"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

John 3:16 has long been regarded by Christian believers as the Golden Text of the Bible. In this verse, God's simple plan of salvation is made so clear, so concise, and so complete that no one need ever be lost and go to a place called hell, but may be saved and have everlasting life in heaven.

God's plan of salvation includes a divine side and a human side: God's side is loving the world (humanity) and giving His Son (to die upon the cross of Calvary); the human side is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and having God's gift of everlasting life.

This verse may be divided as follows::
(1) "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son"—that is God's part; loving and giving.
(2) "That whosoever believeth in Him"—believing in God's Son needs to be our response to God's loving and giving.
(3) "Should not perish but have everlasting life"—having everlasting life in Heaven is the result when a person receives by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

The basic truth of John 3:16 is made clear by such passages as Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9 and 1 Timothy 2:5.

Not only is John 3:16 the Golden Text of the Bible, it is perhaps the greatest and most wonderful passage in all the Word of God. Every word, every phrase has great meaning.

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