John 3:16


Many passages of the Bible could be presented as the most important or influential.  
The 23rd Psalm is without a doubt one of the most quoted of all God's Word.  Very few 
weddings take place within our church buildings without a reference to the love chapter, 
1 Corinthians 13.  But no passage has won the hearts of more people than John 3:16, 
the Golden Text of the Bible.  You see it on bumper stickers and displayed at 
ballgames.  People wear it on pins and advertise it on billboards.  And no wonder, for in 
it we have the gospel in summary:

GOD…..the greatest lover,
SO LOVED…..the greatest degree,
THE WORLD…..the greatest number of people,
THAT HE GAVE…the greatest act,
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON…..the greatest gift,
THAT WHOSOEVER…..the greatest opportunity,
BELIEVETH…..the greatest simplicity,
IN HIM…..the greatest attraction,
SHOULD NOT PERISH…..the greatest tragedy,
BUT…..the greatest difference,
HAVE…..the greatest certainty,
EVERLASTING LIFE…..the greatest gift!

John 3:16 is more than just the Golden Text of the Bible.  It is a summary of God's 
dealings with mankind, a description of His very character, a promise upon which we 
can build our lives.  It is a message that the whole world needs to hear.


Leslie S. Chapman