There is a line in popular Christian singer Jeremy Camp’s great song from 2015 “The Same Power that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us….lives in us”. This Power is called the Holy Spirit and comes directly from the Bible.  The Holy Spirit is the most incredible Being and Person in the World, after the Lord Jesus Christ! He is a Person and God Himself. Even more amazing is He is embedded in the spirits and souls of all who have recognized our sins, fallen to our proverbial knees and then turned to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Captain of our lives, in addition to being the Lord and Savior of our souls.  This is the crux of the matter.

The same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit of God Who was“hovering over the waters” in Genesis 1:2 and created the earth, on the Word of Christ. The same Spirit Who descended from Heaven like a dove unto the Christ, Whom John had just baptized in the Jordan – that Same Spirit – is alive and working in the lives of all who are truly …….

The previous portion of John Chapter 3 presented the foundational thinking of the Lord, as He reasoned with Nicodemus. Jesus spoke from the Law of Moses to talk about His pending appointment with the Cross, and the wellspring of eternal life which pours from it. This incredible conversation with the Teacher or Head Rabbi of Israel then tops off with John 3:16, the Bible verse which has captured the imagination of millions alive right now. It is more than important for us to examine the verse, not just in its entirety, but phrase by significant phrase to grasp what the Lord is saying. Each word therein, means the world to the salvation of those who put their faith and trust in Jesus, as Lord and Savior. These words are words of life, to us who believe.

JOHN 3:16 – IN DEPTH:

FOR GOD – In this manner or because He (the Lord) set His mind to ….

LOVED SO MUCH – The proof of God’s LOVE – AGAPE- is the many times He says He wishes all to come to repentance and faith. God did not create hell for people. Hell was created for the devil and his angels. People choose to go to hell due to their rebellion and turning away from God. But this love of God, this Agape, means one thing: God so wants the best for us, because He truly loves us, that He did what He did. The essence of God’s love here in John 3:16 is “agape”. This is a love so strong and divine that it only wants the best for another.