The Love That Saves

Understanding John 3:16

By Rob Riesmeyer, Elder

There is a verse in the Bible that many have seen held up on signs at football games, printed on coffee mugs, and stitched into pillows. It’s short. It’s simple. And yet, it holds the weight of the entire Gospel message. That verse is John 3:16:

“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 (ESV)

If you’ve never cracked open a Bible or sat in a church pew, you may still have heard these words. But for many, they pass by like a whisper—familiar but hollow. Today, I want to ask you to slow down and really look at what they say. This single sentence contains the heartbeat of Christianity. This is the love that saves.

The love that saves

Let’s start with the first few words: “For God so loved the world…”

This isn’t just poetic language. It’s a radical statement. This kind of love. The Greek word used for "love" here is agapē—a deep, sacrificial, unearned love. This isn’t the warm fuzzies or infatuation. This is love that gives, even when it costs everything.

And who does God love? “The world.” Not just the nice parts. Not just the people who seem religious, not just those who attend church, vote a certain way, or try hard to be good. No—God’s love reaches to the broken, the rebellious, the skeptical, and even those who curse His name. That includes me. That includes you.

God’s love doesn’t start when we start loving Him. Romans 5:8 tells us:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The love that saves doesn’t wait for us to get it together. It meets us right where we are.

The Gift That Changes Everything

“…that He gave His only Son…”

Love always expresses itself through action. God didn’t just say He loves us—He demonstrated it by giving His Son, Jesus Christ.

This wasn’t a symbolic gesture. This was God putting on flesh, entering our world, walking among us, and eventually dying a brutal death on a Roman cross. Why? Because justice had to be satisfied. Sin—our rebellion, our pride, our self-centeredness—creates a chasm between us and a holy God. A separation we cannot bridge by trying harder or doing more good things.

Jesus was the bridge.

John 1:14 reminds us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus stepped into the story of separation that He authored to rescue us.

This is not mythology. This is history. Real nails. Real blood. Real resurrection.

God didn’t give us religion. He gave us a person—Jesus, His only Son.

An Invitation with No Fine Print

“…that whoever believes in Him…”

This phrase is vital. It doesn’t say “whoever behaves” or “whoever belongs to the right group.” It says believes.

Belief in the biblical sense isn’t just intellectual agreement. It’s trust. It’s surrender. It’s choosing to lean the full weight of your life onto Jesus—believing He lived the life you couldn’t live, died the death you deserved, and rose again to offer you new life.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve made a mess of your life. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never read the Bible. It doesn’t matter if you have doubts.

The love that saves reaches out to whoever. That includes you.

Jesus says in John 6:37:

“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

This is not about religion. This is about relationship. It's not about rituals or resumes. It’s about grace. All that’s required is that you believe.

What’s at Stake

“…should not perish but have eternal life.”

What’s being offered is not just a better life now, though following Christ transforms you today. What’s being offered is eternal life—forever in the presence of God, the one who made you, knows you, and loves you.

And the flip side? Perishing. That word isn’t pleasant, but it’s essential. Jesus speaks more about hell than almost anyone else in Scripture—not to scare us, but to warn us. To love someone is to tell them the truth.

Separation from God doesn’t begin when we die. It starts the moment we reject the invitation to believe. But the offer remains: to be rescued, restored, and made new.

Why This Matters Today

You might be reading this with questions:

• “Can this really be for me?”

• “Isn’t Christianity just a crutch?”

• “What about all the pain in the world?”

  
  

Those are real questions. God isn’t afraid of them. But I want to challenge you: don’t let your questions keep you from the greatest truth of all time.

This verse—John 3:16—is more than just something stitched onto a throw pillow. It is the Gospel in miniature.

It tells us:

• Who God is: A loving, giving Father.

• What Jesus did: Came, died, and rose again.

• What we’re invited to: Belief and eternal life.

• What’s at stake: Perishing vs. life.

  
  

A Personal Word

I didn’t grow up understanding this love. I heard about Jesus, sure. I went to church. But it wasn’t until much later in life that I was convicted—really convicted—of my need for a Savior. I had tried being “good.” I had tried staying busy. I had tried making my own way.

But nothing filled the emptiness.

One day, someone asked me not if I went to church, but if I knew Jesus. That shook me. Because I realized I didn’t.

I started reading Scripture. I started praying. And over time, I surrendered—not perfectly, but honestly. And I found peace, purpose, and the love that saves.

Where Do You Stand?

You’re not reading this by accident. Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or somewhere in between—know this: you are seen. You are loved. And you are invited.

God doesn’t force Himself on anyone. But He stands with open arms.

Maybe you’ve felt the ache of trying to prove your worth. Maybe religion burned you.

Maybe life has broken your heart. Maybe you’ve just never taken the time to ask:

What if this is true?

Today could be your turning point.

Romans 10:9 says:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How to Respond

You don’t need fancy words or a perfect plan. Just a sincere heart. If you’re ready to respond to the love that saves, pray something like this:

“God, I don’t have it all figured out. But I believe You love me. I believe You sent Jesus to die for me. I believe He rose again. I want to follow Him. Forgive me. Make me new. I give You my life. Amen.”

If you prayed that, let someone know. Reach out to us at St. Luke. We’d love to walk with you. Faith isn’t meant to be done alone.

Final Thoughts

John 3:16 isn’t just a memory verse—it’s a lifeline. It’s God’s megaphone to a broken world, calling each of us back home.

Don’t miss it. Don’t rush past it. Take it to heart.

Because in a world of confusion, division, and despair—this is the love that saves.