Page 2 - TRACT Jhn 3-16 FINAL_Neat

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. John 3:16
John 3:16 is a Bible verse many people have heard. It is a great, grand, powerful
declaration and rich promise. It is a declaration of light and love for a world in
turmoil. It is the ultimate and final solution to all social and personal ills. It offers
true security, peace, love, joy, freedom and hope in this life and beyond into
eternity. Nothing else in life offers what this Bible verse offers. It sums up the
whole history of the Bible - God’s revelation to us. The depths of it will never be
fully understood and appreciated in this short life. This verse may sound familiar or
you may have never heard it before. You may be atheist or agnostic. Whatever
your view, it is worth the time to take a brief look at this powerful, magnificent
promise and answers to questions about it: What is God’s love? Who is God and
why must He give His only Son? What is the World? Who is the Son? What is it to
believe? What is to perish? What is eternal Life?

Who is God and why must He give His only Son?

God is revealed in the Bible as our Father in Heaven. God is described as the
perfectly loving and wise, the all-knowing, the all-powerful and the all-present
Creator of the universe. God has ultimate control over all things and no purpose of
His can be stopped (Job 42:2). The Lord God has established His throne in the
heavens, and His kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19). God is sovereign ruler
over all. Although not a part of this World, God works in and through all things ,
pleasant and painful, for the good (growth) of those who are loved and called to be
a part of God’s Kingdom and works all things after the counsel of His will (Roman
8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11). The problem of evil and why bad things happen is
discussed further on.

Genesis 1:1 tells us that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
and that God has created both male and female in His image. Both are equal in His
sight. Both male and female differences are a reflection of God although that
image has become corrupted by sin. All of creation reveals who God is but all of
creation has also become corrupted by sin (Romans 1:20-21). The issue of creation
is discussed further below.

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