We love him, because he first loved us.
Every love we give starts with this: He loved us first.
John 3:16
John 3:16 is often called the Gospel in one sentence. Jesus spoke it at night to Nicodemus, a religious leader who came with questions.
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 heart of the Gospel in one sentence: God loved the world and gave His Son.
KJVJohn 3:16 in context
13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Written by Jesus’ close friend so that readers would believe and have life in His name.
What John 3:16 means
Every phrase carries weight. “God so loved” — the source is God’s love, not our worthiness. “The world” — not one nation or one kind of person, but everyone. “He gave his only begotten Son” — love measured by what it cost.
“Whosoever believeth in him” is the invitation: trust, not achievement. “Should not perish, but have everlasting life” is the promise: life with God that begins now and does not end.
The next verse completes it: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Related verses
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing in life or death can separate you from the love of God in Christ.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The greatest love is the one that gives itself for its friends.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Love comes from God, because God Himself is love.
Questions people ask
What does John 3:16 mean?
That God loves the whole world so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, so that anyone who trusts in Him receives eternal life instead of perishing.
Who said John 3:16?
Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who visited Him at night (John 3:1-21).
Why is John 3:16 so famous?
Because it summarizes the whole Christian message in one sentence: God’s love, Jesus’ gift and eternal life through faith.