The Greatest Verse

The message was brought by Rev. Tim Powers on 3/15/26.

I’ve never preached just this verse, but it shows us how much God loves us.  A bloody cross for Jesus when we deserved death.  It shows us the greatest love, greatest gift, greatest invitation, greatest rescue, and the greatest promise.

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.

The verse begins with God:  FOR GOD.  The source of salvation is God loving us.  We are sinners by nature. Salvation begins with Him, not man.  He sought us. He loved us first. Even after Adam sinned God sought him. Something had to die because of the sin.  We weren’t looking for God.  I knew who He was. I went to church every Sunday, but one day I was sought out by God. I knew I was lost.  Romans 5:8 tells us he sent His love to us while we were yet sinners.  

We see how great He loved us. SO LOVED.  Agape love–unconditional, sacrificial love. The depth of our sin is not greater than the depth of God’s arm. God has done His part. We must do ours.  Reach out to Him.  Paul tells us in Timothy that God desires that all come to repentance.  He’s long-suffering, giving more time to repent. The Holy Spirit is still convicting.

GREATEST GIFT.  He gave His only begotten Son. This is proof of His love–the Gift.  The cost?  Everything.  I wouldn’t send my boys to a cross. This kind of love is sacrificial.  He sent His Son to die for people who wouldn’t appreciate it. He knew most would reject the Gift. The anguish of the whole world’s sin was put upon Jesus. Romans tells us that He didn’t spare His Son.

GREATEST INVITATION.  “Whosover.”  Anybody.  Moral.  Immoral.  Everybody needs to accept the gospel because everybody needs to be saved.  It’s an exclusive club, but it is thankfully open to everyone.

GREATEST RESCUE.  Our part is to believe.  We turn from our way to God’s.  This is not a head knowledge. It’s from the heart. We live according to scripture in true belief.  I’m afraid 50% of people attending church won’t go up in the rapture; they’re not ready.  What is the rescue?  We will not perish because we believe in HIM.  The best thing I ever did was get saved.

GREATEST PROMISE. Everlasting life. A new body. A new home.  All things new to us. No more pain, no death, no Satan, no sin.  It’s coming for the believer in Christ!

This is why I say this is the greatest verse.  It begins with God:  He gave.  We have to believe.  Salvation begins with God’s love and ends with His promise!