by Christopher L. Scott
In English, we use an exclamation point after an interjection, to indicate strong feelings, or to show emphasis. It’s sometimes called a bang or shriek.
John 3:15 is an exclamation point for anyone reading through John’s Gospel: “so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” This verse emphasizes that the purpose of Jesus’ death was to give life to those who place their faith in Him.
The Gospel writer, John, tells us about the salvation of believers in John 3:16-18. Verse 16 interprets the mission and the message of our Lord: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
This was new for Israel. The Israelites knew that God loved them from what the Old Testament revealed about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel. For God to love the world was revolutionary in their minds.
But it is true! Notice: “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (v. 17). See, judgment is already occurring; we are placed under it at birth. Jesus didn’t come to judge the world; He came to save the world. That’s why we call it the gospel (which means “good news”). And through that belief in Christ we escape the judgment we’re born under. Everyone is born a sinner, and everyone is destined for destruction. That’s why Jesus Christ came — to offer salvation to everyone who accepts His gift of salvation.
Jesus leaves no stone unturned. There’s no room to misunderstand what He says. He elaborates, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (v. 18).
Trust in Christ prevents condemnation because He takes our place and pays the penalty for our sins when we place our lives in His hands (Romans 8:32). No one is saved without believing.
Jesus tells us about the sanctification of believers — the result of His light in them:
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).
There should be a change in believers who embrace the light of Christ. Those who come to the light practice light, and they show the light to others. In John, darkness is often used as a common picture of the state of a sinner (8:12; 12:35, 46; 1 John 1:6; 2:8, 9, 11). Those who depart from darkness through faith in Christ come into the light, and, when sanctified, also work in the light.
Notice: Not perfect! Just working in the light.
Praise God for His exclamation point of eternal life — the light of Christ in us!
