith in Him bringing salvation while rejection ends in perishing, and the call is to genuine change of heart rather than reliance on self or cherished faults, with the Son as Mediator enabling men to become sons and daughters of God.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so that every bitten Israelite who looked would live, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Believing is looking away from self and sin to the uplifted Saviour, receiving His testimony and trusting God's word, and as long as sinners look at themselves their wounds remain, but when they fasten their eyes upon Him as Healer of body and soul and Lamb who takes away sin they find hope, peace and life. God sent His Son not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved, so he who believes is not condemned while he who does not believe is condemned already for not believing in the name of the only begotten Son. That condemnation is that light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil, so everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come to it lest his deeds be reproved, while he who does truth comes to the light that his deeds may be shown to be wrought in God.

The message is laid out in distinct lines that set forth the terms of salvation plainly, alone enough to guide the soul and of greatest importance to every living soul and especially to those who counsel others. It is expressed in simple, clear words that people of different backgrounds can understand and that cannot be misinterpreted, revealing God's love unto gratitude and softened hearts. It is the message sinners need to hear, that Christ is their hope, whose power does not depend on learned proofs, eloquent speeches or elaborate arguments but on simple truth fitted to those who hunger for spiritual life. It is to be used as Christ used it with Nicodemus, presenting new light and practical truth affirmatively without entering controversy, bringing awakened minds into contact with all light, since what is needed is not learning or argument but truth and a new heart. So proclaimed as present glad tidings to a world cursed by sin, it declares that the Son came to bring light and life and free men from bondage, and that He will return in glory to receive those who have followed Him.

God's Boundless Universal Love

God's love in the verse is immeasurable, infinite, everlasting and beyond human comprehension, the most forcible expression of love for the human family, centered in the cross of Calvary whose full significance cannot be expressed in words or grasped by the mind. When humanity was deeply wicked and rebellion was at its height, God sent His Son to save rather than destroy, bringing relief to a helpless, ignorant race facing eternal ruin and loss. His gift is the fullest, complete evidence of love, with no greater gift and no reserve of grace, power or glory remaining to give, making His immeasurable love plain to all created beings. It is a love too great to measure, displayed when heaven was stirred with pity, and contemplating it uproots selfishness and leads to generosity, self-denial and willing service, so that even the most guilty transgressor can come and ask for pardon.

That love embraces the whole world and the whole fallen race, not merely a select few, for whosoever includes every person, parent and child. It is for no particular nation, tribe, class or group, but reaches high and low, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, of every race and condition, including those who seem degraded, hopeless or beyond help. He gave His only begotten Son so that people may be saved through Him rather than condemned, intending them to be saved from their sins, with Christ's death purchasing humanity. Whoever has living faith in a personal Saviour may escape perishing and receive everlasting life, and lacking that living faith leaves a person condemned, pointing to salvation from sin and not permission to disobey.

God loved undeserving sinners, enemies and rebels while they were yet sinners, loving people though hating their sin, and His mercy continues despite rebellion. He loved the world even in its degradation under the curse, giving His only begotten Son so believers may have everlasting life rather than perish, because sinners cannot save themselves or atone for their errors and their hope is in the merits of Jesus Christ. This gift is the means of rescuing fallen people who cannot restore themselves, expressing a love greater than an earthly father's, measured by God's own power and character, with compassion and desire to restore His image in them. Though equal with God, Christ laid aside royal glory, took sinless human nature, and suffered as the just for the unjust, bearing sin's penalty as substitute and surety so that through His merits people may regain God's favor by returning to loyalty and obedience, a life-giving gift showing a love deeper and more enduring than parental love.

Christ's death did not create the Father's love or make Him willing to save or persuade Him to love people He otherwise hated; He already loved and gave His Son to sinners, and the Son reveals that pre-existing love. While men were still sinners and rebels against His law, God gave Jesus to bear their sins so pardon may come to all who believe, and Christ's death displays that love and makes it possible for mercy to pardon while justice is satisfied through a righteous substitute. The world's only hope was for One who knew no sin, One equal with God, to come and live the law, proving in humanity that it can be kept, so sinners might become partakers of the divine nature and thus obedient children of God. God does not love because He gave His Son, but He gave His Son because He already loved so much, that people would believe in His tender love toward them, and in the pain Christ suffered in Gethsemane and on Calvary the Father Himself suffered also, in Christ paying the price of salvation. Those who repent and believe may be pardoned through His merits, escape perishing and receive everlasting life, while those who refuse the crucified and risen Saviour are not cleared of guilt, for God is not willing that any shall perish but that whosoever will may come through Christ and live.

The verse reveals God as tender, compassionate, merciful Father full of goodness and truth, correcting false pictures of Him as cold, heartless, severe, tyrannical or vindictive. His living connection with humanity in giving His only begotten Son gives reason to respect Him, showing Him as creator, benefactor and preserver, the Author of all good, able to fulfill His purpose in creating human beings. Christ's compassion came from the Father's heart, bringing Him from heaven to take humanity upon Himself and moving Him to exceptional tenderness and sympathy toward fallen humanity. Contemplating the great plan of redemption discloses God's character: creation manifested His love, but giving Heaven's dearest gift to save a guilty and ruined race alone reveals the infinite depths of divine tenderness and compassion, upholding God's law and vindicating His justice while the believer in Jesus can be pardoned, with heavenly grace reaching the world through Christ.

The greatness of the gift shows the worth God places on humanity, that every soul is precious, bought at infinite price and valued above all earthly wealth. Jesus, heaven's richest gift, was given to pay the ransom for the human family, and when humanity was ready to perish God sent His spotless, sinless Son to die on the cross bearing human sins in His own body, to give opportunity to regain what was lost and to live unto God. No one is his own but belongs to the Lord by creation and redemption, and this infinite sacrifice joins people to God so Satan cannot hold anyone who accepts Christ as hope, life and personal Saviour. Christ, equal with the Father, laid aside His royal position and came as a human being through childhood, youth and adulthood in poverty and temptation, a gift immeasurably greater than any human offering, calling believers to value the Redeemer, truth and righteousness above earthly treasure. It is a treasure beyond gold or diamonds, bringing consolation and gladness now and eternal life to those who accept it, producing good deeds of greater worth, with life itself coming from God as Creator and source; those who refuse His offer, in which He gave all He had to give, will have no excuse in judgment. God loves even the greatest sinner and the discouraged person tempted to think his sins have caused God to give him up and refuse pardon, but such thoughts are false temptation dishonoring God, for His thoughts and ways of mercy are far higher than human thoughts, and believing means truly receiving Christ and living His life, aiming to do His will and represent His character.

Christ loves the world with an infinite love and gave His precious life as the Father's only begotten Son.

Son Given in Humanity

The Son given in the verse is fully divine, equal with the Father, the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, in whom all fullness dwells. He was in the form of God, the beloved and only-begotten Son, one with God and full of grace and truth. His equality did not prevent His giving, for though equal He laid aside royal position, glory, homage, robe and crown to come to a world marred by sin and the curse. The greatness of that condescension shows the gift to be immeasurably greater than any human offering, calling for the Redeemer, truth and righteousness to be valued above earthly treasure.

In laying aside His status He took human nature without sin, took the form of a servant, and clothed divinity with humanity to reach, help and save fallen people. He came as a child in Bethlehem in poverty, lived through childhood, youth and adulthood, labored and suffered with humanity, and was tempted in all points as people are yet without sin. Though rich He became poor that believers might have eternal riches, though Maker of the world He emptied Himself so completely that He had nowhere to lay His head. He became obedient even to death on the cross, enduring the most humiliating and agonizing death as the penalty of guilt so the sinner may stand guiltless and innocent. The word not in the promise matters, for it pledges escape from perishing to every individual who believes, giving each person individual value.

He was sent at the appointed time as heaven's Teacher, whose coming and work the prophets foretold and whose words carry supreme authority. He came as Example, Great Physician and Light of the world, living a perfect life, revealing the Father, living the law, sympathizing with weakness, and showing what people may become through Him. His mission was to seek and save the perishing like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep, receiving sinners not from indifference to sin but to save the lost. That provision was heaven's means to restore God's moral image in humanity, reshape character damaged by disloyalty, and give power to overcome evil and become sons of God, though many have rejected it as worthless.

In giving the Son, all heaven was given with no reserve, the greatest and unspeakable gift beyond measure, with no greater gift or reserve of grace, power or glory remaining. Having undertaken redemption, nothing needed to complete it will be withheld, and the gift brings consolation and gladness now with eternal life to those who accept it. It is unmistakable evidence of love that makes immeasurable love plain to all created beings, reveals a tide of love greater than human gratitude, and brings full assurance of relief to a helpless race on the verge of eternal ruin under justice. Contemplating it uproots selfishness and leads to generosity, self-denial, willing service and good deeds of greater worth than gold or diamonds, providing the pattern of liberality in which Christ gave Himself that others might be saved. Because heaven's best was given, even the most guilty transgressor can come and ask pardon, while refusal leaves no excuse in judgment.

The giving was not only to bear sins and die as sacrifice but to join the human family permanently, taking human nature to retain forever as pledge of unchanging peace. He continues as Sacrifice, Advocate, Brother and Mediator, interceding for those who receive Him, introducing and presenting them to God as sons and daughters, and by His blood and merits giving them power to become members of the royal and heavenly family. Through Him the human family is united to the family of heaven and bound to God in Christ who shares the throne, and sinners are restored to oneness with God, changed to the divine image, uplifted from ruin and made to reflect divine love. The Father is satisfied with the atonement and glorified by the incarnation, life, death and mediation, showing His love for Christ by welcoming Christ's friends.

He who came on an embassage of mercy with a message of love was innocent, with no proof found against Him, yet He was not received. He left His heavenly home for a sinful world where His purity and teachings were rejected, and He was given to a life of abuse, insult, mockery and rejection greater than any human can endure. He was scorned as a deceiver, hunted as a malefactor, betrayed and crucified as the worst of criminals by Jew and Gentile, priest and people, rulers, kings and governors, through the united working of Satan and evil angels with disloyal men resolved to put truth out of the world. The unfallen worlds and the heavenly universe of seraphim, cherubim and angels looked with amazement at that hatred, for by living the law in human nature He testified to them that rebellion against God and His law was without foundation and vindicated its immutability. Many witnesses of the crucifixion did not understand its meaning as God's love, though in it God in human flesh died to bring life and immortality to light, rose triumphant and ascended to make a home in heaven available to those who love and serve Him.

Substitute Atoning Sacrifice

The innocent Just suffered for the unjust as substitute and surety, bearing the guilt, chastisement, curse, condemnation and wrath due to the world in order to uphold God's unchanging law and government. Because God loved the world He gave His Son, and Christ truly bore the punishment for the sins of the world so that whoever believes need not perish but may have everlasting life. The moment a sinner believes with repentance and faith he stands pardoned, innocent and uncondemned before God, because Christ bears his guilt and takes his punishment while His perfect obedience and righteousness are counted as the believer's. Through that faith the sinner may receive His righteousness and become holy in character, yet must cooperate with divine power, strive to overcome sin, return to loyalty and obedience to the law, and thus stand complete in Christ. Though equal with God, Christ laid aside royal glory, took sinless human nature, and came to a world marred by the curse to suffer as humanity's substitute and surety, and that life-giving gift is evidence of a love deeper and more enduring than parental love.

His blood paid the ransom price as propitiation for the sins of a guilty world, the only sufficient sacrifice that no angel or human could provide, securing pardon and another probation. Love for the world moved God to leave nothing undone, to give His Son from the heavenly courts to die on Calvary, for only Christ could take away and remove the sin of the world. Because humanity fell through sin and became subject to death, God's compassion provided relief at infinite cost, and apart from Christ the transgressor has no hope, for no human intercessor can provide salvation. That death must not be in vain, but calls for simple faith, simple trust in God, and entire obedience to His requirements, since true faith works by love and purifies the soul. God delights in the well-being and happiness of beings made in His image, and Christ's gift is the expression of that love.

Through His life, death, resurrection and mediation sinners are reconciled, Satan is cast out, the barrier between humanity and God is removed, humanity is united to divinity and restored to God's moral image as partakers of the divine nature. God did not begin to love because Christ died, but while men were still sinners and rebels against His law He gave Jesus to bear their sins so that pardon may come to all who believe on Him. The world's only hope was for One who knew no sin, One equal with God, to come to earth and live the law, proving in His humanity that the law can be kept, so that sinners might become obedient children of God. Christ gave up His high command, took humanity upon Himself to stand at the head of the human race, made atonement for sin and secured redemption, and being lifted up He casts Satan out and becomes the center of the redeemed world drawing people back to loyalty. He alone lifts lives and characters ruined by sin, restores in them God's lost image, reshapes character after His own divine character, and makes it possible to receive saving help, for God is not willing that any should perish but that whosoever will may come through Christ and live.

The Father suffered with the Son in Gethsemane and on Calvary, where Infinite Love paid redemption while the Son felt separation from the Father. God gave His well-beloved Son to die for sins, to suffer with and for humanity, and in Christ paid the price of salvation, so that to perish — to come to nothing — is set against everlasting life for whoever believes. Christ took upon Himself the penalty and punishment due to sinners, bore the sin of the whole world and died in the sinner's place, mocked and rejected by those He came to save. He took the cup of suffering as if He were the guilty one and drained it to the dregs, bearing the sin of the world to the bitter end, crying in agonized humiliation, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me, and still feels the consequences of continued sin as if He Himself were guilty. In every pang of anguish are beheld the throes of paternal love, the Father Himself travailing in the greatness of His almighty love, a love revealed by the cross that no line can fathom and no measurement compute. In His supreme agony when the mysterious cup trembled in His hand He was strengthened by a mighty angel to drink it with assurance of the Father's love, pointed to the open heavens and the souls that would be saved, assured that His Father is greater than Satan, that His death would utterly discomfit Satan, give the kingdoms of this world to the saints of the Most High, and let Him see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied in a multitude eternally saved.

Type met antitype in Him as the true Lamb and sin offering fulfilling sacrifices and Passover. Christ, the maker of the law and the foundation of the whole Jewish economy, came in the image of God and by offering Himself rendered what justice required and made an ample sacrifice for all, because the broken law could not be changed to meet man in his fallen condition, being a transcript of God's character no more to be abolished than His throne. His offering was made at Passover and fulfilled the Jewish sacrifices, so that on the cross type met antitype in His death and the ceremonies connected with the temple services in types and shadows were taken away. After His death sacrificial offerings have no moral efficacy, and the sacrificial system that kept people mindful of God and pointed forward to Christ as the perfect offering now points back to Him. Belief in the only begotten Son is the mark of blood on the doorposts, as every Christian must stain the doorposts and gather the children into the house so the destroying angel sees the acknowledgment of faith and passes by, and the Father's wrath fell upon the innocent Son whom He pronounced guilty so He may pass over the repentant sinner. Living in the day of increased light when type has met antitype, those who reject or neglect so great salvation will have no escape and will be without excuse.

His sacrifice exposes sin as a tremendous evil, magnifies the law, defeats Satan's rebellion and vindicates God's character and government before the universe. God could have removed sin by sweeping sinners from the earth, but instead gave His Son to save them, and the value of that costly sacrifice reveals how tremendous an evil sin is and how great is the value of salvation. The gift of the innocent, divine Christ to atone for sin shows how grave sin is and gives the guilty hope, life and pardon. Christ gave His life to save humanity, and His coming into the world was part of His contest with Satan for its possession, to counterwork sin. Against the dishonor brought on God by sin and the lies of Satan, the verse sets the call to accept salvation rather than perish.

Believing Living Faith

Believing is looking away from self and sin to the uplifted Saviour, just as the bitten Israelites lived simply by looking at the brazen serpent Moses lifted on a pole because God said it. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so that everyone who looked would live, so the Son of Man must be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life, for God gave His Son to save the world, not to condemn it. No great work is required, only the look of faith in obedience to God's word; those who look live, while those who stop to reason and argue die. As long as sinners look at their sins and talk of their wretched condition their wounds remain, but when they take their eyes from themselves and fasten them upon Him their souls find hope and peace and everlasting life in answer to the call to look and live. Christ speaks this now as certainly as He spoke healing to Israel in the wilderness, as the Healer of both body and soul and the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. The call is look and live through trust in the unseen, invisible God as helper, believing He died for you and His blood cleanses from all sin however grievous, without waiting to feel He is Saviour, and receiving the priceless gift instead of mourning in unbelief. The only begotten Son so given in love is One equal with God, who accompanied Israel in the wilderness in the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night and did wondrous things for them despite their perversity and rebellion and murmuring, when they treated His care as common and failed to trust Him in hardship.

Saving faith is more than casual assent or merely acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God; casual faith does not bring the blessing, and general belief by the whole world does no good without a personal hold. It must be a faith centered in Jesus that makes Christ a personal Saviour, by which a person knows Christ is my Saviour and can say He saves me, trusting God's word and Christ as the one who saves rather than relying on human advisers. It is accepting Christ as a personal, sin-pardoning Saviour, laying hold of His merits, coming to Him in humility, contrition and sincere repentance, which is essential for salvation of the soul and contains the whole science of salvation. Whoever so comes receives pardon, has sins taken away and His righteousness imputed, with the Holy Spirit presenting the things of Christ to the earnest suppliant so that salvation is ensured, while faithlessness offers no virtue or hope. Attending meeting and making effort to enjoy religion is not enough without this personal hold, for so much depends on taking God at His word.

The moment a sinner believes he stands pardoned and innocent, uncondemned before God, because Christ truly bore the punishment for the sins of the world and bears his guilt and takes his punishment. Christ's perfect obedience is counted as the believer's, His righteousness and perfect obedience credited to sinners through repentance and faith, guilt borne by Christ, sins removed and righteousness imputed. The promise is received by faith accepting the merits of that blood shed so sinners need not be destroyed but may live forever, for God has laid all power upon Christ to give help to everyone who breaks with Satan and acknowledges Christ as his only hope. Through that faith the sinner becomes like Christ in holiness of character, yet he must cooperate with divine power and put forth human effort to subdue sin and stand complete in Christ. The one who repents and accepts cannot be overcome but becomes a child of God by laying hold on the divine nature by faith, praying and believing, and when tempted and tried claiming the power Christ died to give and overcoming through His grace.

Through faith believers are joined to Christ and joined to eternal life, with Christ's life in him and his life hid with Christ in God, so that when Christ who is his life appears he will appear with Him in glory. Believing in Christ means a living connection with God and laying hold of the merits of the crucified and risen Savior, the truth received in the heart bringing a decisive change, sanctifying life and character and bearing fruits of righteousness. Those who receive this gift are sanctified, cleansed, and empowered to become God's children, receiving power to become sons of God by believing on His name; Christ removes sin's destructive tendencies and restores people to their intended relationship with God. Upon the one who looks to Jesus as the author and finisher of faith Satan's temptations have no power, for Satan cannot cause to sin the one who accepts by faith the virtues of Christ who was tempted in all points yet without sin. Every sinner must repent, believe in the power of Christ, and accept that power both to save and to keep from sin, and be thankful for the gift of Christ's example.

True belief works by love and purifies the soul, making religion the spiritual life and the consecration of a renewed heart, calling for simple faith, simple trust in God, and entire obedience to His requirements. Believing includes repenting of sin and accepting Christ's gift and power: by faith in His divine nature the sinner becomes a child of God and can resist temptation and overcome through Christ's grace. Accepting this free gift makes a person a partaker of Christ's righteousness and complete in Him, the Lord's love burning in the heart as converting power that transforms character and life and is the believer's first love. Disobedience to God's law shows that a person has not accepted Christ's righteousness; a claim to sanctification that goes against God's plain commands is false, and such actions deny the Lord who bought them. The gift was made so that people would be filled with divine love and kindness, to assure sinners that even sins of the greatest magnitude are forgiven when the transgressor seeks pardon and surrenders body, soul, and spirit to be transformed by grace and changed into God's likeness, and God claims entire affection in return, meeting the soul's deepest need for eternal welfare.

Its promise is the word of eternal life and gives sure assurance to those who take hold of the gospel by living faith; confidence in being God's child rests on this promise, not on changeable feelings or emotions. Belief in Christ brings life, power, grace, and salvation, and encouraging and speaking faith helps strengthen it, while speaking and fostering doubt deepens doubt. All that is required is to take Jesus as personal Saviour, to come to Him just as one is, to give self to Him, and to grasp His promises by living faith without doubting that He will save now, proving Himself a personal friend to each sinner able to save to the uttermost all that come to Him. The promise belongs to every individual, including the discouraged person tempted to believe his sins have caused God to give him up to the enemy and refuse him pardon; such thoughts are false, come from temptation, and dishonor God, to whom the sinner belongs by creation and redemption. When Satan tries to fasten the burden of sin and guilt back after it has been cast at the foot of the cross where the Sin-bearer has taken it, reading the verse answers him, and looking away from self to the Lamb of God who takes away sin ends the controversy for that time, while relating doubts, unbelief, and horror of being lost cannot repulse Satan but pleases him who wants to make miserable. The giving of the Son means He was wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, chastised for peace, and with His stripes healing comes.

The intensity of the love God has for every soul in giving His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life is discerned by following on to know the Lord step by step. Many professed believers joined together in church capacity fail to do this because they do not have all the truth, are not obedient to all the commandments, and in many cases are backsliders. Knowing Jesus Christ and the Father calls for a living connection with God and the grace that makes religious profession genuine, among the marvelous blessings expected by faithful, humble followers who continue to know the Lord. True knowledge includes knowing what was done to make it possible to receive the knowledge of the truth: Christ gave His life so His righteousness might be imparted to unworthy people, purchasing them and cutting them loose from the enemy to give opportunity to obtain a knowledge of God, taking away sins and filling their place with the knowledge of the truth. This personal experience must be obtained by all who enter through the gates into the City, best received by imparting to others the light received, with every soul called to account for how the light and time given to prepare for the mansions Christ is preparing are used.

Satan has interposed himself between sinful man and the living source of life and power after man fell through disobedience and severed his life from the life of God, so man of himself cannot appropriate the divine nature. Without a vital connection with God man perverts every blessing and uses every gracious gift as a weapon against the Giver, and only as human beings receive Christ can God bless them, elevating them and placing them on vantage ground, Christ having stooped to take humanity so that through Him man might gain eternal life and in humanity defeated the purposes of the enemy. Believing in Him means accepting Christ as a personal Saviour, and that decision enlists a person in the army of the Lord as a volunteer soldier of the cross, leaving the black banner of the power of darkness to stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, with constant study to show oneself a faithful soldier. Each person's responsibility is to believe in Christ; the presence of wrongdoers in the church is no excuse for refusing to believe. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved; he who believes is not condemned, but he who believes not is condemned already, the condemnation being that light has come and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, while he who does truth comes to the light so his deeds may be made manifest as wrought in God.

Perishing and Everlasting Life

To perish is to come to nothing, to fall into eternal death and hopeless ruin under the just penalty of a broken law, and the promise is that everyone who believes will be delivered from that doom and saved from ruin. The whole world has broken the law and stands as enemies with carnal minds at war against God, without strength to do any good thing, and the holy law as a moral mirror convicts of that evil state and hopeless distress. Yet God did not leave sinners in the distress into which sin plunged them, but He who was equal with God gave His life on Calvary, covering the soul as the Samaritan covered the wounded man who represents the lost race. The gift came at the cost of the life of the spotless Son alone who could bear guilt, for He suffered with and for humanity in Gethsemane and on Calvary where the Father Himself suffered in Him and paid the price of salvation, a love at which angels wondered. His suffering and death make it possible to avoid perishing, for He is the sacrifice provided for sinful people who had nothing to offer, the proof of immeasurable love, and those who repent and receive Him as personal Saviour are saved while those who refuse face eternal death.

Everlasting life is life that measures with the life of God Himself, lasting as long as His own life, an eternity of glory and bliss and immortality in His kingdom received as reward and inheritance. It is God's crowning gift in the plan of redemption, purchased by the infinite sacrifice of Jesus Christ who paid the price for the sins of the whole world to save from perdition and set feet on the Rock of ages. Coming to Him gives that life, and to the question what shall be done to inherit eternal life the answer is to serve God with all the powers of the mind. The invitation is to come as we are, ask for blessing, and receive life through faith in Him, for whoever entrusts a helpless soul to Jesus and believes in His merits will have faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Believing is more than casual assent, for it is a living faith that connects to God, accepts Jesus as personal Saviour, and lays sins upon Him with trust that He takes them away.

Eternal life is God's free gift through His Son, received by grace through faith and not of ourselves, and even when dead in trespasses and sins God provided a way to raise believers to sit in heavenly places with Christ to show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness in ages to come. Cooperation with God as He works within does not pay for salvation or make it anything other than free, though living faith bears fruit, for belief in Christ is joined to a life whose genuineness is shown through self-denial and self-sacrifice for Christ and suffering people and no one enters heaven without such a life. Heaven was purchased at infinite price, and Christ bore the penalty of the sins of the whole world to meet the law's demands, opening the fountain of life so fallen people may repent, accept a personal Saviour, confess and forsake sin, be pardoned and forgiven, and be guarded by angels from satanic delusions. Believing on Jesus is working the works of God and gives worth to the soul, and those yoked with Him receive peace, comfort, hope and rest on a foundation that will not be swept away, while anyone who does not appreciate this kindness robs his soul of heaven's richest blessings.

The gift brings present blessings as well as future life, for through that one gift every other gift is imparted and daily the whole world receives blessing from God. Every drop of rain, every ray of light shed on the unthankful race, and every leaf and flower and fruit testifies to long forbearance and great love, and by redemption no less than by creation the whole earth belongs to God as His vineyard though now in the hands of the usurper. Life itself is a manifestation of that love, a talent committed to human care that is very costly in light of the Son's sacrifice, expressing God's ownership since people derive life from Him as Creator and Source of all life and belong to Him by creation and doubly by redemption as beings formed in His image for a higher life. Accepting Jesus brings the blessings of life, health, friendship, reason and happiness, and calls to acknowledge His ownership, serve willingly, do duty toward God on whom depend life, health and the blessings of fields and herds, and share the knowledge of His love, justice, mercy and greatness with others. God withheld nothing however dear or costly that was needed to give gift upon gift and open heaven's treasures, and everyday mercies are thus connected with the atoning sacrifice.

The gift grants probation, another opportunity and trial to return to loyalty, prove obedience, form character after the likeness of Christ, and find abundant entrance into the kingdom. The race stood on the verge of eternal ruin under incensed justice, helpless and ignorant, and the Father gave the greatest gift in His power, pouring out heaven's treasures with such largeness that no reserve grace or power or glory remains, giving all opportunity, privilege and grace of the Spirit. Because justice is the foundation of His throne and the evidence of His love, He could not abolish the law which reveals His character, but carried out the penalty upon a substitute, His only begotten Son, giving Himself in His Son and in that gift giving all heaven as the only provision He could make. The Son lifts guilt by standing under the condemnation of the Lawgiver and living the law in humanity to disprove the charge that man cannot keep it, so that through imputed righteousness all who receive Him by faith are made partakers of the divine nature and can show loyalty by keeping the law. This infinite sacrifice for sinners to seek and save the lost was repeated during every moment of Christ's life as a man of sorrows, bearing the sin of the world to the bitter end and still feeling the consequences of continued sin, and at the judgment the lost will recognize the sacrifice at Calvary and the pure fellowship they refused and realize their loss too late. The gift therefore calls redeemed free moral agents to live as loyal subjects rather than remain under sin's power, giving the whole heart in willing service to Him who died on Calvary's cross.

Whosoever includes every person, parents and children, for God gave His Son for the whole fallen world and not merely a select few, and whoever has living faith in a personal Saviour receives everlasting life while lacking that faith leaves a person condemned, which promise alone is enough to condemn. God sent the Son to save and not to condemn, so believers are not condemned while unbelief leaves a person condemned already, because light has come and those who do evil love darkness rather than light and avoid it while those who do truth come to it that their deeds may be seen as wrought in God. In Christ's death propitiation was made for every son and daughter of Adam, yet those who could lay sins on the Sin-bearer but choose to keep them refuse to come for life, and for them His death is in vain. No human friend can pay the ransom, and the time will come when such will know they are forsaken and eternally lost, seeing too late what was lost with hearts filled with remorse and despair even while burning with hatred, in contrast to Christ who in suffering felt no remorse, despair or hatred. Turning from Christ for worldly wealth or status rejects the great salvation placed within reach at infinite cost, fails to value what He has done, obstructs the flow of benevolence through human agents, and bears witness to contempt for His sacrifice, though sin has disturbed that flow for ages without cutting it off from earth.

God's care for those who love and fear Him is grounded in this gift of His only Son so that everyone who believes may escape perishing and receive everlasting life. Through Christ all that was lost by yielding to Satan can be regained, salvation from the destroyer's power and restoration to God's image, and those who accept become God's children humbling themselves before Him as little children. Every person may join God's family, made possible by the beloved Son dying a shameful death, and people are called to prepare for that life by learning to do right. God does not desire the sinner's death or want anyone to perish, but lovingly draws the sinner back that each person may have life through Jesus' death. He desires all to receive eternal life through believing and obeying His word, for Christ came in human form to show what people may become through obedience, and His grace enables sharing in the divine nature and escape from the world's corruption.

Eternal Plan and History

John 3:16 expresses the whole plan of redemption, that out of love for the world God gave His only-begotten Son so that whoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life, with Christ bearing the punishment for the world's sins so His perfect obedience and righteousness can be credited to sinners who repent and believe and stand innocent and uncondemned before God, yet who must cooperate with divine power and strive to overcome sin and stand complete in Christ. That plan was laid before the foundation of the world in union and counsel between the Father and the Son, with a covenant of peace between them, in which Christ undertook to become humanity's Substitute and Surety and did not stand alone. The work began in the heavenly courts where the Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to working it out, with Christ giving Himself as an offering for sin and with Him all the resources of heaven given so nothing is lacking for man's uplifting. In giving the Son the Father gave Himself, proving He is not unloving and vindictive toward sinners, and revealing Himself as both holy and loving, for at Calvary justice and truth meet and righteousness and peace kiss, displaying His justice and love and the unchanging holiness of His law.

Provision for redemption was made before the fall because God foresaw sin though He did not ordain it, covenanting to give His only-begotten Son so believers may escape perishing. After man fell through disobedience and severed his life from the life of God, sin entered the world and death by sin passed upon all men, for all have sinned and the soul that sins shall die, leaving humanity apart from redemption doomed to death. Adam's fall forfeited eternal life and brought sin and death, and Christ at infinite cost and sacrifice came and died on Calvary to buy back the race from Satan, stooping to take humanity and in humanity defeating the enemy so salvation was brought within reach of all. Satan has interposed himself between sinful man and the living source of life and power so man of himself cannot appropriate the divine nature but perverts every blessing, and only as human beings receive Christ can God bless and elevate them, giving power through grace to separate from sin, return to loyalty, live lives of perfect obedience, and become loyal subjects of His kingdom.

The gift came at the worst crisis, when sin had become a science and was entrenched and widespread, human hostility to heaven was most violent, rebellion deep-rooted, vice consecrated as part of religion, and Satan's power seemed growing while he exulted that God would destroy the world. When the earth was filled with transgression after centuries of cruel treatment of messengers and trampling of law, after flood and rescue from Egypt failed to turn men from defiance, justice seemed to require destruction, the voices of the slain cried for retribution, angels expected punishment, unfallen worlds watched for God to sweep away earth's inhabitants, and one word would have brought fire and flame with thunderings and earthquakes. Instead of cutting Himself loose, treating sinners as deserved, commanding angels to pour out wrath, or sending His Son to condemn, God came still nearer in amazing grace and gave His beloved Son as Redeemer and propitiation to save and not condemn, a movement of love that filled angels with wonder. Sin had separated humanity from God yet His stream of benevolence never stopped but grew through successive ages until in the fullness of time it came as a great gift of love in a healing flood of heavenly grace, with the Word made flesh dwelling among men full of grace and truth, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh to draw men close by human relationship and demonstrate before the heavenly universe and unfallen worlds how much God loves men, withholding nothing so it can never be said He could have done more. That giving meant permitting Christ, whom Satan hated for His place in God's courts and the more for pledging to redeem sinners in a world where Satan claimed dominion, to come as a helpless babe subject to human weakness, meet life's peril in common with every soul, fight the battle as every child of humanity must at risk of failure and eternal loss, a bitterer conflict and more fearful risk than a human father trembles to let his son meet, to make the path of life sure for little ones.

The promise of this gift was made known from the fall and Enoch believed and relied on it, while Abraham's offering of Isaac was designed to prefigure it and taught through sorrow and obedience how great God's self-denial was in giving His Son. Unlike Isaac, Jesus received no reprieve but endured humiliation, mockery, torture and crucifixion and died as sacrifice for the sins of the world without intervention to stop it, a sacrifice involving suffering not only for the Son but for the Father. The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness so whoever looks to Him in trust lives, and that only-begotten Son given in love is One equal with God who accompanied Israel in the wilderness in cloud by day and fire by night and did wonders for them despite perversity, rebellion, murmuring and failure to trust Him in hardship. Believing means acknowledging oneself a lost and undone sinner in need of a Saviour and accepting the blood of the Son of God, while one who blinds himself to light, hardens conscience and will not confess his lost condition does not believe and his sin remains, for like Cain he refuses to offer the blood of the Son of God.

The rainbow encircling the throne on high is an everlasting testimony to this love and promise and to covenant mercy, joining the covenant that the earth will not again be destroyed by flood with the gift of Christ, assuring the world and every repentant believing soul that God will never forsake His people in their struggle with evil and giving assurance of strength and protection as long as the throne endures. When the law is taught it should be presented with Christ's righteousness, for Christ is the law's glory and came to magnify and honor it, and in Him mercy and truth meet and righteousness and peace are joined. God gave His only-begotten Son to live a humiliated life in poverty and sorrow and die a shameful death so believers may escape perishing and receive everlasting life, a continuing gift of sinless life and infinite sacrifice within reach of every person. He took the humiliation of human life and endured shame, agony and fierce temptation to bring many to glory, suffered as a man of sorrows treated as though struck and afflicted by God, drained the cup as if guilty bearing the world's sin, lived a perfect life amid fiercest opposition to make right relation with God possible, and in the crucifixion God died in human flesh to bring life and immortality to light, though many witnesses did not understand its meaning. He was laid in the tomb and raised to destroy death and continue as Advocate, and everlasting life is the higher life for which this world's probation prepares people. The God who made the covenant with Israel proposed no terms by human beings, but the love that gave the only-begotten Son so believers should not perish but have everlasting life formed that settlement, leaving man the privilege of exercising living faith in the Saviour.

Law Justice and Mercy

God could not abolish His law or change it to meet fallen humanity, for that law reveals the attributes of His character and not a jot or tittle of it could be altered, no more than His throne could be torn away, and to abolish it would immortalize transgression and place the whole world under Satan's control. The law had been broken and could give no hope or pardon of itself, yet it remains in force as the transcript of God's character, with type meeting antitype in Christ who stood at the head and foundation of the whole Jewish economy and came in the image of God to die so fallen men could be rescued from the enemy and have eternal life. Sin is transgression of the law, and Christ died to take away sin and restore people to loyalty rather than continued disobedience, so that if the law were abolished sin would be made permanent and there would be no need for the gospel or a Saviour. In Christ God lays hold of the repenting soul with an unyielding grasp while grasping the throne of God, becoming the connecting link between humanity and divinity, between earth and heaven, the only refuge for the guilty soul through whom alone men come to the Father. Whoever seeks to know God is directed to Christ, who lived out the law and manifested the attributes of the Father, condemning sin in the flesh as a perfect revelation of God where mercy and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Justice is the foundation of His throne and the evidence of His love, so He carried out the penalty of transgression but let it fall upon a substitute, His only begotten Son, in whom He gave Himself and gave all heaven as the only provision He could make. The innocent suffered for the guilty and the just bore the punishment due to the unjust, for Jesus bore the penalty for human sin to uphold the unchanging law of God and the rightness of His government, to make an end of sin and bring in everlasting righteousness. He lifts sinners from their low estate and magnifies God's law, making salvation possible without changing God's holiness, justice, or truth, offering His life as a ransom for fallen humanity so believers need not perish but may have everlasting life. By this gift a way was provided for sinners to return to loyalty, giving them another opportunity, another trial, another chance to show obedience and to escape perishing and gain eternal life.

At the cross justice and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other, for in the crucifixion on Calvary God gives expression of His justice and His love and manifests the immutability of the holiness of His law. The great plan was laid before the foundation of the world in counsel between Father and Son with a covenant of peace between them, in which the Majesty of heaven, the King of Glory, would become a servant and the only begotten Son in whom the Father delighted was given for the ransom of a fallen race, proving the Father is not unloving and vindictive toward sinners. No other plan could accomplish salvation while God's holiness, justice, and truth remained unchanged, yet through Christ's sacrifice justice and mercy are reconciled and mercy offers to cleanse people from unrighteousness as their wills are conformed to His. God is manifest in Christ as just to pardon and merciful to save all who believe in Him, and the justice, holiness, and truth of Christ in the law do not obstruct mercy to all who repent and believe. Through gracious acceptance of the sinless Saviour on behalf of all who believe, reconciliation is made for sin so the believing soul may stand toward God, toward His holy law, and toward His justice and truth as if he had never sinned, for his life is hid with Christ in God, and therefore God can love the sinner who believes in Jesus as He loves His only begotten Son, while He condemns the sinner who refuses to believe. Through Christ, God is just while also justifying everyone who accepts Him, joining tender mercy and forgiveness with firm justice so that when people repent and make peace with Him through the cross they find Him a merciful Father reconciled to them through His Son.

The gift does not mean recipients may continue in sin, for Christ the innocent divine Son bore the punishment due to sinners so they might have life through faith, and preaching that love melts and conquers the sinner's heart to return to loyalty. The Son given lifts the guilt of sin from the sinner by standing Himself under the condemnation of the Lawgiver and living the law in humanity to prove false Satan's charge that man cannot keep God's law, so that through His imputed righteousness all who receive Him by faith can show loyalty by keeping the law and are made partakers of the divine nature. After the law as a great moral mirror shows the sinner spotted, defiled and condemned, yet unable in any way to remove guilt or pardon the transgressor, it acts as a schoolmaster to show the remedy, and the sinner must go farther than repentance and look to the sin-bearing Saviour revealed upon the cross dying beneath the weight of the sins of the whole world. Christ took upon Himself the penalty and punishment due to sinners, making it possible for them through grace and repentance to share in the divine nature and receive everlasting life through faith, so God's requirements are not merely a cause for fear or a terrifying law but a mark of divine love and a means of sanctification through the Spirit.

Disregard for God brings ruin, while obedience to His law brings life, and conformity to His requirements transforms people and fosters peace and goodwill, for righteousness exalts both nations and individuals and faith unites people with Christ who took human nature to show what God desires human beings to become. God is the eternal King, immortal, invisible, the Ruler high above all rule, more jealous for His honor, more interested in His subjects, and more kind and tender to those who put their trust in Him than any earthly ruler, while strictly forbidding sin and requiring practical obedience and strictly enjoining it as He seeks to save souls. Everlasting life is the reward of obedience, and Christ came and lived a life of obedience to God's law so that people might obey and be saved, making the path to holiness and heaven found in obedience. Christ's sacrifice testifies that God's law could not be changed and gives humanity another trial and an opportunity to obey God's commandments, so that eternal destiny turns on whether they obey the light given to them and those who believe in Christ and are obedient here will remain obedient in heaven.

The gift stands entirely contrary to the enemy's false representations of the character of God, revealing the Father as long-suffering, merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and full of goodness and truth, a loving Father who longs to receive the returning sinner rather than one eager to accuse or condemn. This declaration reveals the glory of God — His character — and is to be received personally as God's assurance, correcting false ideas that salvation rests on strict adherence to ceremony and form rather than on faith in Him, and pressing upon people the necessity of prayer, repentance, confession and abandonment of sin with honesty, forbearance, mercy, compassion, and love not only toward those who love them but toward those who hate and mistreat them. It is the most glorious news ever heard by human ears, opening everlasting life to everyone who believes instead of perishing, and it proves Satan failed to win both those who do not know God and professed Christians to his side to bring evidence against God, establishing God before angels and men as infallible, supreme, and infinite in wisdom.

Response Gratitude and Mission

John 3:16 calls for nothing less than entire consecration in return for the gift of the only begotten Son, with sons and daughters made one with God and ever ready not only to receive favors but to suffer privation and endure shame for His sake. The cross of Calvary revealed in the verse is what should inspire enthusiasm above all else in the world, and Christ made known in this gift is to be accepted, believed on, and exalted, with His preciousness as the theme of conversation. Those who receive Christ's love are to offer themselves, their time, talents, and means in grateful, unselfish service to help save the lost from eternal death, since at Calvary Christ died to save sinners from perishing. The promise of everlasting life instead of perishing is the most important theme for meditation, calling for the personal response of giving self to Jesus and placing the will on God's side.

Heaven's spirit of liberality revealed in the self-sacrificing gift provides the pattern for Christian benevolence, for God gave His Son as unmistakable evidence of love to save people from perishing, and Christ gave Himself so that others might be saved. His followers imitate His character through generous giving and good works, learning and teaching a life of service on the principle that those who love give. His self-giving is the pattern for work undertaken to save others, calling believers to willingly make efforts and bear hardship to help people in sin and bring them truth without creating prejudice that closes the way. That same love, tender, sympathetic and compassionate rather than cold or heartless, is to be shown to the people Christ died to save, and cooperation with Him through self-denial includes abstaining from intoxicating drinks.

The verse is a grand theme gospel ministers should dwell on and impress upon the people, educating them in practical Christianity with less mere sermonizing, for Christ is salvation to all who believe. That love beyond understanding is to be told to men and women who do not have a true knowledge of God, and is the reason to love souls and labor for their salvation because Christ gave His life for souls. Understanding this immeasurable love should move believers to use every capability to seek and save those perishing outside Christ, since the sacrifice was made for the world's enlightenment and recovery. Preaching God's love and Christ's saving work melts and conquers the sinner's heart, for the innocent divine Son bore punishment due to sinners that they might have life through faith, a gift that does not permit continuing in sin. Christ came to seek and save the lost, reaching people in deep suffering and need including those others regarded as hopeless, drawing them to open their hearts, receive transforming grace and His spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice, repent, accept pardon, and join Him in sharing truth and laboring for those in danger of perishing.

Jesus is God's great gift to humanity given out of love so that whoever believes may have everlasting life instead of perishing, and that gift calls for thank offerings and gifts to support God's work. Taking Christ as personal Saviour makes truth in Jesus rather than the world's customs rule the heart, and God's love revealed in giving Christ sustains believers through reproach and persecution, requiring obedience even when it costs favorable position or brings suffering. The gift reveals the value God places on human beings and calls Christians to care for others as brothers and sisters, and because Christ gave Himself to lift and restore humanity they must not support the liquor trade which degrades and harms those He came to save. Christ gave Himself to rescue people, not to place them under human bondage or give one person power to force another to submit to his wishes.

The way of salvation in the verse is to be taught to children alongside the story of Jesus' birth and His obedient, faithful life as child and youth. Christ gave His life for children as well as adults, and parents are to tenderly teach and train their children to trust Him and live in His righteousness, with hope that faithful parents and children who die will rise and enter God's city together. Remembering that Christ died, the Just for the unjust, to bring people to God grounds a parent's dealings with children in Christ's saving love. God gave His only begotten Son as a pattern of true holiness which parents are to study and, through sanctified service, use to shape their children's characters after the divine likeness and work with God for their salvation. The Son of God loved children and died so they could have everlasting life, and their loving Him and trying to please Him leads to characters pure and true. Ministers, workers, fathers and mothers must heed and practice and teach John 3:16-17, that God did not send His Son to condemn but that the world through Him might be saved, awakening to responsibility never to speak harshly or angrily, to restrain the tongue, to be true missionaries in the home, to train children to be Christlike in word and deed rather than like Lucifer who sought his own way and was cast out, to receive power through Christ to resist temptation, to be daily converted for the end is at hand, and so to glorify God that neighbors will be won.

Because Christ's sacrifice was for all, every human being is to be respected whether or not they share belief, and when opportunity allows they should be offered the light of truth. Believers are to teach this gift and live by Christ's principles, showing through character what truth can do and cooperating with Christ as He works for people to receive God's gift. This saving love is the heart of the gospel and is to inspire earnest work for sinners expressed with love rather than harshness. The plan leaves out no one high or low, rich or poor, free or bond, laying on stewards the duty to lift men and women day by day out of worldliness into heaven's pure atmosphere by holding Christ before them as Pattern in meekness and lowliness. Because Christ died to redeem them, believers are a family of brothers and sisters who should treat one another kindly and tenderly. This love supports merciful effort to help and rescue those who stumble rather than exposing failures or driving them to despair through severity, criticism and condemnation, for no return to the right path is credited to harsh treatment.

The gift reveals God's love and power and gives reason to trust Him through trial instead of yielding to unbelief. The promise answers doubts about whether God has forgotten to be gracious or withheld mercy, for Jesus' completed work assures the believer that God is true and His love is sure. God loves each discouraged, doubting person as one of the world for whom He gave His Son, loves him personally, and will save him if he receives the gift, accepting him just as he is with no hope of becoming better until he comes to Jesus for pardon and sanctification. That giving flows from glory and character merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and sin, yet just and true and by no means clearing the guilty who continue in sin and defy God by continual transgression. One who fears the Lord, obeys His servant's voice, and walks in darkness with no light is to trust in the Lord's name and stay upon God, repeating under every temptation that God is love. The Son's life of humiliation and awful death brings hope to those struggling with doubt, sunlight to lives clouded by despair, and assurance that believers are not deserted in battle against Satan.

Jesus the Great Physician came so that everyone who believes may avoid perishing and receive everlasting life, and His mercy and love are the hope to which those facing spiritual death should be directed while physical care relieves suffering and preserves mortal life. His mission expresses God's mercy and love and gives medical missionaries reason to care for souls as well as bodies. He gave His life because He loved fallen humanity and wanted people not to perish, making drawing souls to Christ the work dearest to Him. Told to the suffering one while the body is relieved, the story of God's love works with comforting words as soothing balm softening the heart and bringing assurance and trust, and joined to practical missionary work becomes a savor of life unto life so the soul is saved through belief. The cross must occupy the central place, so every enterprise, school or sanitarium is to be conducted along lines Christ laid down with no departure passed over indifferently, all sharing the work led and guided by Him, ambition merged in Christ, trust in the Head over all, and all who received truth living it as it is in Jesus. The verse grounds the life-saving purpose of sanitariums where suffering people receive gospel as well as bodily care.

The ransom paid by the precious blood for every descendant of Adam does not shield those who refuse allegiance from retribution at the last day, and they remain accountable for neglecting entrusted talents, reproaching Maker and Redeemer, and withholding gifts from service. In spiritual destitution with nothing to offer, human need demanded a substitute, so Christ offered Himself as propitiation, an amazing proof of love defying computation with no line to measure it, and those who receive it are not their own but bought with a price and belong to God. People belong to God who made and redeemed them, and accepting the priceless gift bringing life, health, friendship, reason and happiness calls them to acknowledge His ownership and serve willingly, while refusing leaves accountability. Those redeemed from slavery of sin at infinite price should honor God in body and spirit. Every blessing comes through Jesus Christ, and the gift calls people to duty toward God on whom they depend for life, health and blessings of fields and herds.

God so loved the world that He gave His own life in His Son so believers would not hopelessly perish, and those for whom Christ gave His life should be perfect in humanity through grace even as the Father is perfect in His sphere, believing the love for the individual self and living it out not in human strength but by trusting Christ's efficiency and righteousness. The gift is the greatest reason for gratitude and praise, giving everything to praise and thank God for and calling for happy Christians honoring Him with thanksgiving and joyful praise in worship, homes and family life. Believing on Jesus is working God's works and gives worth to the soul, and those yoked with Him receive peace, comfort, hope and rest on a foundation that will not be swept away. This life measuring with God's life is received by grace through faith and not of ourselves, for even when dead in trespasses God provided a way to raise believers to sit in heavenly places with Christ to show exceeding riches of grace in kindness in ages to come, and whoever does not appreciate this kindness robs his soul of heaven's richest blessings.