Go! And Believe The Greatest News Ever Told Series

Go! And Understand the Heart of God - John 3:16

John 3:16 (NLT): "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

Introduction: The Most Famous Verse in the Bible

If I asked you to name the most well-known verse in the Bible, chances are you'd say John 3:16. But have you ever paused to ask why this verse is so loved, so quoted, so memorised? This morning, in our "Go! And…" series, we’re going to explore the profound depth behind this simple yet soul-stirring verse. Our message today is titled: "Go! And Believe the Greatest News Ever Told"

This verse is popular because it proclaims the very heart of the Gospel. It shows us the heart of God, reveals the hope of salvation, and presents the help for our eternal souls.

1. God’s Love Is Greater Than We Can Imagine

"For this is how God loved the world..."

The Greek word used for love here is agape (???p?), which means a self-sacrificing, unconditional, divine love. This isn’t emotion-based affection—it’s active, pursuing, relentless love.

Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee. Nicodemus thought salvation came through Jewish heritage and law-keeping. But Jesus levels the playing field: God loves the world, not just the Jews.

Romans 5:8 (NLT): "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Oh, dear friends, what a breathtaking truth this is! God didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up, to earn His love, or to somehow qualify for salvation. No! While we were still rebels, still broken, still spiritually dead—God demonstrated His great love by sending Jesus to die in our place. The Greek word used here for “showed” (sunistemi) means to commend, to prove, to establish beyond all doubt. At the cross, God’s love isn’t just spoken—it is proven.

Charles Stanley once said, “God’s love for you is based on His character, not your conduct.” That’s exactly what Paul proclaims here—Christ’s sacrifice is not a response to our goodness, but a revelation of God’s goodness. Hallelujah!

1 John 4:10 (NLT): "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

Beloved, if you want to know what real love looks like—look to the cross. Not the counterfeit love of the world, not a love based on emotion or merit, but a holy, sacrificial love initiated by God Himself. The Greek word for “sacrifice” here is hilasmos—meaning an atoning sacrifice, a satisfaction of wrath. God’s justice was satisfied in Christ so that His mercy could flow freely to us.

As Max Lucado so beautifully put it: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.” And that transforming love begins with recognising that He loved us first—He sent His Son not because we deserved it, but because His love demanded it.

Isn’t that a powerful truth? God’s love is not a passive, sentimental feeling—it’s a transforming, redeeming, holy love. God doesn’t wait for us to get our act together before He loves us. No, as the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

This is the Gospel: not that we earned God’s love, but that He loved us first. He sent His Son not because we were worthy, but because His love demanded it. Love compelled God to act—love moved the heart of Heaven to step into human history.

And now, His love refuses to leave us unchanged. He calls us to be like Jesus. That’s the journey of grace and sanctification—daily becoming more like the One who gave everything for us.

Friend, don’t settle for being merely forgiven. You’re called to be transformed. Let His love remake you—renew your heart, reshape your character, and redirect your destiny. That's what the love of God does—it makes us like Jesus.

Think of the father who donated his own heart to save his daughter’s life. He gave what was most vital so that she might live. God gave His Son, not just from a throne to a cradle, but from life to death—for us.

Max Lucado said, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it." Friend, that’s the kind of love that surpasses understanding.

Never doubt the love of God. Even when life is hard, remember: God’s love is not based on your circumstances but on His character.

2. God’s Gift Is Unimaginably Precious

"He gave his one and only Son..."

The Greek phrase is monogenes huios (µ????e??? ????), meaning the unique, one-of-a-kind Son. This emphasises Jesus’ divine uniqueness. He’s not merely a son—He’s the Son.