Understanding of Salvation

Understanding of Salvation
(Word by word study of John 3:16.)

For
It is critical to understand the word ‘for’. It means ‘because of this’. So you have to understand the context. Christ is talking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, about salvation. Christ says, “everyone who believes in him [Christ, the Son of Man (John 3:14, NIV)] may have eternal life” (John 3:15, NIV).

Because everyone who believes in Christ, will live for all eternity,…

God so loved
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). God, who existed before all things and who’s word existed before all things loved. How big is God’s love? But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever (Psalm 52:8, NIV). Unfailing: Always able to supply more; inexhaustible (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition). His love is unfailing, unable to be exhausted for those who flourish in his house. Make note that loved is past tense, for further use.

…the creator of all things, who existed before all things, inexhaustibly loved…

the world
The world is the world. It is everyone, everyone who walks on the face of this earth, everyone who has walked on the face of this earth and everyone who will walk on the face of this earth. His love is so great that he can love all with an unfailing love if they choose to be a part of his house.

…all mankind whom are His creation and children…

that He gave
He, God, gave to the world. Whatever the gift it is important that He gave. What would you give to the world? The better question is “What would you give to your children?” We are all truly children of God. Like we give all we can for our children’s lifelong provision, God gave all He could for his children’s lifelong provision.

…that He provided the means for their eternal security,…

His one and only Son,
Jesus Christ is God’s only son, who is 100% man and 100% God and therefore free from sin. He was given on the cross to provide the perfect blood sacrifice which is required by God for atonement, or acceptable payment, of sin.

…the only acceptable payment to atone for sin through the blood of Jesus,…

that whoever believes in him
Whoever means anyone in the world. Anyone who has lived, is living or will live. If any of these people believe in Jesus Christ, then they will receive the gift. The word believe is important. Believe (in context): to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, of the thing believed, to credit, have confidence. So you not only have to think it is true that Christ died, but you also have to have confidence in him. It’s like the verb for faith which does not exist in the English language.

…so that if anyone who has ever lived or will live believes in Jesus Christ and places their confidence in him…

shall not perish
To perish is to suffer eternal separation from the love of God. It is eternal torment. All mankind has an understanding of God either through direct contact with the gospel or through general revelation. If they did not pursue this calling to submit to Christ, then they go to hell “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12, NIV).

…will not suffer eternal torment due to separation from God’s love…

but have eternal life.
Eternal life is “the prize for which God has called me [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). The gift is eternal, forever, timeless.

…but will instead spend eternity enjoying His love.

Because everyone who believes in Christ, will live for all eternity, the creator of all things, who existed before all things, inexhaustibly loved all mankind whom are His creation and children that He provided the means for their eternal security, the only acceptable payment to atone for sin through the blood of Jesus, so that if anyone who has ever lived or will live believes in Jesus Christ and places their confidence in him will not suffer eternal torment due to separation from God’s love but will instead spend eternity enjoying His love.