Go! And Embrace the Greatest Gift of All
Introduction – A Question That Demands an Answer
If I were to ask you today, what is the greatest gift you have ever received? — what would you say? Perhaps it was something expensive, something sentimental, or something you desperately needed at the time. But I want you to consider this: have you received the greatest gift of all — the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ?
In a world filled with temporary pleasures, fleeting happiness, and countless promises that do not last, God offers us something eternal, unshakable, and life-transforming. And it is summed up in two of the most powerful verses in all of Scripture — John 3:16–17 (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. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
Today, in our ‘Go! And…’ series, we are called to: Go! And Embrace the Greatest Gift of All.
1. God’s Love is Radical and Relentless
John 3:16 begins: “For this is how God loved the world…” The Greek word here for “world” is kosmos — it speaks not of the beauty of creation, but the fallen, sinful, rebellious order of humanity. And the word for “loved” is agapao — a self-giving, sacrificial, unconditional love.
God’s love is not sentimental — it is sacrificial. It is not based on our worthiness, but on His nature.
Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
In Paul’s time, dying for a friend might be considered noble, but dying for an enemy was unthinkable. Yet God did this when we were His enemies.
In a world that measures love by performance and appearance, God’s love is given despite our failures. Have you stopped trying to earn His love and started receiving it?
Max Lucado wrote, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
This reminds us that God’s love is both accepting and transforming — it welcomes us in, but it also changes us.
2. God’s Gift is Personal and Priceless
“…He gave His one and only Son…” (monogenes — unique, one of a kind). This gift is not an angel, not a prophet, not a set of rules — it is God Himself, wrapped in flesh, nailed to a cross.
Isaiah 9:6 (NLT): “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah prophesied 700 years before Christ’s birth, pointing to the incarnation — God becoming man.
The phrase “gave” in John 3:16 (didomi) implies more than a gift; it means to hand over, to sacrifice. God didn’t just send His Son to live — He gave Him to die.
Imagine a lifeboat on a sinking ship. There is one seat left. The captain places his own child in the water to drown, so that a guilty passenger can live. That is the picture of substitutionary love.
John Piper said, “The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God.”
This is profound — God gave His Son so we might be reconciled, not just rescued.
3. God’s Offer is Universal but Conditional
“…so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
The offer is universal — everyone — but the benefit is conditional: you must believe.
Acts 16:31 (NLT): “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
Spoken to the Philippian jailer, a hardened man who moments earlier was suicidal — belief changed everything.
“Believe” (pisteuo) means more than intellectual agreement; it is to trust, rely upon, place your full weight upon Christ.
Faith is like sitting in a chair — it’s not enough to admire the chair, you must sit in it to rest. Have you truly “sat down” in Christ?
Charles Stanley once said, “Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus His life.”
Faith is free to you, but it is purchased by Christ’s blood.
4. God’s Mission is Rescue, Not Condemnation
John 3:17: “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
The Greek word for “judge” (krino) here means to condemn, to pass sentence. Jesus did not come primarily to condemn but to offer salvation.
Luke 19:10 (NLT): “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Some avoid God because they think He wants to destroy them. But Christ came on a rescue mission. If you are drowning, you don’t need a critic — you need a Saviour.
Tim Keller said, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
This is the heart of the gospel — both truth and grace.
The Gospel Presentation – The Greatest Gift
The heart of John 3:16–17 is the gospel:
Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3)
He was buried
He rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)
This is not a myth, not a metaphor, but a historical reality. The empty tomb is proof that death could not hold Him.
5. Our Response: Repent and Believe
To receive this gift, you must respond: repent (turn from sin) and believe (trust in Christ).
Jesus says in Mark 1:15 (NLT):
“The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Repentance is not just feeling sorry — it is changing direction. Belief is not just agreeing — it is trusting fully.
A man is lost in a forest. He sees a map. Knowing the map exists does not save him. Following it does.
Call to Action for Believers:
If you are a believer, this passage calls you to:
Go! And share this message. Don’t keep it to yourself.
Go! And live in the joy of your salvation. Stop living as though you are condemned — you are loved.
Go! And love as you have been loved. The world needs to see the gospel lived out.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you are here today and have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ, hear this: God loves you. He sent His Son for you. He died for your sins. He rose again to give you life.
Would you pray:
“Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. Forgive me, change me, and be my Lord and Saviour.”
Benediction/Exhortation:
Go now, in the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Go! And embrace the greatest gift — and share it with the world.
