“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.” John 3:16
One: Theology = “For God so loved the world...”
God exists. God is Love. “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 Jn. 4:8 God loves (agapao) with the highest form of love. He loves “the world”, all of mankind and all of creation.
Two: Christology = “..that He gave His only begotten Son…”
God the Father gave to us. He provided a way, the only way, back for us to have a relationship with Him once again. The Father gave His “only begotten Son.” The only one of His kind.
Three: Soteriology = “...that Whoever believes in Him…”
“Whoever” is all encompassing, it includes all,everybody,anyone. “Believes”, an action, a response, is required. God chose us first, but we must believe, put our faith in, Him. Paul was asked “what must I do to be saved?” and he responded simply “believe” Acts 16:30-31. Specifically though, you must believe “in Him,” in Christ alone is there salvation, and in none other. Not Allah, not Buddah, not any idols, not yourself. Jesus Christ alone.
Four: Eschatology = “...shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
“Perish” (apollymi - to destroy, die, kill, put to death, to lose) is contrasted here and throughout the Bible with “eternal life” (aionios - eternal, everlasting, forever, perpetual) and (zoe - life). Those who believe in Christ will not face the “second death” but will instead exist with the Lord continually in the New Heaven and the New Earth. Those who do not place their trust and faith in Him will not have life, but instead will experience the “second death” and be destroyed in the Lake of Fire. The word “eternal” needs to be thought of in a manner that does not mean unending time, or existence without an ending time, because after this earthly existence there will be no more "time."
