( his creation and all the people of this world)

 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

Why is this Gods Mission Statement 

John 3:16 does not appear in isolation. It is an amazing summary of the good news of God's love that flows through the book of John.

As followers of JESUS we are called uniquely and specifically to fulfill our part in God's global mission. But to understand our roles, we must first need to understand the mission of God into which we are summoned as disciples of Jesus.

John 3:16 clearly describes that mission. In it, we are introduced to the missionary heart of God ,the God who seeks after lost people, sacrifices to pay the penalty that we deserve, and sends us out to carry out his mission in the world.

 

Review of the eight phrases in the passage of JOHN 3:16

 

1. "FOR GOD"

"For God": God is the great initiator of mission. He is the starting point as we read in the book of Genesis, he is the pursuer of Adam and Eve in the garden. In the person of Jesus, he came to seek and to save the lost.

Luke 19:10

 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

2. "SO LOVED"

"So Loved": Love is the motivation for mission. God's first message is not condemnation or accusation but love. Unlike most other religions who provoke fear or demand submission, the pursuing God of our faith reaches out to us in love.

 

3. "THE WORLD"

"The World": In this world mankind and all creation is God's concern. Yes the whole world, all peoples and nations and tribes and languages, is loved by the God who wants everyone to know and respond to that love. 

Mathew 28-18:20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth(world) has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 24:47

and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,beginning at Jerusalem.

Mark 16:15

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation

 

4. "THAT HE GAVE"

"That He Gave": Sacrifice is the foundation of God's mission. For salvation to come, God had to give his son as the sacrifice for our sins. And if the good news of salvation and the kingdom of God is going to be spread all over the world, then we, the people of God, will need to make sacrifices—personally, socially, financially, and physically.

 

5. "HIS ONE AND ONLY SON"

"His One and Only Son": Jesus is the pivot around which God's mission revolves. Salvation is found in no one else. Jesus is the mediator.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

John 14:16

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

In our diverse world, Jesus is one among many options. But the Bible clearly affirms that Jesus alone is the savior sent by God.

 

6. "THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM"

"That Whoever Believes in Him": The mission of God offers an invitation and calls for a response. We understand God's love, we receive his forgiveness, and choose to follow him.

 

7. "SHALL NOT PERISH"

"Shall Not Perish": God's love blends with his judgment, and as a result, condemnation is the consequence of disbelief or rejection of Jesus

John 3:17

 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

 

God's mission is not just a happy invitation to a relationship with God followed by eternal bliss. It also includes a warning to flee the wrath that is to come that is judgment, condemnation, and hell.

 

8. "BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE"

"But Have Eternal Life": God's mission is eternally significant for us all. His love, initiative, and sacrifice call us into a relationship with him that will last forever.

In exploring each of these eight components of God's mission we discover where we fit in it. Yes we discover where we fit in

LETS GO CHANGE THE WORLD WITH THE LOVE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER 

Prayer