“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16
This is a wonderful verse, and is all the more wonderful when we understand of the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the Divine Plan of salvation. Luther, who grasped the Gospel message more fully than many of his day, and yet less fully than we see the reality to be, called this verse the “little Bible.” We would express the same in the words, “the Gospel in a nut shell.” The whole message of God is contained in a condensed form in these words:
Therefore, this Gospel statement assures us that there is no hope for the heathen in their present ignorance. It points us, as do other Scriptures, to the hope respecting them in the future, when the voice of the Son of man who redeemed them shall call all from the grave; that all may attain to a resurrection to perfection under the judgments of the Millennial age. “When the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness”; and many who have gone down into the tomb under the curse, and in ignorance of the only name given under heaven and among men, shall ultimately be blessed as they shall hear of the great salvation God has provided, and if they shall accept it upon God’s terms
This is a wonderful verse, and is all the more wonderful when we understand of the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the Divine Plan of salvation. Luther, who grasped the Gospel message more fully than many of his day, and yet less fully than we see the reality to be, called this verse the “little Bible.” We would express the same in the words, “the Gospel in a nut shell.” The whole message of God is contained in a condensed form in these words:
- Man’s need is shown - his perishing condition, his need of Divine help.
- God’s love is declared, and the proof of it is pointed out to be the gift of His Son.
- Our Lord’s willing cooperation in the Father’s plan is evidenced.
- The lengths and breadths of this love and redemption are declared to embrace the whole world, and not merely a section, a family or class.
- The limitations of Divine grace are plainly stated: only through a true acceptance of Christ can any obtain this great blessing - release from the perishing conditions of the curse and full reinstatement in the Divine favor and its blessed reward of life everlasting (Acts 4: 10-12).
Therefore, this Gospel statement assures us that there is no hope for the heathen in their present ignorance. It points us, as do other Scriptures, to the hope respecting them in the future, when the voice of the Son of man who redeemed them shall call all from the grave; that all may attain to a resurrection to perfection under the judgments of the Millennial age. “When the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness”; and many who have gone down into the tomb under the curse, and in ignorance of the only name given under heaven and among men, shall ultimately be blessed as they shall hear of the great salvation God has provided, and if they shall accept it upon God’s terms