2. God’s love is not limited purely to the elect; that is, those who have received God’s love through the gift of faith. To be clear, I hold to the doctrines of the Reformation regarding the sovereignty of God in matters of salvation. That is, it is abundantly clear to me in the Scriptures that God alone saves sinful men. However, to use that beautiful doctrine to suggest or imply that God’s love ceases where men’s faith ends is to forget God’s love is so vast and complete so as to include even those who reject it.
In Matthew 5:43-48, we are told to love our enemies so we can exhibit perfect love in the same way God expresses love perfectly. That’s how God loves: utterly, completely, to those who love Him in return and those who don’t. The Father loves all whom He has created and the offer of grace to all men is fully compatible with the doctrines of grace; even if difficult to grasp.
3. Look at the order of love in the text. It is inadequate, even a wretched idea to suggest God loves us on the basis of Christ’s death. God doesn’t love because Christ came. Christ died because of the love of God for us compelled Him. Christ came as a consequence of love. The incarnation is love in action.
4. Consider the simple phrase found in this passage: “He gave.” God gave to a world that had already rejected Him. God gave for a world that was lost. God gave perfection to imperfection. God gave that which is incorruptible to a corrupt world. What’s more, He gave the brilliant light of His Son knowing we would make every attempt to extinguish that light.
God gave. But I’m lost. God gave. But I’m not worthy of the gift. God gave. But I’m unable to properly receive the gift. God gave Christ to the world and He keeps on giving grace upon grace. He keeps calling us in pure and complete love.
Christ did not come to condemn the world, though we deserve condemnation. He has the authority and righteousness to condemn us. The beauty of John 3:16 is if we shall but believe in the one whom God sent, the Christ, Jesus, the King of Kings, recognizing His worth, receiving His love and authority, we shall be saved; now in Christ and eternally with Christ.
The message is so simple and commonplace so as to make it too easy to be missed. What is God’s message for the world? Look unto Christ for salvation. What is God’s message for the Christian, keep looking unto Christ. He alone is savior. And that’s a message worth wearing out.
