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 story of Nicodemus is found in John chapter 3, and this is where Christ describes what being a born-again Christian really means. It starts of with Nicodemus acknowledging that Christ, without a doubt, came from God as a teacher because all the wonders and miracles that he carried out, but Christ answers with a deeper response - “I assure you that unless a person is reborn from above, unless a person is spiritually transformed, renewed and sanctified, he can’t ever see or experience the kingdom of God”. You can read to verse 21 and how Nicodemus and Christ converse about what new birth truly means in a spiritual sense.
Verse 16 explains the very reason we can have a new birth, and all was done to repair a broken, fallen world. In Ephesians 1:4-6, it says that God has chosen you from before the very foundation of the world. Then it goes on to say that we should be holy and without blame before God - we should be set apart for God, for His purposes and for His glory. We are to be driven by knowing how much God loves us, despite who we are, but more-so because of what He sent His Son to do on the cross. To take our place, take on all the wrath from God for every sin we have and will ever commit, across humanity, from beginning to end. He took our place so that we could have everlasting, eternal life where there will be no more sin, sorrow or death. Hallelujah - what a Saviour!
As you meditate upon and journal John 3:16, may your heart respond to these questions:
Right now, are you living a life that speaks of being spiritually transformed - the things you do, places you go and people you meet with publicly and privately?
Does this verse give you a deeper desire to share the gospel with someone?
I pray that you will meditate, reflect and memorise John 3:16 and that this verse will take hold of your heart and change the way you think of Christ and His redemptive, forgiving and transforming love for you and for me.
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