For All The Whosoevers (John 3:16) Series

Was it because we were worth it? Was it because we are good people? Strong people? godly people? righteous people? No. Romans 5:6-8 spells it out for us:

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

What an incredible invitation— to have our sins forgiven! For God to make His dwelling with us! To have His Holy Spirit dwell with us. And it is the most inclusive invitation ever, because it is extended to everybody. Whosoever believes.

I think if I had to pick a favorite word in John 3:16, it would be “whosoever.” For one thing, its just fun to say. Sounds a little like a sneeze. Or characters in a Dr Seuss story. Cindy Lou Whosoever.

And even though I typically study and preach out of other translations, if I could keep just one word from the KJV it would be “whosoever.” It’s just so distinct.

It is also also one of Jesus’ favorite words. He said it to the woman at the well in John 4:13-14

John 4:13–14 ESV

14 but whosoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

He said it to Martha at the tomb of Lazarus:

John 11:26 ESV

26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

He said it to the crowd in what would be His last public sermon before He was crucified: John 12:46

John 12:46 ESV

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whosoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

The Apostle John said it about Jesus in 1 John 5:1

1 John 5:1 ESV

1 Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and whosoever loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

I

s there any “who” that isn’t included in “whosoever?” Listen, I know “inclusion” is a politically charged word these days, but it is a gospel word. It means “included.” There is no evangelism without inclusion. If the gospel isn’t good news for everybody, then it’s not good news for anybody.

God’s love is for the entire world. Look at verse 17. John 3:17

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

This is remarkable not because the world is so big, but because the world is so bad.

Nobody earns it.

Nobody deserves it.

But everyone needs it.

And all the whosoevers have access to it.

John 3:16 is not about our loveliness but about God’s love. The text does not say God loves us (present tense) now that we have been made his children. It says God loved us (past tense) before we were saved.

But listen. Just because “whosoever” can, that doesn’t mean “whosoever” will. It is an inclusive invitation,

But it is an exclusive gospel.

In all the verses I just read, “whosoever” is paired with responding to Jesus, and Jesus alone.