For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

That is John 3:16, one of the best known and often-quoted verses in the entire Bible. Martin Luther once called it the "Gospel within the Gospels." If you watch any sporting events on television, you will almost always see a banner strategically placed so the camera will include it that simply reads: "John 3:16." Some group of people has chosen this method to hold up the gospel of Jesus Christ before the eyes of this world.

John 3:16. That verse is part of the scripture reading from John 3:14-21. These verses are loaded with meaning. I am going to break this passage into three parts and make some comments on each part. Before we look at these verses, how…