Love for Sinners Manifested through God’s Only Begotten Son

John 1:1-2,14a ; 3:16 (NKJV)

One of the most memorized verses in the Bible is John 3:16 “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.” This verse confirms God’s eternal love for the crown of His creation even though we are sinners – disobedient and undeserving of His favor. Man’s fall from God’s grace didn’t stop Him from loving us. Oh, how quick we are to stop loving each other with our imperfect, impatient selves! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Centuries prior to the first Advent of Jesus, prophets foretold of the coming of a Savior born of a virgin who would save all who believed in him from their sins.  It was prophesied that his name would be called Immanuel which is translated, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). In Matthew 1:21 the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream, saying “you shall call His name Jesus,”literally meaning Savior. We have made promises we didn’t keep, but God did just what He said He’d do. He didn’t leave us wandering aimlessly as lost sheep in the wilderness – helpless and vulnerable to being attached and destroyed by wild animals. Nor has He left us sitting on the porch or the steps waiting for Him to come, and He never showed up.

He was actually here all the time: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:1-2, 14a). In Philippians 2:5-8 (paraphrased), even though Jesus Christ, being in the form of God, that is Spirit, did not think it was robbery, being equal with God to leave his home in glory and take on the form of a bondservant to save sinner man. Yes, by the power of the Holy Spirit God entered this world through the womb of a virgin named Mary. “God with us” is prophecy fulfilled. He became fully man and lived in this earthly realm, yet he maintained his nature as fully God. His Love for sinners manifested through the coming of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, Who came to give us life everlasting if we believe in. He humbled himself and became obedient to death of the cross. Now we are to humble ourselves and graciously accept the way of Salvation in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world. He died for all, but only those who believe in Jesus, God’s only begotten Son will not perish but have everlasting life.