John 3:16 part 1

 John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life"

This is one of the most well known verses in the bible, in great part due to signs shown at sporting events throughout the 70's and 80's. When watching sporting events today those famous John 3:16 signs are not seen anymore, however the verse still remains one of the most quoted and well known.

The above verse seems to indicate a couple of things that mainstream church has grabbed a hold of and ran with. These two things are universal salvation and the idea that just belief will save someone. Both of these concepts are popular within mainstream Christianity because they fit the political correct culture that is rampant today.

These two ideas about John 3:16 are attractive to people because it promotes the Brotherhood of mankind concept i.e. universalism and also easy believism which allows someone to not deny themselves and pick up their cross and still go to heaven.

This allows the denominational churches to accept anyone into the faith without requiring they pick up their cross and be a disciple of the Son of God. This benefits them as they can build big congregations which then fills up the coffers and helps the bottomline. The denominations existence is contingent upon big numbers of people and a constant flow of money coming in. As you can see, it is in the best interest of the churches to adopt universalism and easy believism. 

Does John 3:16 teach these two concepts? As always we cannot take one scripture to make a doctrine but rather we need to compare scripture with scripture:

Isaiah 28:10

"For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little"

This is how we need to approach our understanding of doctrine in that we let scripture interpret scripture and not run with a superficial understanding at least in terms of something so crucial to the doctrine of salvation.

Some may think this topic is a debate about calvinism versus arminism, however both of those ideologies have serious errors. Must love truth regardless if it has similarities with unpopular doctrines. For example, calvinism is hated by many because of it's teaching that Jehoshua didn't die for everyone i.e. the idea of limited atonement. However, we cannot let our prejudice against that doctrine obscure from our minds the truths that calvinism does have even though the overall system is false.

The same applies to arminism. The fact of the matter is that the truth of scripture does not care about your feelings or what is deemed as politically correct by society or the mainstream church. To better understand John 3:16 let's go to the beginning of the chapter:

John 3:1-3

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jehoshua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be begotten from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

In verse 3 you will notice that it says "begotten from above" rather than "born again". This is important because for one it is the proper translation of the verse and two it shows that salvation originates with Jehovah God and not man's will.

We must be begotten from above just as Jehoshua was. The holy spirit came upon Him from heaven and then He went preaching the Kingdom of God. There is a connection between receiving the Spirit and then being able to see the Kingdom. While Jehoshua was already increasing in wisdom prior to His baptism He was first described as being full of the holy spirit after it. 

Mark  1:14-15

14 Now after John was delivered up, Jehoshua came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.

This was shortly after Jehoshua's baptism and right after His 40 day wilderness experience. Jehoshua was begotten from above and then preached the gospel of the Kingdom. Again, it's important to understand that "begotten from above" is the correct translation not "born again" as one indicates an "accept Messiah" man centered salvation and the other indicates "a God centered salvation" where the Father gives us to the Son. 

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Those who received Jehoshua were given the right to become children of God. Although this seems to indicate man making a choice to accept Messiah in verse 13 it is clear that those who receive Messiah were not begotten through their own will but rather the will of God. Many professing Christians balk at this concept of God choosing us by His own will but the truth of God's word does not care about our feelings.

John 6:44

"No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day"

It is the Father that draws us to the Son of God. Those drawn to the Son of God by the Father will then be resurrected at the last day.

John 6:64-66

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jehoshua knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him. 65 And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father. 66 Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

The message of God choosing those who believe offended many of Jehoshua's supposed disciples. Many of these so called disciples stopped following Him. Jehoshua makes it clear that can only believe in Him if the Father gives that person the faith to do so.

Let's go back to John chapter 3 for more context surrounding verse 16:

John 3:17-18

17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The word "world" has a flexible meaning and does not necessarily denote the whole earth. This is where we need to go to other scriptures to get a better understanding of what John is saying here about God sending His Son to the world to save them:

Matthew 1:21

"And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JEHOSHUA; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins"

Matthew says that Jehoshua will save His people from their sins. The question is, who are Jehoshua's people? 

Matthew 15:24

"But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel"

This one verse goes a long way in not only answering the above question but it also helps us understand John 3:17-18 in terms of God sending His Son into the world. The above verse in Matthew is clear that Jehoshua's people are the house of Israel and that it is these people He was prophesied to be King over:

Luke 1:33

"and he shall reign over the house of Israel for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end"

Jehoshua was not prophesied to be king over a non Israelite Gentile church but rather over the very people He came to save from their sins i.e. the house of Israel.

The world that Jehovah God sent His only begotten Son to not condemn and to save is the world of Israel.

Verse 18 of John chapter 3 says that those who have not believed are judged already because they have not believed on the name of the Son of God. To believe on the name of the Son of God denotes His character, identity and authority. It is also is a reference to the title "Son of God" which is a prophetic title meaning "King of Israel". Jehoshua's identity is in being the Son of God and King of Israel as those are equated titles (John 1:49). 

Jehoshua's authority comes from the fact that He is the King of Israel. His character denotes His righteousness. Again, to believe on the name of the Son of God has to do with what the title "Son of God" represents which is"King of Israel. What audience would this make sense to i.e. believing on the name of the Son of God (King of Israel)? Obviously an Israelite since the requirement to accept Jehoshua as their King would only apply to them. Just like here in America we are not required to believe in the authority of the president of Mexico over us but we are required in some sense to accept the authority of the American president. 

John 3:16-18.only makes sense in the context of Israel since Jehoshua is their Messiah and King and the object of the passage is to believe on the name of the Son of God.